sample outlines for essays

• Try for free

How to Write an Essay Outline + Essay Outline Examples

Download for free, how to write an essay outline + essay outline examples .

Writing an essay can seem like a daunting task, but one of the best ways to tackle this challenge is to organize your ideas into a well-structured essay outline. This guide will walk you through the process of creating an essay outline, complete with essay outline examples, to ensure your next essay is a masterpiece.

We’ve compiled a variety of essay outline examples to help you understand how to structure your own essay. We'll cover persuasive essays, narrative essays, descriptive essays, expository essays, and even provide a sample research paper outline. Each example will provide you with an idea of how to lay out the structure and details for each type of essay.

Looking for a printable list of essay outline examples? Our printable PDF features essay outline examples and templates that your students can use as examples when writing research papers, or as a supplement for an essay-writing unit

Why write an essay outline? 

An outline serves as the skeleton of your essay, giving you a clear and organized path to articulate your thoughts. Not only does it make writing an essay significantly easier, but it also allows you to present your arguments coherently and effectively.

An essay outline will help you organize your main ideas and determine the order in which you are going to write about them.

Types of essay outlines

Several types of essay outlines can be used when writing an essay. The two most common types are the alphanumeric outline and the decimal outline.

An alphanumeric outline typically uses Roman numerals, capital letters, Arabic numerals, and lowercase letters, in that order. Each level provides a different level of specificity. This structure is a very effective way to think through how you will organize and present the information in your essay. It also helps you develop a strong argumentative essay.

Alternatively, a decimal outline uses only numbers, and each subsection is a decimal subdivision of the main section. This type of outline is often used in scientific papers.

Persuasive essay outline example 

In the following section, we'll explore a persuasive essay outline example on competitive swimming. The purpose of a persuasive essay is to convince the reader of a particular point of view or idea, using compelling arguments and evidence.

In this case, the argument is that competitive swimming is an ideal sport for kids. The essay will present a series of arguments to support this view, demonstrating the various benefits of competitive swimming for children.

Competitive Swimming, an Ideal Sport for Kids

Introduction

Start your argumentative essay outline by stating your point of view and/or presenting your persuasive argument.

Thesis: Competitive swimming is a great alternative to other youth sports.

Body Paragraph 1

Introduce your primary persuasive argument and provide supporting details in your argumentative essay outline.

Topic Sentence:   Competitive swimming provides the same benefits as other sports.

• Detail Sentence 1:   It is good exercise and builds muscular strength.
• Detail Sentence 2:   It promotes cooperation among team members, especially in relays.

Body Paragraph 2

Introduce a secondary argument and provide supporting details.

Topic Sentence:   Competitive swimming provides some unique additional benefits.

• Detail Sentence 1:   Swimming is an important skill that can be used forever.
• Detail Sentence 2:  Swimming poses a reduced risk of injury.
• Detail Sentence 3:   Each swimmer can easily chart his or her own progress.

Conclude your essay writing with a summary of the thesis and persuasive arguments. Brainstorming details that support your point-of-view is a great way to start before creating your outline and first draft.

Concluding Sentence:   There are many reasons why competitive swimming is a great alternative to other youth sports, including...

Narrative essay outline example

In the following section, we will examine a narrative essay outline example titled "How Losing a Swim Meet Made Me a Better Swimmer." Narrative essays aim to tell a story, often about a personal experience, to engage the reader and convey a particular point or lesson.

In this case, the narrative revolves around the author's personal journey of improvement and self-discovery through swimming. The essay will illustrate how an initial setback served as a catalyst for significant improvement and personal growth.

How Losing a Swim Meet Made Me a Better Swimmer

Introduce the subject of your narrative essay using a thesis statement and a plan of development (POD).

Thesis: The first time I participated in a competitive swim meet, I finished in last place. With more focused training and coaching, I was able to finish 2nd in the State Championship meet.

Plan of development:   I was very disappointed in my results from the first meet, so I improved my training and fitness. This helped me swim better and faster, which helped me to greatly improve my results.

Set the scene and provide supporting details. Again, start by brainstorming different ways to begin; then go ahead and craft an outline and a first draft.

Topic Sentence:   I was embarrassed at finishing last in my first competitive swim meet, so I began working on ways to improve my performance.

• Detail Sentence 1:   I spent extra time with my coach and the team captains learning how to improve my technique.
• Detail Sentence 2:   I started running and lifting weights to increase my overall fitness level.

Provide additional supporting details, descriptions, and experiences to develop your general idea in your essay writing.

Topic Sentence:   Over time, my results began to improve and I was able to qualify for the state championship meet.

• Detail Sentence 1:   My technique and fitness level made me faster and able to swim longer distances.
• Detail Sentence 2:  I steadily got better, and I began winning or placing in the top 3 at most of my meets.
• Detail Sentence 3:  My results improved to the point that I was able to qualify for the state championship meet.

Body Paragraph 3

The next step in the writing process is to provide additional supporting details, descriptions, and experiences. You can then divide them up under different headings.

Topic Sentence:   With my new confidence, techniques, and fitness level, I was able to finish 2nd at the state championship meet.

• Detail Sentence 1:   I was able to swim well against a higher level of competition due to my training and technique.
• Detail Sentence 2:  I was no longer embarrassed about my last-place finish, and was able to use it as motivation!

Conclude the narrative essay with a recap of the events described or a reflection on the lesson learned in the story. Briefly summarize the details you included under each heading.

Concluding Sentence:   I used my last-place finish in my first competitive swim meet as motivation to improve my performance.

Descriptive essay outline example

We will now delve into a descriptive essay outline example. Descriptive essays aim to create a vivid and detailed description of a person, place, object, or event to paint a picture for the reader. The intention is to immerse the reader in the subject matter fully.

In this case, the essay provides an in-depth description of a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The essay will use sensory and descriptive details to create a vivid and memorable experience for the reader.

Visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame

Introduce the subject of your descriptive essay with a thesis statement covering the person, place, object, etc. you are writing about.

Thesis: The Hockey Hall of Fame is full of sights, sounds, and experiences that will delight hockey fans of all ages.

Set the scene and provide factual details.

Topic Sentence:   The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Canada and features exhibits from amateur and professional hockey.

• Detail Sentence 1:   The Hall is located in downtown Toronto and is visited by 1 million people every year.
• Detail Sentence 2:   You can see exhibits ranging from the early beginnings of the sport to the modern NHL and Olympics.

Provide additional sensory details, descriptions, and experiences.

Topic Sentence:   There are many types of exhibits and shows, including activities you can participate in.

• Detail Sentence 1:  Player statues, plaques, and jerseys decorate the walls in every room of the Hall.
• Detail Sentence 2:  Many of the exhibits have movies and multimedia activities that make you feel like you're part of the game.
• Detail Sentence 3:  You can even practice shooting pucks on virtual versions of some of the game's greatest goalies!

Conclude the essay with a paragraph that restates the thesis and recaps the descriptive and sensory details.

Concluding Sentence:   The Hockey Hall of Fame is an experience that combines the best sights, sounds and history of the game in Toronto.

Expository essay outline example

In the following section, we will explore an example of an expository essay. An expository essay aims to explain or describe a topic using logic. It presents a balanced analysis of a topic based on facts—with no references to the writer’s opinions or emotions.

