A well-prepared outline, based on a carefully formulated thesis sentence, is a major step in writing a well-organized essay.
Note: This module is designed to be printed and written upon, but, of course, can be browsed on the screen.
Criteria:
1. The outline includes three major parts: title, thesis sentence, and the outline proper.
2. The outline covers the subject; it covers everything indicated in the title.
3. It follows the same form of organization as the thesis sentence.
4. The parts of the outline are logically arranged.
5. It follows correct form in indention and parallel structure.
6. The outline is sufficiently detailed to effectively guide in the writing of the essay.
7. Either a sentence outline or a topic outline is acceptable unless otherwise specified.
8. The relationship among the parts of the outline is clear and consistent.
9. The writer should be able to develop each entry of the outline in detail.
10. There should be no single headings or subheadings anywhere in the outline.
11. All of your outline entries should begin with capital letters.
In the preceding unit, you learned that a thesis sentence serves two major functions. See if you can write both of them below. Then check your answers, which are stated below.
1.
2.
The answers, as stated in the previous unit, are
1. A thesis sentence is a controlling device--a means of restricting the topic.
2. A thesis sentence is a preliminary plan--a statement of your subject and an indication of your pattern of organization. A preliminary outline, basically, is a thesis sentence in a more expanded, detailed form. Since the purpose of both the outline and thesis sentence is to guide you in planning and writing your essay, they obviously serve little purpose if you formulate them after you write the essay.
Before going further, check your memory by writing the correct pattern for a thesis sentence below.
topic (+ identification or definition if necessary) + indication of your attitude or feeling + aspects of the topic to be discussed.
In writing an outline remember that it is the subtopics of your thesis sentence that will be your main points. For example, let's take the a sample thesis sentence and work with it.
“A baseball player needs stamina, speed and good hand-eye coordination.”
A rough outline of this sentence would be as follows:
I. Stamina
II. Speed
III. Coordination
This gives you a breakdown of the aspects of the topics to be discussed but it is difficult to tell from the outline itself just what the topic is. In other words, you are not talking about stamina, speed and coordination in general--you are discussing them as specific needs of a baseball player. An improved outline would be more specific. For example:
I. Need for stamina
II. Need for speed
III. Need for coordination
A still more specific outline would read:
Another way of stating your main points, of course, would be to put them in complete sentences. Your next sample thesis sentence was the following:
How would this sentence be converted into a general (Roman numeral headings only) outline? Write your outline below.
Your main headings should have been
I. War towns
II. Peace towns
(The phrase "The Cherokee nation was composed of ..." is understood in each heading.)
If anything other than war towns and peace towns appear as headings, you were wrong.
Why?
A common question is, "What about the rest of the material in the thesis sentence?" And the outline comes out like this--wrong:
I. Cherokee nation
II. War towns
III. Peace towns
Why is this wrong? Because an accurate breakdown of your thesis, using the subject of the whole sentence, is as follows:
I. Cherokee nation was composed of war towns
II. The Cherokee nation was composed of peace towns
In other words, "Cherokee nation," whether written or understood is an integral part of each main heading-- not a separate main heading in itself.
Your thesis sentence doesn't call for a detailed identification of the Cherokee Indians. A sentence or two in your introduction will suffice.
Now you have been given two sample breakdowns, of thesis sentences.
I. Baseball players need stamina
II. Baseball players need speed
III. Baseball players need coordination
I. Composed of war towns
II. Composed of peace towns
But we have covered only the first part of the outlining process.
Why?
Because your outline still doesn't tell you anything more than does your thesis sentence. If this is true, it serves no real purpose--it can't be used as a detailed guide or a preliminary plan. For example, take the outline on Cherokee towns. What kinds of supporting details, facts, and examples does the writer intend to include?
His outline might look like this:
I. War towns
A. Called "red towns"
B. Devoted to prosecution of war
C. Consisted of certain upper classes
1. High priest of war and his assistants
2. Scouts
3. Surgeons
4. Clan ladies of high position
II. Peace towns
A. Called "white towns"
B. Devoted to maintenance of peace
C. Were towns of refuge
Such information (supporting details, facts, and examples) will be included in the subdivisons of your outline. The more important the information, the more important the divisions of the outline it will be placed in. The following should serve you as a guide in alternating letters and numbers to show sequence and the importance of information.
A.
B.
1.
2.
a.
b.
(2)
(a)
(b)
C.
A.
1.
2.
B.
C.
D.
1.
a.
b.
2.
Try answering the following questions.
1. What information is needed in an outline other than what is stated in the Roman numeral headings?
2. What determines whether a particular heading is preceded by a roman numeral, a capital letter, an Arabic numeral, etc.?
Your answer should have been comparable to the following:
1. Supporting details and examples. What reasons the writer intends to give to support his statements.
2. Its significance in relation to the whole outline (the importance of the information). Is it coordinate with other headings, or should it be subordinate to them?
Now convert your sentence into a general (Roman numeral heading) outline.
The major divisions of your outline should be the same as those of your thesis. That is, the subtopics of your thesis sentence should be the Roman numeral headings--the only Roman numeral headings--in your outline.
Make sure they are the same before you continue.
If they are the same, your next step is to develop the outline in detail. Use the following procedure.
1. Put in your capital letter headings. When you have done this, make sure you don't have any single headings or subheadings in the outline.
2. Put in your Arabic numeral headings. (These may not be necessary in every case.)
Here is a sample outline, written by a student, which shows the correct form and relationship between the various parts of an outline.
Johnny Huggins
ASP, Section 1
September 17, 1971
New York Giants
Thesis sentence: The New York Giants used their passing team, speed, and defense to win their division.
I. Passing team
A. Quarterbacks
B. Receivers
C. Blockers
II. Speed
A. Runners
B. Quarterbacks
1. Scrambler
2. Balance runner
III. Defense
A. Front four
B. Linebackers
C. Backs
Now ask yourself the following questions about your outline:
1. Does your outline contain three major parts--title, thesis sentence, and the outline proper?
2. Does your outline thoroughly cover the subject?
3. Does your outline follow the same pattern of organization as your thesis sentence?
4. Are the parts of your outline logically arranged?
5. Does your outline follow correct form in idention and parallel structure? ( Parallel structure means that items of equal importance should be placed in headings of equal importance.)
6. Is the outline sufficiently detailed to effectively guide in the writing of the essay?
7. Is the relationship among the parts of your outline in detail?
8. Can you develop each entry of your outline in detail?
9. Have you eliminated all single headings and subheadings from your outline? (In other words, there shouldn't be an A without a B under it, or a 1 without a 2 under it.)
"Yes" should be the answer to all of the above. If you’re having trouble, see me or some writing instructor and get some help. (That’s what we’re here for!)