How to Do a Research Outline

A research outline is a useful tool to assist in writing various types of research papers and projects. It is essentially a pared-down version of your entire report. Once you have your outline completed, it is helpful to use it as a guide when you are writing, as your outline reminds you of the progression you planned for your report. It is important to create your research outline carefully, as it becomes an essential part of your project. These steps are typical of every type of outline you could write and it is important to pay close attention to the formatting. Always check with your educator or professor about their specific expectations, as they may vary. There are different types of outlines used for different disciplines, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the correct one for the research type you are doing.

Things You'll Need

• Your research topic
• Any information or materials you have collected pertaining to your research paper or project
• Writing utensil and paper
• Computer with a word processing program (this will make formatting your outline easier)

Instructions

1. Before you begin writing your outline, you will need to have a topic for your research paper or project. Once you have decided on a topic, gather many sources and types of information relating to the subject you chose. The more information you collect, the easier it will be to create your outline and then complete your project. The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers will be extremely handy if you think you will be writing many research papers in the future. Most college professors will recommend you have this.

2. Divide your research outline into sections. Write the title of your research paper or project at the top of the page in the center. Next you will write your thesis. You should format it like this:

   Thesis: Then write your thesis here. Dictionary.com defines a thesis as "a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, esp. one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections" or "a subject for a composition or essay." Write what your paper will be about and what your project will accomplish.

3. Begin the formatting of the actual outline. This is when a word processing program will come in handy. In fact, Pages for Macs and Microsoft Word for Windows both should have example templates for research outlines. It will be easier to use one of these templates if possible. Alternatively, your educator may have given you an example of the type of outline she is looking for. In this case, follow your instructor's directions.

   The outline will be divided into sections, with each main section labeled with a Roman numeral, each sub-section labeled with a capital letter (going in alphabetical order) and each sub-sub-section labeled with numbers, then lowercase letters. Begin with section I. Write the Roman numeral "I" at the left-hand margin. Next to the numeral, write what the first section of your project will be about. This is typically the introduction. Brainstorm your opening sentence and write it here. Remember to make it interesting and informative so it will catch your readers' attention right away.

4. Beneath the first Roman numeral, divide the section into sub-sections as described above. Use as many sub-sections as you need to adequately outline the major points you plan on discussing in that section of your paper. Here is an example taken from the template that comes with the Pages application for Macs:

   I. Outline is written in complete sentences. This will be your introduction.
   A. You will need to tab your sub-sections to indent them. The outline should proceed in descending order, from most important point to less important points. The section labeled "A" will always be the most important point under that particular heading. All sub-sections should be tabbed so the text is inline with the subheading.
   1. The part labeled "1" will be the next most important point you will discuss under that heading. This should be tabbed over twice to be indented below section "A." All subsections will have the text aligned with the subheading they correspond with.
   a. This section will contain other important points included in section "1." It should be tabbed three times to be indented below section "1."

5. Repeat the process above for each section of your paper, labeling the headings I, II, III, IV and so forth. The subheadings will use the same capital letter, numeral, lowercase letter system as described above. Continue this process for each section of your research paper or project until you reach the conclusion.

   The conclusion will have its own section like your thesis had. Label it "Conclusion" and write what the ultimate point of your research paper or project will be. It is helpful to try to come up with your concluding sentence and write it here.

Tips & Warnings

• Your school or town library may have software that you can use for free to assist you in writing your research outline and, later, your research paper. Check with your librarian for help and information about this. Your college most likely also has a writing center where you can get help with your papers and projects. If all else fails, ask your teacher or professor---he or she is there to help!

References

• Dictionary.com

Resources

• MLA Website
• iWork Free Trial
• MicrosoftOffice Trial