For this example, the topic is "Why The School Year Should be Shorter". This essay will use logic and reason to demonstrate that a shorter school year could provide various benefits for students, teachers, and school districts.

Why The School Year Should be Shorter

Introduce the primary argument or main point of an expository essay, or other types of academic writing, using a thesis statement and context.

Thesis: The school year is too long, and should be shortened to benefit students and teachers, save districts money, and improve test scores and academic results. Other countries have shorter school years, and achieve better results.

Describe the primary argument and provide supporting details and evidence.

Topic Sentence:   A shorter school year would benefit students and teachers by giving them more time off.

• Detail Sentence 1:   Students and teachers would be able to spend more time with their families.
• Detail Sentence 2:  Teachers would be refreshed and rejuvenated and able to teach more effectively.

Provide additional supporting details and evidence, as in this essay outline example.

Topic Sentence:  A shorter school year would save school districts millions of dollars per year.

• Detail Sentence 1:   Districts could save money on energy costs by keeping schools closed longer.
• Detail Sentence 2:  A shorter school year means much lower supply and transportation costs.
• Detail Sentence 3:  Well-rested and happy students would help improve test scores.

Provide additional or supplemental supporting details, evidence, and analysis, as in the essay outline example.

Topic Sentence:   Shortening the school year would also provide many benefits for parents and caregivers.

• Detail Sentence 1:   A shorter school year would mean less stress and running around for parents.
• Detail Sentence 2:  Caregivers would have more balance in their lives with fewer days in the school year.

Conclude the essay with an overview of the main argument, and highlight the importance of your evidence and conclusion.

Concluding Sentence:   Shortening the school year would be a great way to improve the quality of life for students, teachers, and parents while saving money for districts and improving academic results.

Sample research paper outline

Now let’s dive into a research paper outline. Unlike a typical essay, a research paper presents a thorough and detailed study on a specific topic. However, it shares the same foundation with an essay in terms of structuring the ideas logically and coherently. The outline for a research paper includes an introduction, a series of topic points that cover various aspects of the main topic, and a conclusion.

This research paper will explore the background of Mt. Everest, the major explorers who attempted its summit, and the impact of these expeditions on Mt. Everest and the local community.

The Conquest of Mt. Everest

• Location of Mt. Everest
• Geography of the Surrounding Area
• Height of the mountain
• Jomolungma (Tibetan name)
• Sagarmatha (Nepalese name)
• The number of people who have climbed Everest to date
• First to reach the summit (1953)
• Led a team of experienced mountain climbers who worked together
• Norgay was an experienced climber and guide who accompanied Hillary
• Sherpas still used to guide expeditions
• Leader of the failed 1996 expedition
• Led group of (mainly) tourists with little mountain climbing experience
• Loss of trees due to high demand for wood for cooking and heating for tourists.
• Piles of trash left by climbing expeditions
• Expedition fees provide income for the country
• Expeditions provide work for the Sherpas, contributing to the local economy.
• Introduction of motor vehicles
• Introduction of electricity

The Everest essay outline template is based on a research paper submitted by Alexandra Ferber, 9th grade.

Happy writing!

Writing an essay outline is a crucial step in crafting a well-structured and coherent essay. Regardless of the type of essay - be it persuasive, narrative, descriptive, expository, or a research paper - an outline serves as a roadmap that organizes your thoughts and guides your writing process. The various essay outline examples provided above serve as a guide to help you structure your own essay. Remember, the key to a great essay lies not just in the content but in its organization and flow. Happy writing!

Featured High School Resources

Related Resources

Essay Writing Guide

Essay Outline

Last updated on: Jun 10, 2023

A Complete Essay Outline - Guidelines and Format

By: Nova A.

13 min read

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Jan 15, 2019

To write an effective essay, you need to create a clear and well-organized essay outline. An essay outline will shape the essay’s entire content and determine how successful the essay will be.

In this blog post, we'll be going over the basics of essay outlines and provide a template for you to follow. We will also include a few examples so that you can get an idea about how these outlines look when they are put into practice.

Essay writing is not easy, but it becomes much easier with time, practice, and a detailed essay writing guide. Once you have developed your outline, everything else will come together more smoothly.

The key to success in any area is preparation - take the time now to develop a solid outline and then write your essays!

So, let’s get started!

On this Page

What is an Essay Outline?

An essay outline is your essay plan and a roadmap to essay writing. It is the structure of an essay you are about to write. It includes all the main points you have to discuss in each section along with the thesis statement.

Like every house has a map before it is constructed, the same is the importance of an essay outline. You can write an essay without crafting an outline, but you may miss essential information, and it is more time-consuming.

Once the outline is created, there is no chance of missing any important information. Also, it will help you to:

• Organize your thoughts and ideas.
• Understand the information flow.
• Never miss any crucial information or reference.
• Finish your work faster.

These are the reasons if someone asks you why an essay outline is needed. Now there are some points that must be kept in mind before proceeding to craft an essay outline.

Easily Outline Your Essays In Seconds!

Prewriting Process of Essay Outline

Your teacher may ask you to submit your essay outline before your essay. Therefore, you must know the preliminary guidelines that are necessary before writing an essay outline.

Here are the guidelines:

• You must go through your assignments’ guidelines carefully.
• Understand the purpose of your assignment.
• Know your audience.
• Mark the important point while researching your topic data.
• Select the structure of your essay outline; whether you are going to use a decimal point bullet or a simple one.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

How to Write an Essay Outline in 4 Steps

Creating an essay outline is a crucial step in crafting a well-structured and organized piece of writing. Follow these four simple steps to create an effective outline:

Step 1: Understand the Topic

To begin, thoroughly grasp the essence of your essay topic. 

Break it down into its key components and identify the main ideas you want to convey. This step ensures you have a clear direction and focus for your essay.

Step 2: Brainstorm and Gather Ideas

Let your creativity flow and brainstorm ideas related to your topic. 

Jot down key pieces of information, arguments, and supporting evidence that will strengthen your essay's overall message. Consider different perspectives and potential counterarguments to make your essay well-rounded.

Step 3: Organize Your Thoughts

Now it's time to give structure to your ideas. 

Arrange your main points in a logical order, starting with an attention-grabbing introduction, followed by body paragraphs that present your arguments. 

Finally, tie everything together with a compelling conclusion. Remember to use transitional phrases to create smooth transitions between sections.

Step 4: Add Depth with Subpoints

To add depth and clarity to your essay, incorporate subpoints under each main point. 

These subpoints provide more specific details, evidence, or examples that support your main ideas. They help to further strengthen your arguments and make your essay more convincing.

By following these four steps - you'll be well on your way to creating a clear and compelling essay outline.

Essay Outline Format

It is an easy way for you to write your thoughts in an organized manner. It may seem unnecessary and unimportant, but it is not.

It is one of the most crucial steps for essay writing as it shapes your entire essay and aids the writing process.

An essay outline consists of three main parts:

1. Introduction

The introduction body of your essay should be attention-grabbing. It should be written in such a manner that it attracts the reader’s interest. It should also provide background information about the topic for the readers.

You can use a dramatic tone to grab readers’ attention, but it should connect the audience to your thesis statement.

Here are some points without which your introduction paragraph is incomplete.

To attract the reader with the first few opening lines, we use a hook statement. It helps engage the reader and motivates them to read further. There are different types of hook sentences ranging from quotes, rhetorical questions to anecdotes and statistics, and much more.

