Why and How to Create a Useful Outline

Why create an outline? There are many reasons; but in general, it may be helpful to create an outline when you want to show the hierarchical relationship or logical ordering of information. For research papers, an outline may help you keep track of large amounts of information. For creative writing, an outline may help organize the various plot threads and help keep track of character traits. any people find that organizing an oral report or presentation in outline form helps them speak more effectively in front of a crowd. !elow are the primary reasons for creating an outline.

"ids in the process of writing #elps you organize your ideas $resents your material in a logical form %hows the relationships among ideas in your writing &onstructs an ordered overview of your writing 'efines boundaries and groups

#ow do ( create an outline?

'etermine the purpose of your paper. 'etermine the audience you are writing for. 'evelop the thesis of your paper.

Then)

Brainstorm) *ist all the ideas that you want to include in your paper. Organize) +roup related ideas together. Order) "rrange material in subsections from general to specific or from abstract to concrete. Label) &reate main and sub headings.

,emember) creating an outline before writing your paper will make organizing your thoughts a lot easier. Whether you follow the suggested guidelines is up to you, but making any kind of outline -even .ust some .otting down some main ideas/ will be beneficial to your writing process.

Contributors: 0lyssa Tardiff, "llen !rizee. COL-140 Page 1

Source) 1W* $urdue 1nline Writing &enter -http://owl.english.purdue.edu/)

Outline Example

Question) (s the encouragement of renewable energy technology good for the economy? I. Introduction ". Thesis 2 "lthough almost all previous attempts to encourage renewable energy technology have failed, the recent increase in demand as well as development of new technologies lead one to the conclusion that investment in this sector will generate robust economic growth.

II.

Why Previous ttem!ts "ailed ". 3ot 0nough 'emand 4. *ittle awareness of impact of human activity on climate -global warming/ 5. *ittle need seen to conserve resources a. $rior to the rise of (ndia and &hina6s middle class

!. ,enewable 0nergy Technology %till in 0arly %tages 4. %olar, wind, and geothermal research still in early days 5. Technology too e7pensive to compete with fossil fuels

III.

Why #imes are $o% &i''erent ". 'emand #as (ncreased 4. 5. "wareness of human impact on climate change has grown ore need seen now to conserve resources a. ,ise of (ndia and &hina6s middle class means millions more now living high consumption8waste producing lifestyles

!.

,enewable 0nergy Technology #as (mproved 4. ore research completed to make solar, wind, and geothermal more efficient Page 2

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5. #ardware improvement and increased demand have brought prices down so that renewable energy technology is as cheap as fossil fuels

I(. )ene%able *nergy #echnology is +ood Business ". +rowth of ,enewable 0nergy %ector 4. (nvestments e7panded from 9:; billion in 5<<: to 945< billion in 5<<; 5. (nternational 0nergy "gency -(0"/ predicts 95< trillion =%' will be invested in renewable energy pro.ects over the ne7t 5< years

!.

+lobal $ublic $olicy 3ow 0ncouraging 'evelopment of ,enewable 0nergy 4. +overnments around the world are rewarding renewable energy development -ta7 breaks/ and punishing use of fossil fuels -carbon ta7es/

(.

Conclusion

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