SUCCESSFUL OUTLINES

1
SUCCESSFUL OUTLINES

• Organizing Information
• before Drafting

2
Formal Outlines

• A formal outline is a logical arrangement of the
  main ideas, subtopics, and details that will go
  into a written paper.
• Use Roman numerals for main sections
• Indent and use capital letters for topics
• Indent and use numbers for subtopics/details

3
Organizing an Outline

• Keep all items of the same rank in parallel form.
  If subtopic A is expressed as a noun, then B and
  C should be expressed as nouns.
• When subtopics follow a topic or are followed by
  details, there must be two or more of each for
  every I, there must be a II for every A, a B
  for every 1, a 2.
• When the sequence of events is important to a
  subject, organize your outline for earliest event
  to latest event.

4
Conventions

• Capitalize the first word of each entry in an
  outline and the letters that introduce major
  subsections.
• Famous buildings of the Middle Ages
• The Leaning Tower of Pisa
• 1. Construction of bell tower
• 2. Repairs to tower foundation
• The Tower of London
• Construction of royal fortress
• Additions to original site

5
Conventions

• Use a period after each number or letter in an
  outline or a list.
• Topic Early Communication
• II. Body
• Visual
• Sign Language
• Writing

6
Begin Your Outline

• Use your notes and organize your information.
• Introduction
• Lead Sentence
• Thesis
• Body
• A.
• B.
• C.
• D.
• Conclusion
• A. (Repeat thesis and summarize information.)