Are you struggling to come up with an interesting hook? View these hook examples to get inspired!

A thesis statement is stated at the end of your introduction. It is the most important statement of your entire essay. It summarizes the purpose of the essay in one sentence.

The thesis statement tells the readers about the main theme of the essay, and it must be strong and clear. It holds the entire crux of your essay.

Need help creating a strong thesis statement? Check out this guide on thesis statements and learn to write a statement that perfectly captures your main argument!

2. Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of an essay are where all the details and evidence come into play. This is where you dive deep into the argument, providing explanations and supporting your ideas with solid evidence. 

If you're writing a persuasive essay, these paragraphs will be the powerhouse that convinces your readers. Similarly, in an argumentative essay, your body paragraphs will work their magic to sway your audience to your side.

Each paragraph should have a topic sentence and no more than one idea. A topic sentence is the crux of the contents of your paragraph. It is essential to keep your reader interested in the essay.

The topic sentence is followed by the supporting points and opinions, which are then justified with strong evidence.

3. Conclusion

When it comes to wrapping up your essay, never underestimate the power of a strong conclusion. Just like the introduction and body paragraphs, the conclusion plays a vital role in providing a sense of closure to your topic. 

To craft an impactful conclusion, it's crucial to summarize the key points discussed in the introduction and body paragraphs. You want to remind your readers of the important information you shared earlier. But keep it concise and to the point. Short, powerful sentences will leave a lasting impression.

Remember, your conclusion shouldn't drag on. Instead, restate your thesis statement and the supporting points you mentioned earlier. And here's a pro tip: go the extra mile and suggest a course of action. It leaves your readers with something to ponder or reflect on.

5 Paragraph Essay Outline Structure

An outline is an essential part of the writing as it helps the writer stay focused. A typical 5 paragraph essay outline example is shown here. This includes:

• State the topic
• Thesis statement
• Introduction
• Explanation
• A conclusion that ties to the thesis
• Summary of the essay
• Restate the thesis statement

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Essay Outline Template

The outline of the essay is the skeleton that you will fill out with the content. Both outline and relevant content are important for a good essay. The content you will add to flesh out the outline should be credible, relevant, and interesting.

The outline structure for the essay is not complex or difficult. No matter which type of essay you write, you either use an alphanumeric structure or a decimal structure for the outline.

Below is an outline sample that you can easily follow for your essay.

Essay Outline Sample

Essay Outline Examples

An essay outline template should follow when you start writing the essay. Every writer should learn how to write an outline for every type of essay and research paper.

Essay outline 4th grade

Essay outline 5th grade

Essay outline high school

Essay outline college

Given below are essay outline examples for different types of essay writing.

Argumentative Essay Outline

An  argumentative essay  is a type of essay that shows both sides of the topic that you are exploring. The argument that presents the basis of the essay should be created by providing evidence and supporting details.

Persuasive Essay Outline

A  persuasive essay  is similar to an argumentative essay. Your job is to provide facts and details to create the argument. In a persuasive essay, you convince your readers of your point of view.

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

A  compare and contrast essay  explains the similarities and differences between two things. While comparing, you should focus on the differences between two seemingly similar objects. While contrasting, you should focus on the similarities between two different objects.

Narrative Essay Outline

A narrative essay is written to share a story. Normally, a narrative essay is written from a personal point of view in an essay. The basic purpose of the narrative essay is to describe something creatively.

Expository Essay Outline

An  expository essay  is a type of essay that explains, analyzes, and illustrates something for the readers. An expository essay should be unbiased and entirely based on facts. Be sure to use academic resources for your research and cite your sources.

Analytical Essay Outline

An  analytical essay  is written to analyze the topic from a critical point of view. An analytical essay breaks down the content into different parts and explains the topic bit by bit.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

A rhetorical essay is written to examine the writer or artist’s work and develop a great essay. It also includes the discussion.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline

A  cause and effect essay  describes why something happens and examines the consequences of an occurrence or phenomenon. It is also a type of expository essay.

Informative Essay Outline

An  informative essay  is written to inform the audience about different objects, concepts, people, issues, etc.

The main purpose is to respond to the question with a detailed explanation and inform the target audience about the topic.

Synthesis Essay Outline

A  synthesis essay  requires the writer to describe a certain unique viewpoint about the issue or topic. Create a claim about the topic and use different sources and information to prove it.

Literary Analysis Essay Outline

A  literary analysis essay  is written to analyze and examine a novel, book, play, or any other piece of literature. The writer analyzes the different devices such as the ideas, characters, plot, theme, tone, etc., to deliver his message.

Definition Essay Outline

A  definition essay  requires students to pick a particular concept, term, or idea and define it in their own words and according to their understanding.

Descriptive Essay Outline

A  descriptive essay  is a type of essay written to describe a person, place, object, or event. The writer must describe the topic so that the reader can visualize it using their five senses.

Evaluation Essay Outline

Problem Solution Essay Outline

In a problem-solution essay, you are given a problem as a topic and you have to suggest multiple solutions on it.

Scholarship Essay Outline

A  scholarship essay  is required at the time of admission when you are applying for a scholarship. Scholarship essays must be written in a way that should stand alone to help you get a scholarship.

Reflective Essay Outline

A reflective essay  is written to express your own thoughts and point of view regarding a specific topic.

Getting started on your essay? Give this comprehensive essay writing guide a read to make sure you write an effective essay!

With this complete guide, now you understand how to create an outline for your essay successfully. However, if you still can’t write an effective essay, then the best option is to consult a professional academic writing service.

Essay writing is a dull and boring task for some people. So why not get some help instead of wasting your time and effort?  5StarEssays.com is here to help you. All your  do my essay for me  requests are managed by professional essay writers.

Place your order now, and our team of expert academic writers will help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three types of outlines.

Here are the three types of essay outline;

• Working outline
• Speaking outline
• Full-sentence outline

All three types are different from each other and are used for different purposes.

What does a full-sentence outline look like?

A full sentence outline contains full sentences at each level of the essay’s outline. It is similar to an alphanumeric outline and it is a commonly used essay outline.

What is a traditional outline format?

A traditional essay outline begins with writing down all the important points in one place and listing them down and adding sub-topics to them. Besides, it will also include evidence and proof that you will use to back your arguments.

What is the benefit of using a traditional outline format and an informal outline format?

A traditional outline format helps the students in listing down all the important details in one palace while an informal outline will help you coming up with new ideas and highlighting important points

As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

Was This Blog Helpful?

Keep reading.

• How to Write an Essay - A Complete Guide with Examples

• The Art of Effective Writing: Thesis Statements Examples and Tips

• Writing a 500 Word Essay - Easy Guide

• What is a Topic Sentence - An Easy Guide with Writing Steps & Examples

• 220 Best Transition Words for Essays

• Essay Format: Detailed Writing Tips & Examples

• How to Write a Conclusion - Examples & Tips

• Essay Topics: 100+ Best Essay Topics for your Guidance

• How to Title an Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide for Effective Titles

• How to Write a Perfect 1000 Word Essay

• How To Make An Essay Longer - Easy Guide For Beginners

• Learn How to Start an Essay Effectively with Easy Guidelines

• Types of Sentences With Examples

• Hook Examples: How to Start Your Essay Effectively

• Essay Writing Tips - Essential Do’s and Don’ts to Craft Better Essays

• How To Write A Thesis Statement - A Step by Step Guide

• Art Topics - 200+ Brilliant Ideas to Begin With

• Writing Conventions and Tips for College Students

People Also Read

• sociology research topics
• thematic statement
• essay writing
• citation style guide
• how to write a compare and contrast essay

Burdened With Assignments?

