Developing an Outline PURPOSE: An outline provides a logical road map for your paper. It is a visual reminder of how your ideas are organized so that you can write a paper in a clear and concise manner. It also clearly establishes what you will and will not address in your paper. By preparing an outline before you write, you will be less inclined to wander off course. In addition, an outline saves you time and can provide you with ideas if you suddenly encounter writer’s block. Steps to begin outlining:
BALANCE: Achieving balance in an outline is important because it helps you develop a logical pattern to present your ideas. Four main principles can help you create an outline that is useful and accurate. Principle #1: Parallelism Parallel structure among your headings helps you better understand the type of information that needs to be included in that section. In general, use consistent nouns, verbs or adjectives. Example of good parallel structure:
Or
Poor parallel structure:
Principle #2: Coordination Coordination is based on the idea that main topics and subtopics have value. Coordinating those topics means assigning them letters or numbers that reflect their value in relation to one another. Assigning value will help you organize your topics accurately and develop strong paragraphs and topic sentences. Example of good coordination: Equal value leads to strong paragraphs
Poor coordination-unrelated topics lead to confusing paragraphs
Principle #3: Subordination Subordination is the concept that outlines use major and minor headings so that your ideas can be organized in a logical way. Therefore, minor subtopics support major topics. Example of good subordination: A. Native habitat
B. Native Prey
Example of poor subordination: A. Native Habitats
Principle#4: Division (Rule of Two) Understanding how to divide your topics and subtopics into a logical sequence is the goal of outlining. Dividing them accurately rests on your ability to divide your information into parts. Keep in mind that the definition of division is based on separating topics into at least two parts. In other words, if there is an A, there must be a B; if there is an a, there must be a b; if there is a 1; there must be a 2, etc. Keep in mind that there is usually more than one way to divide your topics. So, if you’re getting frustrated consider reorganizing your headings so it follows the rule of two. This is where coordination and subordination can help. Strong Example of Rule of Two: A. Native Habitats
B. Native Prey
C. Native Predators
Poor Example of Rule of Two: A. Native Habitats
B. Native Prey
C. Native Predators |
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