How to Do a Working Outline for a Research Paper

Writing an ouline helps to organize thoughts before writing.

When writing a research paper, a good intermediate step to keep the task organized is to write a working outline. The outline can be written from note cards before a rough draft. Some writers have a difficult time getting from their notes to a rough draft, and the rough draft can suffer if the writer is discombobulated in their thinking. A working outline serves to focus thoughts and makes the transition to writing easier.

Things You'll Need

• Notes
• Computer
• Pen
• Paper

Instructions

1. Use Roman numerals to divide up the outline. Start off with the Roman numeral one for the Introduction. Indent on the next line and use capital letters for each main idea in the introduction. Indent again and use regular numbers to include important information relating to each idea. If there is a need for further drilling down of ideas then use small letters, followed by numbers in parentheses, followed by small letters in parentheses as noted in the MLA handbook. After completing the outline on the introduction, proceed to Roman numeral II and start outlining the first chapter.

2. Begin the outline with the thesis statement in the introduction. The outline is where you determine the arrangement of your paper. If it is historical then you need to choose either a chronological or topographical arrangement. The Los Angeles Valley College Library suggests going from general to specific.

3. Coordinate the outline so that all of the parallel Roman numbers, letters, and regular numbers have the same level of significance. This starts with the Roman numerals. The Purdue online writing lab states that each Roman numeral needs to have the same importance. The Roman numerals should be the chapter titles or the separate main ideas of the research paper. Consequently, all of the capital letters need to have the same significance to the main ideas, and down the line. This is why outlines are so helpful: they organize ideas in a methodical way and smooth the transition to writing.

4. When writing a working outline be succinct in your writing, but write out the ideas and avoid abbreviations. The outline is a bridge between notes and writing, so the form of the writing needs to mirror this transition. Outlines show the inadequacy of your research. When transferring notes to the outline, if there is not enough information to support ideas this will show while creating an outline. If one section of the outline looks sparse then you know where you need to go back to the research stage and where focus additional energy. The outline can also tell you or an adviser where you have too much content and need to cut back.

Tips & Warnings

• Even if a writing assignment does not require an outline, it is still a good idea to use one.

References

• Capital Community College: Preparing and Using Outlines
• Los Angeles Valley College Library: How to Write an Outline
• Purdue Online Writing Lab: Four Main Components for Effective Outlines