Advertisement

• Homework Services: Essay Topics Generator

© 2024 - All rights reserved

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Types of Outlines and Samples

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

This resource is enhanced by a PowerPoint file. If you have a Microsoft Account, you can view this file with   PowerPoint Online .

Alphanumeric Outlines

This is the most common type of outline and usually instantly recognizable to most people. The formatting follows these characters, in this order:

• Roman Numerals
• Capitalized Letters
• Arabic Numerals
• Lowercase Letters

If the outline needs to subdivide beyond these divisions, use Arabic numerals inside parentheses and then lowercase letters inside parentheses. Select the "Sample Outlines" PDF in the Media Box above to download the sample of this outline.

The sample PDF in the Media Box above is an example of an outline that a student might create before writing an essay. In order to organize her thoughts and make sure that she has not forgotten any key points that she wants to address, she creates the outline as a framework for her essay.

What is the assignment?

Your instructor asks the class to write an expository (explanatory) essay on the typical steps a high school student would follow in order to apply to college.

What is the purpose of this essay?

To explain the process for applying to college

Who is the intended audience for this essay?

High school students intending to apply to college and their parents

What is the essay's thesis statement?

When applying to college, a student follows a certain process which includes choosing the right schools and preparing the application materials.

Full Sentence Outlines

The full sentence outline format is essentially the same as the Alphanumeric outline. The main difference (as the title suggests) is that full sentences are required at each level of the outline. This outline is most often used when preparing a traditional essay. Select the "Sample Outlines" PDF in the Media Box above to download the sample of this outline.

Decimal Outlines

The decimal outline is similar in format to the alphanumeric outline. The added benefit is a system of decimal notation that clearly shows how every level of the outline relates to the larger whole. Select the "Sample Outlines" PDF in the Media Box above to download the sample of this outline.

The Writing Process

Making expository writing less stressful, more efficient, and more enlightening, search form, you are here.

• Step 2: Plan and organize

Sample Detailed Outline

"Organize. Organize. Organize." —U.S. Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize-winner Al Gore

Below is an example of a detailed outline. (It is for a research paper, but the principles and structure apply to any paper.) Notice the hierarchical use of the roman numeral system . Such a hierarchy is key to organizing your thinking and your argument and keeping track of the relationships between your ideas.

Introduction

quote from movie like Independence Day to get readers’ attention SOURCE: IMDB.com

world preparing to welcome with festivities and open arms the aliens coming to Earth from Andromeda galaxy

Thesis (complete sentence!): Although the aliens seem friendly and say they come in peace, Earth’s number one priority should be to build a defense shield before they arrive.

On March 15, 2016, we discovered not alone in universe: irregular but repeating signal discovered from nearby Andromeda. SOURCE: NYTimes , 3/16/16

Different scientists have decoded the message differently

Commonly accepted interpretation friendly:

“Greetings, people of Earth. We have detected and watched your reports (e.g., The Big Bang Theory ) documenting typical life on Earth. We are currently on our way to Earth to begin our friendship and will arrive in Earth year 2020. Prepare yourselves for a glorious future [unclear signals].” (SOURCE: Michaels, “Aliens Are Our Friends,” People )

still parts of the message undecoded (SOURCE?

all scientists agree: Aliens arriving in 2020 (Source: Fredericks, Wall Street Journal )

Argument: there are signs that message is a warning and that aliens are planning to attack

Prof. Alan Guthman, Harvard Center for Astrophysics, makes case (SOURCE: Guthman, “We Do Not Come in Peace”)

With only one message to work with, we have little clue of tone of message

If we interpret three different patterns in signal differently, tone much different: “Attention, Earthlings. We have observed your unusual lives. We are coming to Earth to…[unclear]. Prepare yourselves for life under our control.”

With all the videos we broadcast into space, an alien race would assume that we are hostile and act accordingly

Logic: Even if these aliens are friendly, it is better to be safe than sorry and protect ourselves

FIND: Estimates of the number of intelligent races in the nearby universe and the probability that at least one of them is hostile and technologically advanced

Argument: Estimates show that workable shield surrounding Earth can be constructed by 2020

If nations of Earth collaborate, we can build shield that will block incoming ships and weapons fire (SOURCE. Teller, “Shielding the Earth,” Physics Rev. Letters )

Will cost huge amounts of $$, but:

if spread out among many countries, affordable FIND. Estimates of costs

We can’t afford NOT to build it

Argument: Building shield will both stimulate global economy and result in very useful new technologies

FIND! Evidence on how previous projects—moon landing, the International Space Station, emergency stimulus packages—created

jobs –find stats!

new products & companies

FIND! I don’t have concrete evidence for this, but I remember hearing how the moon landing and international space station resulted in the creation of new, useful technologies

Counterargument: If we build shield and they detect it, it could signal that we are hostile and provoke the aliens to attack

Missile defense shields on Earth have often provoked international tensions. SOURCE: M. Pritchard, “If You Build It, They Will Attack.” ( Boston Globe )

FIND source that shows that

such tensions do not necessarily lead to attack and

any intelligent race will understand need for others to be prepared to defend themselves.

Counterargument: We are probably not able to build shield that would work against such a technologically advanced race

non-sequitor. fact that it may not work does not mean that it won’t and that we should not try to protect ourselves.

Conclusion.

We have no way of knowing the intensions of a group we have never met on the basis of one message.

The only sensible approach is to try to defend ourselves, especially when there will be benefits for trying such as jobs and new technologies.

• As I learned in Las Vegas, “Never risk what you cannot afford to lose.” Can we afford to risk our children’s lives?

Click here to create a detailed outline from your freewrite/brainstorm using GoogleDocs.

How to Write an Essay Outline

Writing a comprehensive outline will save hours of writing and editing time, so it’s essential to master. Coming up with outlines is useful beyond just academics, any project you undertake will benefit from a well-structured outline. This article will cover everything you need to know about writing an essay outline and contains several handy templates!

What Is an Essay Outline?

Put simply, an essay outline is a brief plan of your paper. It lays out the structure of the essay, it includes all the main points, and it collects all your research and information. A good outline for essay writing helps you think about how the information will flow and makes sure that you have a plan moving forward. 

There can be many kinds of outlines depending on citation style and type of essay, but the key thing about all of them is that they help arrange and organize your main points to make the writing process easier.

How to Write an Outline For an Essay ?

Almost all forms of writing can benefit from an outline. An academic essay usually follows the classic 5 paragraph format of essay writing, so that’s a good way to start structuring your outline. This means you’ll have an introduction section, 3 body paragraph sections, and a conclusion section. 

An outline is just for you, so don’t worry too much about making it perfect, no one else is going to see it. Fill it with as much information as you need, but remember that outline essay writing is supposed to help you organize the final essay. In case you need to hand in your outline this article covers more structured outlining as well and has several templates for you to follow.

