Outlining

(noun)

A prewriting activity that allows you to organize to your ideas by placing them into an ordered sequence of primary and secondary ideas, which shows the relationship of the parts to the whole. 

Related Terms

Examples of Outlining in the following topics:

  • Step 3: Outlining

    • An outline is a great way to troubleshoot and firm up your argument before you commit to it in a draft.
    • The outline stage allows you to experiment with different ways of organizing.
    • Here are some ways to use the outline to make a better argument.
    • Leave enough time after creating your outline to get at least a night’s sleep before writing your first draft.
    • Looking at your outline board, come up with counter-arguments and questions for each claim.

  • Step 1: Prewriting and Choosing a Topic

    • Prewriting refers to what you do before you begin writing, whether that's brainstorming, making a concept map, or making an outline.  
    • Having these connected ideas already laid out will help you to form an outline more easily.
    • After collecting your ideas, but before turning them into an essay, many people find it helpful to produce an outline. 
    • Outlining shows how particular ideas fit—or don't fit—into a cohesive whole. 

  • Writing While You Research

    • We first research, then take notes, then outline, then write.
    • Writing about issues you discover in your research that you find interesting will take the tedium out of researching and outlining and will help you better understand the format your essay will take.

  • Introduction to the Writing Process

    • In high school, students usually submit their work in multiple stages—from the thesis statement to the outline to a draft of the paper, and finally, after receiving feedback on each preliminary piece, a completed project.
    • Your question might be "Why in the world would I want to spend precious time outlining?"

  • Managing Information

    • The first is outlining.
    • This does not mean that you have to come up with a full outline for your paper while conducting research.
    • Whereas an outline would group information by theme, this organizes it by source.

  • Indicating Who Cares

    • While it isn't necessary to name the audience directly, you should outline the costs and benefits of your position in order to give the audience incentive to keep reading.

  • Supporting Your Thesis

  • Incorporating Your Sources Into Your Paper

    • A summary outlines a source's most important points and general position.

  • APA: Series and Lists

    • ., if you’re outlining a step-by-step process, a summary of how an event unfolded over time, or a series of items in order of importance—you will need to use a numbered list.

  • Refuting Your Opposition