Read and follow this page, but delete it before printing and/or submitting your outline.

Follow the mini outline for your chosen scheme and incorporate all required components and labels. Follow all Outline Guide rules!

Outline Guide

This is just a guide, so adjust for your paper’s purpose and topic. Outlines should not be intricate. They are intended to provide you direction, so your essay is coherent. You may choose to write yours in sentences or by idea only.

Outlines indicate what ideas are subordinate (supporting or dependent) to larger concepts. Roman numerals indicate introduction, main points, and conclusion — the largest units. You must subordinate beyond Roman numerals to at least the capital letter level. Roman numeral level is not sufficient.

Capital letters are the next degree of subordination and are indented. These are the ideas that contribute to your larger units, dividing them into supports, explanations, etc. The third degree of subordination is Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3…) and is further indented. This degree supports the second degree (A, B, C…) If you need more detail, use lower case letters (a, b, c) and indent further.

Because they divide the larger units, each degree of subordination must have at least one mate. For example, if you have an A, you must also have at least a B. Think math here — you can’t divide something into only one part!

HEY! Don’t ignore this big, bolded message:

Write thesis above outline. As you write outline, determine where your thesis will most effectively establish your claim. It will never go in the formulaic spot, the last sentence of the introduction. Where will it most help you achieve your intention?

Write “thesis” in that location

Remember to delete this instruction page before printing.

Delete these instructions and type your name here (Highlight instructional text and start typing).

Outline Scheme: Type scheme name here. (Highlight instructional text and start typing)

Purpose: Type your purpose here. See mini outline for sample. (Highlight instructional text and start typing)

Thesis: Type thesis here. Write the word thesis where you will insert it in outline. (Highlight instructional text and start typing)

Introduction

Type an idea from Impact Sheet here

Address Prompt and mention author and title if analyzing or responding to a source

Type Words Here

Reason, explanation, or example (Delete and type over these words, and do so for every degree that follows).

Support

Support

Optional (Delete if not using. Delete any optional degrees that you don’t use.)

Optional

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Conclusion

Wrap-Up

Idea from Impact Sheet

Delete all sections you do not use. Do not leave anything that states, “optional” or “Type Words Here.” Clean up your outline so it includes just what you need, not any instructional text.