Outline Writing Tips 

Keep these things in mind when creating an outline of an essay

• Collect all your information in one place and they see what fits into your outline. 
• Your outline will go through many drafts, don’t feel pressure to make the first version perfect
• Follow a template and fill in the blanks, this will make sure your outline has some flow. But make sure you spend time restructuring the information, no template is perfect and you may see better ways of organizing your essay.
• Work on your thesis before you start outlining. This will help structure the outline and make sure you only include relevant information. 

Struggling with the Outline for your Essay Homework?

Get your assignments done by real pros. Save your precious time and boost your marks with ease.

General Essay Outline Format

If your outline needs to be submitted to your teacher then they may ask you to follow a specific outline format for the essay, these are discussed after this section. If you just need an outline for yourself, then this is a simple and short essay outline template to follow. Remember, this is YOUR outline, add things, skip sections, draw arrows, do whatever you need to to make it work for you.

• The title of your essay
• Your teacher’s name
• The name of the course
• Introduction
• A catchy hook
• Two sentence summary of the purpose of your paper
• Your thesis statement
• Transition sentence to the first body paragraph
• Body Paragraph 1
• First main point, argument, or piece of evidence
• How it connects to your thesis
• Transition sentence to the second body paragraph
• Body Paragraph 2
• Second main point, argument, or piece of evidence
• Transition sentence to the third body paragraph
• Body Paragraph 3
• Third main point, argument, or piece of evidence
• Transition sentence to the conclusion
• Summary of the main points of the paper
• Your main conclusion
• Reiterate your thesis statement
• Works Cited/Bibliography

How to create an essay outline in MLA and APA styles

You’re probably familiar with the two main citation styles in use  - Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA). MLA is used for literature studies, philology, linguistics, etc. while APA is used for psychology, science, education studies, etc. 

In general, there are 2 types of outlines, a basic outline, and full sentence outline. The only difference between them is that a full sentence outline requires the use of full sentences in headings and a basic outline doesn’t. Ask your teacher which one is preferred if they want you to hand in an outline and they haven’t specified. In the next sections you’ll find an essay outline example in MLA and APA styles.

MLA Essay Outline Template

Though there is no specific format for an MLA outline, you should follow the general MLA format (double-spaced and Times New Roman 12 pt. font). Use an alphanumeric outline structure:

• Headings in Roman numerals (I, II, III), 
• Subheadings in uppercase letters (A, B, C); 
• Then numbers (1, 2, 3) 
• And finally lowercase letters (a, b, c). 
• Make sure to add a period to each one. 

Here’s a sample basic outline for an essay in MLA style to make things clear. 

• Introduction - Why the pyramids were confusing to Europeans
• Summary - Europeans had misconceptions about Africa
• Thesis statement - A lack of information, eurocentric pride, and disdain for Africa led to doubts about the origins of the pyramids
• Body paragraph 1 - Age of the pyramids
• First point - How they were discovered
• Explanation - Why the pyramids seemed impossible
• Subpoin - Tool use and geometry 
• Transition - European discovery
• Body paragraph 2 - Discovered by Europeans in the 1800s
• First point - Colonial mindset
• Explanation - Misconceptions about ancient Africa
• Transition - Modern findings
• Body paragraph 3 - The evidence
• First point - New analysis of ancient building techniques
• Explanation - Could have been done with hard work and dedication
• Transition - Not aliens
• Conclusion - An example of prejudiced thinking
• Summary - The story of how pyramids were understood
• Thesis - The past was strange
• Conclusion - We know better now

APA Essay Outline Template

APA has a specified format for outlines. The headings format is alphanumeric like for MLA outlines, but there are 3 types of APA outlines - APA basic format, full sentence format, and decimal format. ‍

APA basic format and full sentence format use the following heading structure:

• Main Heading use Roman Numerals
• The first level of subheadings use capital letters
• Further subheadings use numbers 
• Further subheadings use lower-case letters.
• Further subheadings use numbers in parentheses

The only difference between APA basic format and full sentence format is that you write a full sentence rather than just a fragment for each point. 

The only difference between the decimal format and the other two is that it uses a different numbering system.

Decimal format example:

• First heading is 1.0.
• First paragraph in the first heading is 1.1.
• First point of your first paragraph is 1.1.1.
• Second sentence of your first paragraph is 1.1.2.
• Third sentence of your second paragraph is 1.2.3.
• Second heading is 2.0.
• Third sentence in the second paragraph under the second heading is 2.2.3.

If that seems complicated, don’t worry! It’s very rarely asked for and it’s very simple to get used to. 

Here’s a full sentence APA template to go over.

• Introduction - The pyramids have been fascinating to people since they were first constructed over 6000 years ago, but when they were re-discovered by Europeans some absurd theories came into existence.
• Summary - European misconceptions about ancient tools and building techniques as well as African history led to many misconceptions.
• Thesis statement - A lack of information, eurocentric pride, and disdain for Africa led to doubts about the origins of the pyramids.
• Body paragraph 1 - It’s staggering to think that the ancient Egyptians were as old to the ancient Romans as the ancient Romans are to us now.
• First point - The pyramids have been visible and famous since they were constructed, but Europeans visiting Egypt in the middle ages claim to have rediscovered them and did not believe in their African origins.
• Explanation - The massive size and fine construction of the pyramids made it seem impossible.
• Subpoin - Knowledge of what building tools and methods were available in ancient Egypt were not available.
• Subpoin - The size and precision cutting of the stones stumped scientists.
• Transition - The enlightenment and age of science helped solve some of these mysteries.
• Body paragraph 2 - It wasn’t till Napoleon in the 18th century that European scientists started analyzing ancient Egyptian culture.
• First point - Till then, the prevailing colonial mindset was just to loot and plunder as much as possible.
• Explanation - Europe had a dogma of “civilizing the savages”.
• Transition - These new scientific studies started unearthing clues to how the pyramids were constructed.
• Body paragraph 3 - After 1940 many expeditions and excavations took place and since the 1980s many questions have been answered.
• First point - The discovery of the village of workers made it clear that the pyramids were of African Origin.
• Explanation - A greater understanding of ancient Egyptian culture based on scientific data gave more evidence.
• Transition - Finally people could confidently answer that it wasn’t aliens!
• Conclusion - This was a glaring example of prejudiced thinking during the middle ages.
• Summary - The story of how pyramids were understood is connected to the discovery of how ancient Egypt used to be.
• Conclusion - We can learn not to judge before we have reliable data and evidence.

Did you like our inspiring Essay Outline Writing Guide?

For more help, tap into our pool of professional writers and get expert essay editing services!

Find your essay outline template by your essay type

Different types of essays need different kinds of information and some have unique structures of their own. In this section you’ll find simple essay outline templates for 5 common essay types.

Argumentative essay outline example

An argumentative essay uses evidence and logic to convince the reader that your point of view on an issue is correct. An outline is especially useful for this type of essay since it helps organize your arguments. Take a look at this outline example for essay template. 

• Background information
• First argument
• Second argument
• Opposing argument 1
• Your counterclaim with the evidence
• Opposing argument 2
• Summary of your main arguments
• Importance of your viewpoint

Expository essay outline example

An expository essay presents facts from both sides of an issue and makes an unbiased observation at the end. Keep your own opinions and emotions out of this type of essay. An outline can help arrange the various perspectives as well as make sure you don’t accidentally show bias. Here’s a template for you to follow.

