An all inclusive guide on how to write an outline

Toolkit for writing an outline

A thing you need to keep in mind before writing any type of project is to set its structure. Once you are done setting the structure of your project, then continue on to finalize your outline. In this guide, not only will we explain how to write an outline for your project but also how to create its structure. So let's get started with it. In a hurry? No worries, here we're providing a 2-minute read that will help you understand the process of creating an outline.

Action Item	Notes	Example
Step I Define the Project	In this part, you define what your project is about, whether it is an essay, an article, a report, or anything else. Defining the project will help you understand what kind of information you will be conveying in your writing.	Imagine your professor asked you to write an article on climate change, in such case your topic can be "The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity"
Step II Identify the Audience	Once you are done defining the project, the next step will be identifying your audience. In this, you will identify who will be reading your project, and what kind of information your audience is looking for.	Your target audience may consist of students and professors who may have a little knowledge of the topic but might not be fully aware of it.
Step III Set Your Objective	Now define your reason for writing the project, in other words, what is your intent? Do you aim to convey information, persuade consumers, or just entertain readers? Simply answer what are you trying to accomplish.	Your primary objective might be to make readers aware of the impact of climate changes and persuade them to take action against climate change to protect biodiversity.
Step IV Research & Resources	Now that you know what and why you're going to write, it's time to list down the sources you will be researching for the purpose of compiling data. In this step you list down materials, articles, and data you will need in your project.	To create a comprehensive article, you can draw on scientific research papers and experts’ insights. Also, You can also list down statistical data and insightful facts.
Step V Develop a Thesis or Main Idea	Now the main part of your outline comes, defining the thesis statement or main idea. This part requires you to define the central message that you're trying to make in the project.	If your objective is to persuade your readers, your thesis statement can be, "The article aims to persuade readers to take action against climate change for the purpose of protecting biodiversity"
Step VI Brainstorm Sections	Once you are done defining the central message, you will create a map for your project. Now, you will identify the main sections or chapters of your project.	The main points for your article could be: Causes of climate change Effects on Biodiversity Mitigation Strategies
Step VII Break Down Each Section	After creating the map for your project, the next step will involve breaking down each section and Identifying sub-points or subsections within those main sections.	In your main point "Effects on biodiversity", sub-points you can include can be Habitat loss Species extinction Change in ecosystem All will be explained with examples and backed with statistical data.
Step VIII Gather Evidence	Most of your academic projects will require you to cite any information you provide in your project Additionally, it will require you to identify any examples, quotes, and data to support your points.	You can cite scientific studies from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC), and provide statistical data on species facing extinction.
Step IX Draft Intro & Conclusion	Every project requires an introduction and conclusion. In the introduction, your main motive is to provide context and present the main idea of your project. In conclusion, you are required to summarize your project and close it.	In your introduction you will introduce the increasing impact of climate change and set the tone for the guide's content, also you can add a hook at the start of the introduction with a fact like "Did you know climate change alone puts 5% of all the species at the risk of extinction" In the conclusion, you will restate the thesis by emphasizing the urgency of addressing climate change and then summarize key points you made in the article.
Step X Add Transitions	A major suggestion is that you include transition words in your project. These words help your writing to move smoothly from one sentence, paragraph, and topic to another.	You can use words like "furthermore", and "consequently" to transition from "causes of climate change" to "effects on biodiversity"
Step XI Refine and Review	Now that you are done writing your outline, it's time you go through it once again to check for logical flow and completeness and revise as necessary.	Finally, during the review, you will need to ensure that your points comprehensively define the need for actions against climate change and also make sure that you have included all the necessary information, and didn't add any extra points.

Once, you are done with all these steps, your structure will look something like this:

And this is what your outline will look like

Want to learn how to write an outline in-depth? No worries, In the next section of this guide we will discuss how to write an outline while carrying an example throughout.

What is an outline?

