Monday 9 December 2013

HOW TO WRITE AN OUTLINE FOR A RESEARCH PAPER.----- BY. MWL. JAPHET MASATU.

How to Write an Outline for a Research Paper

Sample Outlines Outline Type and Structure Outline Levels Components of Effective Outlines Organizing the Outline

Edited by Hailey Girges, Allie

Writing an outline for a research paper can seem like a time consuming task, and you may not understand the value of it if you have never written one before. Outlines can help you structure your research and your final paper in much more efficient ways, though, so it is a good idea that you learn how to write one. Here are a few things to keep in mind when doing so.

EditSample Outlines

Sample Literature Outline

Sample Compare and Contrast Outline

Sample Research Outline

EditPart 1 of 4: Outline Type and Structure

1
Choose between a topic outline and sentence outline.^[1] With a topic outline, the headings and subpoints are all given in single words or short phrases. With a sentence outline, all of the headings and subpoints are provided in complete sentences.
- Topic outlines are usually used when your research deals with many different issues that can be arranged in different ways.
- Sentence outlines are usually used if your research focuses on complex issues.
- Some instructors will insist that you must not combine these two forms. Many others, however, offer one exception to this guideline by allowing the main section headings to be short phrases while the remaining subpoints are written as full sentences.
2
Most outlines use an alpha-numerical structure. This structure uses a series of letters and numbers to identify and arrange section levels.
- The first level is represented by Roman numerals (I, II, II, IV, etc.), the second level is represented by capital letters (A, B, C, D, etc.), the third level is represented by numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), and the fourth level is represented by lowercase letters (a, b, c, d, etc.).
3
Note capitalization issues. In sentence outlines, headings and subpoints are almost always written with correct sentence capitalization rules. This is not always the case with topic outlines, though.
- One school of thought indicates that first level headings should be written in all capital letters while all remaining headings use standard sentence capitalization rules.
- Another school of thought suggests that the first level headings should only have the first letter of each word capitalized, rather than the entire word. The remaining headings, again, use standard sentence capitalization rules.
4
Keep matters of length in mind. Your outline should run no longer than one-quarter to one-fifth the total estimated size of your final research paper.
- For a four to five page paper, you only need a single page outline.
- For a 15 to 20 page paper, your outline will usually run no longer than four pages.^[2]

EditPart 2 of 4: Outline Levels

1
Familiarize yourself with a one-level outline. A one-level outline only uses major headings and no subheadings. ^[3]
- These headings are labeled with Roman numerals.
- Note that you would not usually use this outline for a research paper, as it is not very specific or detailed. It can still be a good idea to start with this outline level, however, since you can use it to provide yourself with a general direction for your paper and expand upon it as the information flows in.
2
Move onto a two-level outline. Two-level outlines are a little more common for research papers. You utilize major headings and one level of subheadings.
- In other words, your Roman numeral and capital letter sections are both present.
- Each second-level subheading should discuss a primary supporting argument for the main idea it falls under.
3
Progress to a three-level outline. A three-level outline is even more complex, but if done right, it can help you to structure your research paper even more thoroughly.
- You use Roman numerals, capital letters, and standard numbers for this version.
- Next to each third-level subsection, you should address the topic of a paragraph that falls under the corresponding second-level section or main idea above it.
4
Use a four-level outline, when necessary. These outlines are about the most complex you would expect to need for a research paper, and if you choose this structure, you will use Roman numerals, capital letters, standard numbers, and lowercase letters for your levels.
- The fourth-level subheadings should address supporting statements, citations, or ideas within each paragraph listed in the third-level sections.