• Present your topic
• First topic sentence
• Evidence 
• Analysis 
• Transition 
• Second topic Sentence
• Third topic Sentence
• Summary of the main points
• Importance of the topic 
• Possible further research

Reflective essay outline example

Reflective essays are one of the most fun essays to write. They ask you to write about an experience in your life and analyze how it impacted you. These are less formal than typical academic essays and are usually written in the first person (so use personal pronouns like “I”). These types of essays offer a lot of freedom so there is no particular way to write them, still, an outline can help organize your thoughts and clarify which emotions, feelings, and sensations you want to write about.

• Teaser for the full story
• Introduce the story
• Antagonist/conflict
• The build-up
• Details about the conflict
• Role of characters 
• The resolution of the climax
• The conclusion of the story 
• Summary of the events
• What you learned
• How it impacted you

Compare and contrast essay outline example

Compare and contrast essays ask you to analyze two things and examine any connections. This type of essay isn’t as formal or structured as expository essays so you don’t have to follow a specific structure. An outline is helpful to collect all the information and to help draw conclusions though, so here’s an example outline.

• Background information about the 2 points
• Connect point 1 and point 2
• Similarities
• Differences
• Comparisons
• Conclusions from analysis
• Other points to compare against
• Further research

Research essay outline example

A research essay requires finding reputable sources, analyzing and synthesizing information, and presenting your conclusion backed by evidence. These are popular assignments because they require critical thinking skills as well as research skills. Always use an outline if you’re assigned a research essay, it will help organize information and shorten writing time.

• First research finding
• Second research finding
• Analysis of research
• What you agree with and why with the evidence
• What you disagree with and why with the evidence
• Summary of research
• Importance of research

Quick Wrap Up

There is no denying that an outline helps with the writing process. Famous authors, YouTube scripts, speechwriters, everyone uses outlines to help organize their thoughts and present information effectively. Make sure you master this skill because it’s going to be useful throughout your life. 

If an outline is just for you (it’s not going to be given to a teacher) then follow a template, but there’s no reason to stick to it exactly. Draw on it, add sections, delete sections, do whatever you need to do to make the information you have to make the most sense to you. On the other hand, if it’s supposed to be handed in, check what format it’s supposed to be in and follow the format. 

The specific templates in this article are a good starting point, but you may need to add body paragraphs or make other minor changes here and there. After all, a template is just a guide.  

Hopefully, this article has given you tips, outlines, and a bunch of other helpful information, but if you need any help essay writer service or custom essay writing ,  Studyfy also offers custom essay writing services , " write my admission essay " service and coursework writing service help. If you need a top-quality paper that meets all your requirements, just say, write my paper for me , and our essay writers online will take care of the rest. Our custom essay writing services are designed to help you achieve academic success and get good grades. Trust us to provide you with the best possible outcome and reach out to us today to learn more about our services.

Featured Posts

How to write a term paper.

How To Make An Essay Longer

How to Write a Dissertation

How to Write an Essay

How to Write a Research Paper

How to Write a Discussion Post

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your website experience and help us understand how you use our website. By continuing to use this website, you consent to the usage of cookies. Learn more about our Privacy Statement and Cookie Policy .

• Our Mission
• Code of Conduct
• The Consultants
• Hours and Locations
• Apply to Become a Consultant
• Make an Appointment
• Face-to-Face Appointments
• Zoom Appointments
• Written Feedback Appointments
• Support for Writers with Disabilities
• Policies and Restrictions
• Upcoming Workshops
• Class Workshops
• Meet the Consultants
• Writing Guides and Tools
• Schedule an appointment! Login or Register
• Graduate Students
• ESOL Students

An outline is a map of your essay. It shows what information each section or paragraph will contain, and in what order. Most outlines use numbers and/or bullet points to arrange information and convey points.

Why create an outline?

Outlining is a tool we use in the writing process to help organize our ideas, visualize our paper’s potential structure, and to further flesh out and develop points. It allows the writer to understand how he or she will connect information to support the thesis statement and the claims of the paper. An outline provides the writer with a space to consider ideas easily without needing to write complete paragraphs or sentences.

Creating your outline:

Before beginning an outline, it is useful to have a clear thesis statement or clear purpose or argument, as everything else in the outline is going to work to support the thesis. Note: the outline might help inform the thesis, and therefore your thesis might change or develop within the outlining process.

Organize your outline in whatever format fits into the structure needed for the type of paper you are writing. One common outline format uses Roman numerals, letters, and numbers. Other outlines can use bullet points or other symbols. You can use whatever organizational patterns work best for you and your paper, as long as you understand your own organizational tools. Outlines can be written using complete sentences or fragments or a mix of the two.

Remember! After creating your outline, you may decide to reorganize your ideas by putting them in a different order. Furthermore, as you are writing you might make some discoveries and can, of course, always adjust or deviate from the outline as needed.

Sample Outlines:

As you can see in the outline below, the writer chose to separate the outline by topics, but could have utilized a different structure, organizing the outline by separate paragraphs, indicating what each paragraph will do or say.

• Introduction A. Background information B. Thesis
• Reason 1 A. Use quotes from x B. Use evidence from y
• Reason 2 A. Counterargument     1. They might say…     2. But…
• Conclusion A. Connect back to thesis B. Answer the “so what” or “what now” question C. End on a memorable note

Note: The sample outline above illustrates the structure of an outline, but it is quite vague. Your outline should be as specific as possible.

Proposal Outline:

• Summary/ Synopsis of proposed project • Rationale • Specific aims and objectives • Experimental approaches to be used • The potential significance
• Specific Aims • X • Y • Z
• Background and Significance • Background • Significance to current project • Significance to long-term research objectives • Critical evaluations of existing knowledge • Forward progress
• Preliminary Data • Description of prelim data to justify the rationale • Demonstrate feasibility of the project
• Experimental Design and Methods • Details of design and procedures • Protocols • Means of data analysis and interpretation • New methodology and its advantages • Potential technical difficulties or limitations/ alternative approaches
• References • Citations

Note: Outlines can look quite different. You might use Roman numerals to indicate the main point or function of that section, and then letters to indicate separate sub-points, and then even bullet points or numbers to indicate specific information, like using certain quotes, sources, evidence, or examples.

Adapted From: Los Angeles Valley College Writing Center, “How to Make an Outline” 2/2/15

Northwestern University Collaborative Learning and Integrated Mentoring in the Biosciences, “A Basic Proposal Outline”

San Jose State University Writing Center, “Essay Planning: Outlining with a Purpose” Spring 2014

The Writing Center

4400 University Drive, 2G8 Fairfax, VA 22030

• Johnson Center, Room 227E
• +1-703-993-1200
• [email protected]

Quick Links

• Register with us

© Copyright 2024 George Mason University . All Rights Reserved. Privacy Statement | Accessibility

• Essay Guides
• Basics of Essay Writing
• Essay Outline: How to Write It & Templates for Different Types
• Speech Topics
• Essay Topics
• Other Essays
• Main Academic Essays
• Research Paper Topics
• Basics of Research Paper Writing
• Miscellaneous
• Chicago/ Turabian
• Data & Statistics
• Methodology
• Admission Writing Tips
• Admission Advice
• Other Guides
• Student Life
• Studying Tips
• Understanding Plagiarism
• Academic Writing Tips
• Basics of Dissertation & Thesis Writing

• Research Paper Guides
• Formatting Guides
• Basics of Research Process
• Admission Guides
• Dissertation & Thesis Guides

Essay Outline: How to Write It & Templates for Different Types

Table of contents

Use our free Readability checker

An essay outline is a plan  that helps you organize your thoughts and ideas before you begin writing your essay. A well-constructed outline can help you ensure that your essay is structured logically and includes all of the necessary information.