An outline is like a roadmap for your writing, whether it's an article, essay, or report. It helps you figure out the order your paragraphs will go in, what each paragraph will talk about, and how everything fits together. Making an outline is an important step before you start writing because it shows you what you need to write in order to support your main idea and arguments. Additionally, it makes it easy to make changes without having to rewrite whole paragraphs.

Usually, outlines are made using short notes, bullet points, and important words that help you organize your thoughts and plan how your writing will look. You write short summaries or phrases for each paragraph to see how your argument will come together.

Now that you know what is an outline, now, a comprehensive discussion on how to write an outline will take place.

How to write an outline

1. Define the Project

In the first step of your writing project, it's important for you to define what your project is all about, whether it's an essay, article, report, or something else. This step will act as a cornerstone for your work. This clear definition will serve as the foundation for a focused, coherent, and purposeful development of your project, ensuring that your writing remains on track and effectively conveys its intended message.

Also, It will clarify the project's purpose and goals, which will help you understand the writing style of your project. Majorly, there are four writing styles that each fulfill their own purpose, They're as follows

• Narrative: You can use the narrative style when you want to tell a story filled with plot and characters.
• Expository: You can use the expository style when you are trying to explain a concept, this style is fact-based writing where you cannot state your opinion.
• Descriptive: You can use the descriptive style when you're describing something, this could be a place, person, or object.
• Persuasive: You can use the persuasive style when you are trying to convince your readers to accept your point of view on a particular topic.

2. Identify the Audience

Once you're done defining your project, the next step is to identify your audience. During this phase, your aim is to pinpoint the individuals who will be reading your project and identify the specific type of information they are seeking. In simple terms, you're trying to answer questions like:

• Who are your readers?
• What are their interests and needs?

Understanding your audience is an important part of writing because only then will you be able to solve their problems. You want to make sure your writing aligns with what your audience is expecting and searching for in your work. In essence, there are typically two main groups that will interact with your project:

• Professionals: This audience has a lot of knowledge on the subject matter so they don't need the basics explained to them.
• General public: This audience has little or no knowledge of the subject matter, so the basics need to be clearly laid out to them.

3. Set Your Objectives

Once you've clarified your project and identified your audience, the next step is defining your intent for writing the project. Essentially, you need to determine what you aim to achieve with your writing. Are you primarily looking to convey information, persuade and engage consumers, or perhaps entertain and captivate your readers? In simpler terms, what is the purpose of you writing this project? This intent will help you guide your writing journey and ensure that every word and idea you put down serves a specific purpose, some specific objectives may include:

• Narration: This is written for the purpose of sharing your personal experiences or goals.
• Persuasion: This is written for the purpose of Convincing readers of your viewpoint through logic and arguments.
• Argumentation: This is written for the purpose of taking a clear stance on a topic and supporting it with evidence.
• Explanation: This is written for the purpose of providing effective information or descriptions to your readers.

4. Research & Resources

Now that you have a clear understanding of what topic you're going to write about and the objective behind writing on that topic, the next step involves creating a list of all the sources you'll be using for research purposes. This would include listing down all the materials, articles, and data that you will use to back your project. Also, state any examples and statistical data you aim to use in your project.

Listing these sources will help you to make sure that you have a well-structured plan for gathering the necessary information to support your writing. This step will help you stay organized and ensure you don't miss any critical data or overlook important references. Additionally, help in keeping all the information in one place will ease your writing process.

5. Develop a Thesis or Main Idea

Now, the main part of your project has come, it's time to define the thesis statement also called the main idea. This step involves stating the core message you aim to convey through your project. In essence, you're crafting a concise and clear statement that summarizes the central argument or theme that your entire work revolves around. Additionally, It's a critical element that ensures your project remains coherent and purposeful, allowing your readers to understand the primary point you're trying to make.

Well, writing a thesis statement is a time-consuming task, it will require you to do a lot of research, gather evidence, and assess their significance, Only after doing these steps you will be able to develop your thesis statement.

