How to Write an Essay Outline | A Complete Guide With Samples
Do you not know how to properly write an essay outline?
If this is your key concern, you have come to the right place. In this guide, we will walk you through different steps to create an
essay outline.
Continue reading!
What is an essay outline?
In general, an outline is a writing plan that helps students to organize their papers efficiently.
Sometimes, they are asked to submit an essay outline separately before they start writing an essay.
An essay outline helps you plan the best structure for your essay before you dive into the writing phase.
In addition, it helps you understand which information you should place in a particular section of the essay.
It gives you a crystal-clear picture of how you will unfold your arguments in the essay.
Therefore, you should understand how to write an outline for an essay.
Before crafting an outline for an essay, you should be familiar with the essay's basic parts.
Crucial parts of an essay
All types of essays follow the same structure: an introduction, body sections, and a conclusion.
You need to start with an introduction, three body paragraphs that strengthen the points you write in the introduction, and a convincing conclusion that wraps up the entire essay.
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Introduction
An introduction is the first section of your essay. Therefore, you need to introduce your topic in the best possible way.
Moreover, you should also write a top-quality thesis statement here. The introduction of your essay should be short and sweet.
Body paragraphs
Usually, a standard essay includes three body paragraphs. Sometimes, it could include 4-5 or even more.
Unless your teacher told you to write a certain number of body paragraphs, it is up to you how many you write.
If you use more than one source to support your thesis statement, there should be one body paragraph for each source.
But depending on the type of essay you are writing, you might have to change this.
For example, in an analytical essay, you will write one body paragraph for each point you make to support your thesis.
In a compare-and-contrast essay, you will write at least one paragraph for each comparison and contrast you make.
Conclusion
This is another important part of an essay. Here you need to summarize all the main points you made in the essay's body.
Four steps to make an outline for an essay
Now you are ready to craft an outline for your essay. Great!
How to create an outline for an essay that makes the process of essay writing simpler and easier?
Just follow these steps:
1) Define your writing goal
First things first!
Read your thesis statement multiple times.
You might not have the exact words yet, but you should have a good idea of what you want to say and how you will back it up.
If you have a clear goal, you can use your brainstorming notes to make an outline that covers all the points you need to support that goal.
2) Remove the fluff
When you brainstormed, you thought about every way your writing could go and every piece of information it could have.
Now it's time to look over your brainstorming notes and choose the ideas that will help you reach your essay's goal in the best way.
Ask yourself, "How does this strengthen my point?" for each piece of information you wrote down.
If you can answer that question clearly, add it to your outline.
3) Identify the main points of your essay
Find the main points you will make in your essay by looking at the list of points you wrote down.
These will be the parts of your body.
For instance, if you were writing an
argumentative essay about why your college needs more water fountains, you might say:
- Fountains reduce plastic waste
- Having water fountains saves money for students
- Water that is easily accessible can reduce the occurrence of heat exhaustion
Write down the facts and figures that support your arguments.
4) Start writing an outline
Finally, it's time to write your outline using a standard template.
Format your essential points into a concise and well-organized framework using a template for the type of essay you are writing.
When you write your first draft of
informative essay, you will fill in the blanks with information. That's it!
Essay outline standard template
Introduction
- Hook
- Background information
- Thesis statement
1st body paragraph
- 1st argument
- The first piece of evidence
- The second piece of evidence
2nd body paragraph
- 2nd argument
- The first piece of evidence
- The second piece of evidence
3rd body paragraph
- 3rd argument
- The first piece of evidence
- The second piece of evidence
Conclusion
- Topic's significance
- Essay's summary
- Compelling closing remarks
Argumentative essay outline sample
Topic name: How has the internet impacted education?
Introduction
- Hook: 5.03 billion internet users across the globe
- Background information: How has the internet made modern lives easier?
- Serious concerns about the internet
- Thesis statement: The internet facilitates people
Harmful effects of the internet
- Mobile phone: the biggest source of distraction
- Facts & figures that support your claim
- Explanation
Top-notch benefits of the internet
- Internet helps to access different scholarly sources
- Facts & figures that support your claim
- Explanation
3rd body paragraph
- 3rd argument
- The first piece of evidence
- The second piece of evidence
Conclusion
- Topic's significance
- Essay's summary
- Compelling closing remarks
Outlining is one step to writing an excellent essay!
Once you make a well-crafted outline, you should complete your essay.
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