Using A "Reverse Outline"

This technique has many names, including "building a reverse outline" and "Glossing." Whatever we call it, this method can be used to check the coherence of a draft. 

For each paragraph of the essay, ask the following questions:

• What is this paragraph about?

• How does it follow up what has been said or predict what is to come?

• Does it stick to the promise made by the first (topic) sentence of the paragraph?

The answers to these questions should be put in margin comments or on paper. A discrepancy between the answers and your intentions means rethinking and editing may be needed.

Next, look at the connections between the reverse outline and the concept of your paper. Ask yourself the following questions to help you as you revise your draft:

• If the assignment calls for one, what is my thesis / governing claim?

• Is that thesis coherent? If not, why not?

• Does the thesis appear in the introduction? If not, where is it?

• Do my paragraphs follow this main idea? If not, where do they diverge?

• Do I have topic sentences? Do these topic sentences follow the thesis? If not, where do they diverge?

• Why did I order the paragraphs this way?

• Is the order of paragraphs logical? Why or why not?

• Does the conclusion summarize my paper in a different way (and discuss implications of the topic) than the introduction? If so, how so?

This technique can also be used when reading books. By writing notations in the margin of the book, it allows you to see the connections needed for conceptual analysis. These connections, in turn, will assist in writing a concise and cohesive essay.