Essay Outline Template

An outline is a direct and clear map of your essay. It shows what each paragraph will contain, in what order paragraphs will appear, and how all the points fit together as a whole. Most outlines use bullet points or numbers to arrange information and convey points. Outlining is a vital part of the essay planning process. It allows the writer to understand how he or she will connect all the information to support the thesis statement and the claims of the paper. It also provides the writer with a space to manipulate ideas easily without needing to write complete paragraphs. Outlining is a process that takes time and patience to perfect. It involves already having a working thesis statement and a general idea of an essay theme. Outlining allows the writer not only to survey the information he or she is presenting, but also to plan how he or she will communicate with the audience. Essay outline template allows the writer to experiment with style and tone to determine which presentation strategies are best.

The prompt above is from the "Essay Planning: How to Develop a Working Thesis Statement" handout, in which we developed the following working thesis statement: "The thrill of pursuing happiness, the experiences along the way, and the knowledge that comes from trial and error provide people with more pleasure and satisfaction than the mere attainment of desires, despite the common perception that attainment is the final goal." Use the working thesis statement to develop basic paragraph order and format.

Step Two: Add supporting information and begin to develop a paragraph after establishing your basic outline, begin to add supporting details that support each topic sentence. Remember that these details must support the thesis statement. Also, begin to consider possible transition sentences between paragraphs. The following example develops just one paragraph from the basic outline we created above.

Step Three: Elaborate on supporting information and include essay details at this point, you have enough information in your outline to construct a strong paragraph. If you are writing an argumentative essay, include the counterargument and how you will refute it. If you are writing a persuasive essay, include the facts/statistics that you will use to persuade your audience. If you are writing an opinion essay, state your opinion and how it is relevant.

Step Four: Consider how you will conclude your paper the concluding paragraph of your paper should tie together all your points to draw a logical conclusion from the evidence you have discussed. The example this handout has used is for an argumentative essay. Usually, these essays conclude by restating the main points as well as synthesizing a new point that includes the thesis statement and counterargument. Although the main audience is those who agree with the main point, you still need to have considered those who disagree with you. By creating a synthesized conclusion, you create consensus between the two groups.

When Is My Outline Finished? Your outline can be done whenever you feel prepared to write your essay. For instance, you might feel confident with just several words in your outline. However, some people might need significantly more detailed outlines before feeling confident. Remember that the outline is used to develop your paper and help you understand how your thoughts and ideas relate before you write. An outline is by no means a first draft of your paper, but with a fully developed outline, you will be better prepared to write an effective first draft of your essay that will be ready for review and revision.