Outline Basics

Thesis Statement and Outline Help: In 5 Steps

Writing something before you fully know what you are going to say can be challenging; however, outlining can also be one of the most helpful elements of the writing process.  What I recommend is… 1.           using your thesis to help you develop the Roman numerals of your outline, AND 2.           brainstorming to come up with the main points of your essay can help too! IT IS BEST to look at the thesis like a formula.  This formula will structure your body paragraphs so that you can focus on development…not worrying about what goes where. Once you have completed the steps below, you can go back in and add supporting information from your research demonstrating you have done the research and can appropriately cite your sources.  Take the time to go through each of the steps below. You will find examples in the links that relate to all your essay assignments. Outlining: Step 1 Outlining: Step 2 Outlining: Step 3 Outlining: Step 4 Outlining: Step 5

Sample Fill-In Outlines

When creating your outline for ENGL101, please make sure that it follows this basic layout. 

For help with idea progression and development in a Proposal Argument, Ethical Argument, or Cause and Effect Argument assignment, please see these outline examples from “Chapter 11” of The Well-Crafted Argument.

• ProposalArgument

• Ethical Argument

• Cause and Effect Argument

The outline links above have been modified from the content in “Chapter 11: The Elements of Argument.” LUC: White & Billings, The Well-Crafted Argument (2018). 

Additional information for the clearest outline and essay possible has been added to the original outline sample from that textbook.  Please follow the outline layout in the links above for the Argument Outline assignments in this ENGL101 course.

© J. Lynn H. Dick, 2019 For Educational Purposes Only JDick13@liberty.edu