EditPart 3 of 4: Components of Effective Outlines

1
Use parallelism. Every heading and subheading should maintain a structure that is parallel to the other headings within its level.^[4]
- This refers most obviously to the usage of "topic" versus "sentence" outline formats, as described in the "structure and type" section of the article.
- Parallelism also refers to parts of speech and tense. If a heading starts with a verb, then the other headings must also start with a verb. Moreover, that verb must also be in the same tense (usually present tense).
2
Coordinate your information. The information provided by your first major heading should be equal in importance to the information offered in your second major heading. The same can be said of sentences in subheadings, as well.
- Your major headings should identify major tasks or ideas.
- Your subheadings should elaborate on the points addressed in your major headings.
3
Employ effective subordination. The information in your headings should be general and the subheadings should be more specific.
- For instance, if you were writing about memorable experiences from your childhood, "Memorable Childhood Experiences" would be the heading and the subheadings might look something like, "Vacation at 8 years old," "Favorite birthday party," and "Family trips to the park."
4
Practice division. Each major heading should be divided into two or more parts. In other words, you should have at least two subheadings for every major heading.
- There is no limit on subheadings, but once you start forming a dozen or so subheadings under a single heading, you might find your outline looking cluttered and messy.

EditPart 4 of 4: Organizing the Outline

1
Identify the research problem. As you prepare to write your outline, you need to specifically identify the research problem you are trying to address. This will guide the entire formation of your outline and your paper.
- From this research problem, you will derive your thesis statement. A thesis statement is a single sentence that sums up the entire purpose or argument of your research paper.
- This thesis statement will usually be written above the outline itself or within the first "Introduction" heading of the outline.
- Your research problem can also help you figure out a title.
2
Identify your main categories. You also need to figure out what main points you plan on covering. All of these main points will be listed in your introduction and listed as part or all of you major headings for the body part of your paper.
- The main points are details that support or address your research paper. They should be very general in nature.
3
Consider the order. Take a look at your research topic and determine the best possible order to deliver information. You might end up using a chronological arrangement or a spatial arrangement, but as a general rule, you will go from general ideas to specific ones.
- Chronological arrangements generally only work if you have a topic that has some chronological history to it. For example, if you were researching the history of modern medicine, it would make sense that your paper and outline follow a chronological order.
- If your research topic does not have a history, though, you will probably end up using a spatial structure. For instance, if you are researching the effects of television and video games on the adolescent brain, you probably would not follow the chronology of the research. Instead, you might describe the different contemporary schools of thought on the issue or otherwise follow some other spatial arrangement of ideas.
4
Establish your major headings. Your first and last headings will be your "Introduction" and "Conclusions" sections, respectively. The other major headings will be represented by the main or major categories of your paper.^[5]
- Some instructors will insist that you do not use the terms "Introduction" and "Conclusions," however. In these instances, you can usually skip these two sections altogether, but you will need to write your thesis statement separately and above the outline.
5
Know what to include in your Introduction. Your "Introduction" heading will need to include your thesis, at minimum. You might also want to briefly list your main points and your hook.
- Note that these elements will usually be listed as subpoints, not as major headings. The major heading for the section will be "Introduction."
6
Understand what the body of your outline will consist of. Each main heading within the body portion of your outline will be labeled by a short phrase or sentence addressing a main category of your research paper.
- As with the actual paper itself, this portion of your outline will hold all the significant content.
- The main headings will correspond to the main categories briefly listed under a subheading of your “Introduction” section.
- You can include only the main ideas and supporting details of those ideas (a two-level outline, as noted in the “Outline Levels” section of the article) or you could include information about specific paragraphs and supporting details within those paragraphs (three-level and four-level outlines, respectively).
7
Arrange the Conclusions section. This section will not contain much information, but you still need to provide at least two subpoints under the main heading.
- Restate and rephrase your thesis.
- If you drew any additional conclusions based on your research, list them here. Keep in mind that none of this information should be “new,” and all of it should have been addressed elsewhere in the paper.
- If your research demands a “call to action”—a response that a reader should have in response or an action that should be done in response—include that under this section, as well. This will usually be your final point within the outline.

EditTips

Understanding the value of a good outline can help motivate you into perfecting yours.
- A good outline shows you what to address next in your paper, thereby limiting writer's block.
- Outlines help maintain a coherent, orderly flow of ideas.
- You can use an outline to check yourself as you write if you suspect that you are straying from the main topic.
- Having a visual outline can help encourage you as you write your paper since you can tell how much you have left.
- Outlines help you organize different ideas about the same topic and gain an understanding of how those ideas connect.