Today, we will learn everything about essay outlines. Academic writing is challenging enough. So we would really want to ease the overall process and ensure that you’re prepared to write the best essay possible. Are you confused about how to structure your paper? Do you not understand the difference between different types of articles? The answers to all of those questions and even more points will be covered here. So stick around and get all the information you can possibly need!

What Is an Outline for an Essay?

What is an essay outline? It is a good question, and we are excited to answer it. In simple terms, it is how your essay will be structured and what things it might feature. You can include the following items in your structure:

• Your general topic
• Thesis statement
• A number of paragraphs
• Topic and concluding sentences for each paragraph
• Resources or evidence used in your body paragraphs.

Trust us, following this list and ideas will save you a lot of time and help you in crafting a very good article.

Why Do You Need an Outline of an Essay?

Outline for an essay is crucial for several reasons. So here’s a quick list of why you’re writing and why research requires a good  essay structure example . It helps you:  

• Develop a logical and well-thought-out piece.
• Convince your readers that you’re making a valid point.
• Save some time.
• Don’t get lost in all the evidence and ideas you have for your paper.
• Consider purchasing a college essay for sale in case this is too difficult.

Basic Outline for an Essay: Template

For starters, we wanted to give you an essay outline template. It is an effective way to make sure you have all the required points of a good article. By keeping everything organized, you will get our highest mark and develop a believable  argument . But, of course, here is the template and enumeration of all the sections you need:  

• First piece of evidence
• Second piece of evidence
• Summary or so-called synthesis
• Importance of topic
• Strong closing statement

How to Write an Essay Outline

How to write an outline for an essay? That's a $1 million question that we will answer today. You should understand from the very beginning that writing or mapping out your structure will take some time. But don't let this fact discourage you because it will be worth it in the end. However, we have also prepared several tips for you in order to ease the process even more:

• Research a topic before you actually start writing.
• Consider a type of article you're writing and pick an appropriate structure.
• Start outlining from the very beginning.
• Write down your thesis and make sure it is bulletproof.
• Provide some evidence you will use to support your argument.

Essay Outline Template

Our outline for the essay template will differ depending on the type of essay you will be writing. Interestingly enough, there are many types of academic essays you can consider. You can write an argumentative, persuasive one or a common narrative, or even an expository essay. As a result, choosing a relevant outline and structure will help you to distinguish our mentioned types and nail the one you’ve picked. Professional essay writers at StudyCrumb might help you with that.  

Persuasive Essay Outline

We will start with how to write a  persuasive essay outline  and the similar one is an  argumentative essay outline . You can find the structure itself down below. But we wanted to remind you of several things. Students often forget to cite their sources. So it is rather a good idea to include not only the evidence but citations and sources when outlining.  

• Catchy hook to engage your reader
• Background information  on your topic
• Thesis statement (mention all points that will be discussed in body paragraphs)
• Paragraph 1 with supporting evidence proving your point (+Topic Sentence)
• Paragraph 2 with evidence proving your point (+Topic Sentence)
• Paragraph 3 with evidence proving your point (+Topic Sentence)
• Rephrase a thesis statement
• Conclude all points leaving a final impression

Narrative Essay Outline

We also know how to write a narrative essay outline . This type of article tries to tell a story, and that is why it is called narrative. Our best stories will have a rising action, climax, and a falling action. But to time everything perfectly and make sure your readers are at the address of the receipt, outlining is your best friend. Besides, not to forget the information you wanted to include, our structure below will help you write a very good narrative article.

• Scene setting
• Mentioning your purpose of writing
• Rising action
• Climax (some epic event)
• Falling action (conflict resolution)
• Moral of your story or possible lessons

Expository Essay Outline

An expository essay outline is very close to our previous options. It includes the same points. So you also start with an introduction, follow with three body paragraphs and finalize everything with a conclusion. Trust us: the process of writing will be much easier with such structure. Hence, our key for a good essay is right here:  

• Topic background
• Topic sentence
• Supporting explanation
• Supporting example that backs up your topic sentence and explanation
• Summarizing or concluding statement
• Rephrase your thesis
• Summarize and connect your key points
• Leave a final impression with recommendations

Informative Essay Outline

Outline for an informative essay follows an already well-known structure. Don’t forget that your body paragraphs should have lots of details and relevant information. Each claim must be supported. Therefore, every article has a specific order that cannot be broken. If you don’t follow the structure, your argument may not be as strong as the ones following the given order.

• Topic background (general information)
• Supporting pieces of evidence
• Transition and concluding statement
• Leave a final impression with recommendations or future developments

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

Compare and contrast essay outline  will definitely be useful. A lot of colleges and schools like this type of essay because this is a good practice of analytical skills. It is natural because you have a lot of information and evidence. Besides, you're comparing different items, and tracking them might be a challenge for everyone. Out of all essays, this one, above all, needs a good structure. So make sure you understand the difference between your subjects, include evidence, and focus on your thesis statement:  

• Topic sentence 1
• Subject 1: Detail 1
• Subject 2: Detail 1

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Your rhetorical analysis essay outline is our last one, so we hope you’re happy. Just like you always do, include evidence to support your argument and do research before the actual writing. In our rhetorical analysis, you have to highlight the strategies and approaches the author used in their text. Therefore, the good idea is to use quotations from the text.

• General information
• Used rhetorical strategies
• How well the strategy works in this example? Provide quotes from the text
• Reasons behind picking these approaches and not any other

Outline Example for Essay

So far, we have told you about the stages you should follow to make up a plan for your future essay. It is more convenient to have an outline essay example in front. This will help to create an effective plan and then compile a really good writing piece based on it. The main thing is to include as much information as possible into your plan; our outline template for essay will help you with this task. Don't forget to  buy essay now if you're still not sure whether you'll be doing this task. 

Final Thoughts on Writing an Essay Outline

Awesome job because now you know  how to quickly write an essay outline. A quick reminder before we wrap this up. You create an outline or write down the structure to keep track of all the information. Don’t forget that different types of academic papers and articles require their respective structures. So save this guide in order not to lose them.  

You can always rely on our essay writing service. Backed by unrivalled experience, our writer will be happy to provide you with the fantastic result in a timely manner.  

FAQ About Outline for Essay

1. what is the topic outline.

An essay topic outline is a process of arranging your ideas. This structure can show you the higher key or gradation of your main points. Therefore, you have your main point or argument and several sub-points. It is up to you to arrange them in order of importance and highlight the most crucial ones.

2. How long is an outline for an essay?

An outline for the essay doesn’t really have a fixed length. In many cases, you’ll be the only one who sees the structure. But if your research paper is around 15 or 20 pages, then your structure should be no longer than several pages. Normally, one or two pages are quite enough to include everything you need.

3. What are the disadvantages of outlining methods?

Outlining method for essays definitely has some disadvantages. So here’s a quick list for you to remember:

• It takes time to write down and organize your structure.
• It requires more thought and accuracy than common outlining.
• It is challenging to find a format that will show all your details, including the relationships between your variables and points.

