A Introduction
Briefly discuss what is meant by the word outline. Outlines are used by writers to work out plans for their paragraphs and essays. In 101, you will develop your knowledge of outlining by outlining the reading passages at the end of this book.
B Points to Remember
The main points to remember when making an outline are to:
1 Delete all the articles (a, an and the)
2 Delete the helping words (will, shall, must, may, might, can, could, is, are, has, have)
3 Find the main points and supporting details
4 Leave out irrelevant or repeated information
5 Present the ideas in a logical order, going from the most general to the most specific
6 Use headings and subheadings to show main ideas
7 Use the standard format for outlining – see below
8 Use abbreviations and symbols where possible
9 The first part of the outline should be a definition
C Rules for Writing Outlines
The rules for writing an outline are as follows:
1 The title must be centered
2 Headings: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VII, IX, X
3 Sub-points: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H
4 Sub-sub points: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
5 Sub-sub-sub points a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, I, j
Or (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8)
6 Sub-sub-sub-sub points i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x
7 Sub-sub-sub-sub-sub points ai, aii, aiii, aiv, av, avi, avii, avii, aix, ax
8 Remember to indent when you write the letters and numbers that show the points and sub-points
Exercise 1 – An Example of an Outline
Look at the skeleton of the following outline for countries in the European Union, and decide what headings and subheadings you are going to include in it. Then add information for the U.K. and Germany following the same order.
Title: EU Countries
I Definition:
II European Union:
A
1
2
a
b
i
ii
B
C
D
III Germany
IV UK
Exercise 2 – An Example of an Outline
Now choose a topic and make up an outline following the rules mentioned above.
Exercise 3 – Outlining
If you need more practice, you can make up an outline for one of the paragraphs or pages in one of your textbooks.
Exercise 4 – Internet Activities
A If you go to http://www.english-zone.com/index.html, you will find information about outlines and writing paragraphs.
B If you go to http://webster.commnet.edu/mla/outlines.shtml,you will find information about making up outlines. Read the information, then download a reading passage from the Internet, and make up your own outline. If this is too easy, download 2 passages and make up an outline based on the information in the 2 texts. Suggested topics: vertebrates, animals, fish, software, industries, automobile industry, automobiles, science. (The list is endless!!). When you do your research essay, you will need to make an outline using information from 3 sources. When you prepare your presentation, you will need to use more than one source too.
C If you go to http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/mla/outlines.shtml, you will find the MLA layout for outlines which is a little different from the layout above. If you are going to study in the USA, ask which form your bibliography is supposed to use. The ones used in the UK are sometimes different.