6. Brainstorm Sections

After you've defined your central message or thesis statement, it's time to create a structural map for your project. In this step, you will identify and outline the main sections or chapters that will comprise your project. In simpler terms, you will identify and note down the main points you will be mentioning in your project.

Here, you construct the framework for your project, you break down your overall message into manageable parts or chapters, each serving as a building block to support your thesis statement. This structural map helps you organize your thoughts, ideas, and information in a logical sequence, making it easier for both you as the writer and your readers to follow the flow of your project. Also, it helps you ensure that your points are aligned with your thesis statement and are able to comprehensively explain them.

7. Break Down Each Section

Once you've established the main sections or chapters of your project, the next step is to go deeper into each of these sections. Here, you'll identify and outline the sub-points or subsections within those main sections. After outlining the key main points, proceed to introduce the specific subpoints you intend to elaborate on, as well as the supporting evidence such as examples, quotations, statistical data, and more that will strengthen your arguments.

This process will help you dissect each major part into more manageable components, making your project more organized and comprehensible. By defining these sub-points, you provide a roadmap not only for yourself but also for your readers.

8. Gather Evidence

In the realm of academic projects, it's essential to acknowledge that most of them will necessitate proper citation of any information you include in your work. Moreover, you'll also be expected to identify and incorporate examples, quotes, and data to substantiate and reinforce your arguments and points. In this step, you will be listing down the evidence for the information you aim to provide in your project.

This will not only give credit to the original authors or creators but also allow readers to verify and explore the sources for further context. Meanwhile, the use of examples, quotes, and data adds depth and credibility to your work, making your arguments more compelling and convincing.

9. Draft Intro & Conclusion

In every project, whether academic or otherwise, it is customary to include both an introduction and a conclusion.

In the introduction, your primary objective is to provide essential context and introduce the main idea or thesis statement of your project. This section acts as a guide for your readers, setting the stage by explaining what your project is about and why it matters. For your introduction, state the points you will be mentioning, along with a hook that will be designed to captivate and grab the attention of readers.

On the other hand, in the conclusion, your task is to bring your project to a close by summarizing the key points and arguments you've presented throughout. This section serves as a final, concise overview, allowing your readers to grasp the main takeaways from your work. Additionally, you'll summarize the key points made in the article and conclude with a compelling call to action.

10. Add Transitions

Transition words serve as valuable tools that facilitate the seamless flow of your writing, ensuring a smooth transition from one sentence, paragraph, or topic to another. These words play a pivotal role in connecting ideas, clarifying relationships between concepts, and guiding readers through your narrative. Some common types of transitions are listed below

• Addition: This is used when multiple ideas are presented that flow in the same direction. Example, Additionally, furthermore, etc.
• Contrast: This is used when a difference in idea or change in the argument is presented. Example, but, however, etc.
• Comparison: This is used when a similarity between ideas that are not under the same heading is presented. Example, similarly, likewise, etc.
• Cause and effect: This is used to show that an event or action leads to some result. Example, because, hence, etc.
• Summary or conclusion: This is used when we want to signify what follows is summarizing the previous text. Example, to conclude, finally, etc.

After completing your outline, it's essential that you identify and incorporate transitions wherever needed to facilitate smooth transitions between sentences, ideas, or topics.

11. Refine and Review

Lastly, in the final step, you review your outline to check for any extra elements or irrelevant information that may have been mistakenly included. Additionally, ensure that your outline provides a thorough and complete overview of your topic, leaving no important points overlooked.

Wrap-up

Writing can be a really difficult and time-consuming process It demands a long-term commitment and substantial effort for effective writing. but with the help of a proper outline you can make the process a lot easier. Creating an outline will help you create a map that will guide your writing. Additionally, by understanding and implementing the points discussed in this guide, we are confident that you will be able to elevate your writing quality.