Take a second look at your brainstorming and consider which area to focus on (main idea) and what information to keep or throw out. In this example, the student decides to write about NSNT and the reasons why they like it.
Then organize your ideas into a simple plan called an outline. It may take five to ten minutes to make an outline.
Write the topic sentence in a complete sentence on top of the page.
Write your supporting ideas and their details in words and phrases, or even some symbols like # for number and $ for money. Do not write complete sentences and do not write a draft of the paragraph. When you write your ideas in words and phrases in the outline, you can spot problems more easily, such as if an idea does not support the topic sentence.
When you write your paragraph later, you may have an additional idea. Do not include it in your paragraph directly. Put it in your outline to make sure it helps explain the main idea. You may ask yourself:
Does this idea support my topic sentence?
Which part of the outline should I put it in?
Is there already a similar idea in the outline?
"Decide on the Main Idea and Make an Outline" was adapted from 1.10: Stage 1 Prewriting - Get Ideas and Make an Outline - Humanities LibreTexts and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license which was awas authored, remixed, and/or curated by Connie Mathews, Elizabeth Stein, and Mary Elizabeth Wilson-Patton from a document "Building Academic Writing Skills (Cui)," originally shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lin Cui. Adapted by Laura Paciorek.
When you make an outline, use phrases and key words. Do not write complete sentences. This is like a skeleton. If you write full sentences, you are giving your outline too much body. It's just a guide, not an essay.
Here is an example of what you should not do when outlining:
Outline: Introduction Paragraph
Hook: Stress can impact everyone at any time in their lives: no one is immune from stress.
Background Information: Stress is a feeling that creates a heightened state of fear and can impede someone's ability to focus or function. Some stress is positive and some stress is negative. When stress is positive, it can create action and lead to a better life. When stress is negative, it can impact a person's wellbeing.
Thesis Statement: The city of Denver needs to offer more free programs for people who experience stress because stress can be treated and everyone deserves access to help.
This is an example of what you should not do when writing an essay outline. This is basically a full paragraph!
This is a good example of what to do when outlining.
Outline: Introduction Paragraph
Hook:
Stress is common
Background Information:
Definition of stress
Positive and negative stress
Outcomes
Thesis Statement:
Need free services
Can be treated
Accessible for all
In this example, there are topics listed. It didn't take as long to write down these ideas and now I am ready to expand them into full sentences when I write my essay's introduction paragraph. It's also easier to see what does and doesn't fit well and make changes.
Attribution: "Use Phrases/Key Words" by Laura Paciorek, CC BY NC SA 4.0 .