Developing an Outline

An outline is:

	A logical, general description
	A schematic summary
	An organizational pattern
	A visual and conceptual design of your writing

An outline reflects logical thinking and correct classification.

PURPOSE

Generally

Aids you in the process of writing

Particularly

	Helps organize your ideas
	Presents your material in a logical form
	Shows the relationship of ideas in your writing
	Constructs an ordered overview of your writing
	Defines boundaries and groups

PROCESS

Before you begin:

	Determine the purpose of your paper.
	Determine the thesis of your paper.
	Determine the audience you are writing for.

Then:

	Brainstorm - List all the ideas you want to include in this writing.
	Organize - Group ideas together that are related to each other.
	Order - Divide this material into groups arranging from the general to the specific, or from abstract to concrete.
	Label - Create main and subtopic headings and write coordinate levels in parallel form.

THEORY

An outline has a balanced structure which uses the principles of:

	Parallelism
	Coordination
	Subordination
	Division

Parallelism

Whenever possible, in writing an outline, coordinate heads should be expressed in parallel form. That is, nouns should be made parallel with nouns, verb forms with verb forms, adjectives with adjectives, and so on. (Example: Nouns - computers, programs, users; Verbs - to compute, to program, to use; Adjectives - home computers, new programs, experienced users.) Although parallel structure is desired, logical and clear writing should not be sacrificed simply to maintain parallelism (For example, there are times when nouns and gerunds used at the same level of an outline are acceptable.) Reasonableness and flexibility of form is preferred to rigidity.

Coordination

In outlining, those items which are of equal significance have comparable numeral or letter designations; an A is equal a B, a 1 to a 2, an a to a b, etc. Coordinates should be seen as "having the same value." Coordination is a principle that enables the writer to maintain a coherent and consistent document.

Correct coordination

A. Word processing programs

B. Data base programs

C. Spreadsheet programs

Incorrect coordination

A. Word processing programs

B. Wordstar

C. Thinktank

Explanation: Wordstar is a type of word processing program and should be treated as a subdivision. Thinktank is a type of organizational program. One way to correct coordination would be:

A. Types of programs

1. Wordstar

2. Thinktank

B. Evaluation of programs

1. Wordstar

2. Thinktank

Subordination

In order to indicate relevance, that is levels of significance, an outline uses major and minor heading. Thus in ordering ideas you should organize material from general to specific or from abstract to concrete - the more general or abstract the concept, the higher the level or rank in the outline. This principle allows your material to be ordered in terms of logic and requires a clear articulation of the relationship between component parts used in the outline. Subdivisions of a major division should always have the same relationship to the whole.

Correct subordination

A. Word processing programs

1. Applewriter

2. Wordstar

B. Thought processors

1. Thinktank

2. THOR

Faulty subordination

A. Word processing programs

1. Applewriter

2. Useful

3. Obsolete

Explanation: There is an A without a B. Also 1, 2, 3 are not equal; Applewriter is a type of word processing program, and useful and obsolete are qualities. One way to correct this faulty subordination is:

A. Applewriter

1. Positive features

2. Negative features

B. Wordstar

1. Positive features

2. Negative features

Division

To divide you always need at least two parts; therefore, there can never be an A without a B, a 1 without a 2, an a without a b, etc. Usually there is more than one way to divide parts; however, when dividing use only one basis of division at each rank and make the basis of division as sharp as possible.

Example 1:

A. Microcomputers hardware

1. Types

2. Cost

3. Maintenance

B. Microcomputers software

Example 2

A. Computers

1. Mainframe

2. Micro

a. Floppy Disk

b. Hard disk

B. Computer Uses

1. Institutional

2. Personal

FORM

The most important rule for outlining form is to be consistent!!

An outline can use TOPIC OR SENTENCE STRUCTURE.

A TOPIC outline uses words or phrases for all entries; uses no punctuation after entries

Advantages - presents a brief overview of work; is generally easier and faster to write than a sentence outline

A SENTENCE outline uses complete sentences for all entries; uses correct punctuation

Advantages - presents a more detailed overview of work including possible topic sentences; is easier and faster for writing the final paper.

An outline can use Roman Numerals/Letters or Decimal form.

Roman Numeral                           Decimal
I.                                      1.0
A.                                        1.1
B.                                        1.2
1.                                          1.2.1
2.                                          1.2.2
a.                                              1.2.2.1
b.                                              1.2.2.2

II. 2.0 A. 2.1 B. 2.2 C. 2.3