2. DEFINING OUTLINE
• a summary that gives the essential features of a text
• shows how the parts of a text is related to one another as parts
that are of equal importance, or sections that are subordinate to a
main idea
• a map of your essay. It shows what information each section or
paragraph will contain and in what order.
• a written plan that serves as a skeleton for the paragraphs you
write
• a tool used in the writing process to help organize your ideas,
visualize your paper’s potential structure and to further flesh out
3. BENEFITS OF OUTLINING READING TEXT
• It gives an overview of the topic and it enables us to
see how various subtopics relate to one another.
• Recording the information in our own words tests
our level of understanding of what we read.
• It is an effective way to record needed information
from reference books you do not own.
4. TWO KINDS OF OUTLINE
•Reading Outline – is what you make
when you study a paper
•Writing Outline – is what you make
before you write an essay.
5. TWO MAIN TYPES OF OUTLINE
•a. Topic Outline - provides an overview of the
topics to be included in an essay.
•b. Sentence Outline - the thesis and topic
sentence of each supporting paragraph are fully
written out. The sentence outline forces part of
the essay to be written out in sentences before
the first draft.
6. OUTLINE FORMAT
• A traditional outline starts with a thesis statement. This is a one-
sentence statement of the main idea of the article. Then the body of the
article is divided and subdivided this way:
• a. Main ideas are labeled with Roman Numerals (1st level of an outline)
• b. Supporting ideas developing the main ideas are labelled with capital
letters, indented. (2nd Level)
• c. Details developing the supporting ideas are labelled with Arabic
number, indented. (3rd Level)
• d. Minor details developing the details are labelled with small letters.
(4th Level)
7.
8. Directions: Read the passage and look for the main idea, then fill in the information to
form the outline.
The Greeks granted citizenship to many conquered people. They made great
contributions to literature and philosophy. Second, they differed in the views
of citizenship. The Romans developed practical methods for government and
the legal system. They stressed citizenship as part of national heritage.
Second, each were leaders in their own special field.
• I. Topic Sentence: The ancient Romans were unlike the Greeks in many ways.
• A. Major Detail _______________________________
• 1. (Minor detail)_____________________________
• 2. (Minor detail)_____________________________
• B. Major Detail _______________________________
• 1. (Minor detail)_____________________________
• 2. (Minor detail)_____________________________