4. How do you capitalize an outline?

An essay outline also has its own format. In case you’re using a topic outline, you should capitalize only the first letter of the word that opens your heading. Of course, proper nouns are also capitalized. Finally, we don’t use complete sentences, so end punctuation is unnecessary.

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

You may also like

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• How to structure an essay: Templates and tips

How to Structure an Essay | Tips & Templates

Published on September 18, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction , a body , and a conclusion . But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

The basics of essay structure, chronological structure, compare-and-contrast structure, problems-methods-solutions structure, signposting to clarify your structure, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay structure.

There are two main things to keep in mind when working on your essay structure: making sure to include the right information in each part, and deciding how you’ll organize the information within the body.

Parts of an essay

The three parts that make up all essays are described in the table below.

Order of information

You’ll also have to consider how to present information within the body. There are a few general principles that can guide you here.

The first is that your argument should move from the simplest claim to the most complex . The body of a good argumentative essay often begins with simple and widely accepted claims, and then moves towards more complex and contentious ones.

For example, you might begin by describing a generally accepted philosophical concept, and then apply it to a new topic. The grounding in the general concept will allow the reader to understand your unique application of it.

The second principle is that background information should appear towards the beginning of your essay . General background is presented in the introduction. If you have additional background to present, this information will usually come at the start of the body.

The third principle is that everything in your essay should be relevant to the thesis . Ask yourself whether each piece of information advances your argument or provides necessary background. And make sure that the text clearly expresses each piece of information’s relevance.

The sections below present several organizational templates for essays: the chronological approach, the compare-and-contrast approach, and the problems-methods-solutions approach.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

The chronological approach (sometimes called the cause-and-effect approach) is probably the simplest way to structure an essay. It just means discussing events in the order in which they occurred, discussing how they are related (i.e. the cause and effect involved) as you go.

A chronological approach can be useful when your essay is about a series of events. Don’t rule out other approaches, though—even when the chronological approach is the obvious one, you might be able to bring out more with a different structure.

Explore the tabs below to see a general template and a specific example outline from an essay on the invention of the printing press.

• Thesis statement
• Discussion of event/period
• Consequences
• Importance of topic
• Strong closing statement
• Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages
• Background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press
• Thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation
• High levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe
• Literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites
• Consequence: this discouraged political and religious change
• Invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg
• Implications of the new technology for book production
• Consequence: Rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible
• Trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention
• Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation
• Consequence: The large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics
• Summarize the history described
• Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period

Essays with two or more main subjects are often structured around comparing and contrasting . For example, a literary analysis essay might compare two different texts, and an argumentative essay might compare the strengths of different arguments.

There are two main ways of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay: the alternating method, and the block method.

Alternating

In the alternating method, each paragraph compares your subjects in terms of a specific point of comparison. These points of comparison are therefore what defines each paragraph.

The tabs below show a general template for this structure, and a specific example for an essay comparing and contrasting distance learning with traditional classroom learning.

• Synthesis of arguments
• Topical relevance of distance learning in lockdown
• Increasing prevalence of distance learning over the last decade
• Thesis statement: While distance learning has certain advantages, it introduces multiple new accessibility issues that must be addressed for it to be as effective as classroom learning
• Classroom learning: Ease of identifying difficulties and privately discussing them
• Distance learning: Difficulty of noticing and unobtrusively helping
• Classroom learning: Difficulties accessing the classroom (disability, distance travelled from home)
• Distance learning: Difficulties with online work (lack of tech literacy, unreliable connection, distractions)
• Classroom learning: Tends to encourage personal engagement among students and with teacher, more relaxed social environment
• Distance learning: Greater ability to reach out to teacher privately
• Sum up, emphasize that distance learning introduces more difficulties than it solves
• Stress the importance of addressing issues with distance learning as it becomes increasingly common
• Distance learning may prove to be the future, but it still has a long way to go

In the block method, each subject is covered all in one go, potentially across multiple paragraphs. For example, you might write two paragraphs about your first subject and then two about your second subject, making comparisons back to the first.

The tabs again show a general template, followed by another essay on distance learning, this time with the body structured in blocks.

• Point 1 (compare)
• Point 2 (compare)
• Point 3 (compare)
• Point 4 (compare)
• Advantages: Flexibility, accessibility
• Disadvantages: Discomfort, challenges for those with poor internet or tech literacy
• Advantages: Potential for teacher to discuss issues with a student in a separate private call
• Disadvantages: Difficulty of identifying struggling students and aiding them unobtrusively, lack of personal interaction among students
• Advantages: More accessible to those with low tech literacy, equality of all sharing one learning environment
• Disadvantages: Students must live close enough to attend, commutes may vary, classrooms not always accessible for disabled students
• Advantages: Ease of picking up on signs a student is struggling, more personal interaction among students
• Disadvantages: May be harder for students to approach teacher privately in person to raise issues

An essay that concerns a specific problem (practical or theoretical) may be structured according to the problems-methods-solutions approach.

This is just what it sounds like: You define the problem, characterize a method or theory that may solve it, and finally analyze the problem, using this method or theory to arrive at a solution. If the problem is theoretical, the solution might be the analysis you present in the essay itself; otherwise, you might just present a proposed solution.

The tabs below show a template for this structure and an example outline for an essay about the problem of fake news.

• Introduce the problem
• Provide background
• Describe your approach to solving it
• Define the problem precisely
• Describe why it’s important
• Indicate previous approaches to the problem
• Present your new approach, and why it’s better
• Apply the new method or theory to the problem
• Indicate the solution you arrive at by doing so
• Assess (potential or actual) effectiveness of solution
• Describe the implications
• Problem: The growth of “fake news” online
• Prevalence of polarized/conspiracy-focused news sources online
• Thesis statement: Rather than attempting to stamp out online fake news through social media moderation, an effective approach to combating it must work with educational institutions to improve media literacy
• Definition: Deliberate disinformation designed to spread virally online
• Popularization of the term, growth of the phenomenon
• Previous approaches: Labeling and moderation on social media platforms
• Critique: This approach feeds conspiracies; the real solution is to improve media literacy so users can better identify fake news
• Greater emphasis should be placed on media literacy education in schools
• This allows people to assess news sources independently, rather than just being told which ones to trust
• This is a long-term solution but could be highly effective
• It would require significant organization and investment, but would equip people to judge news sources more effectively
• Rather than trying to contain the spread of fake news, we must teach the next generation not to fall for it

Signposting means guiding the reader through your essay with language that describes or hints at the structure of what follows.  It can help you clarify your structure for yourself as well as helping your reader follow your ideas.

The essay overview

In longer essays whose body is split into multiple named sections, the introduction often ends with an overview of the rest of the essay. This gives a brief description of the main idea or argument of each section.

The overview allows the reader to immediately understand what will be covered in the essay and in what order. Though it describes what  comes later in the text, it is generally written in the present tense . The following example is from a literary analysis essay on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .

Transitions

Transition words and phrases are used throughout all good essays to link together different ideas. They help guide the reader through your text, and an essay that uses them effectively will be much easier to follow.

Various different relationships can be expressed by transition words, as shown in this example.

Because Hitler failed to respond to the British ultimatum, France and the UK declared war on Germany. Although it was an outcome the Allies had hoped to avoid, they were prepared to back up their ultimatum in order to combat the existential threat posed by the Third Reich.

Transition sentences may be included to transition between different paragraphs or sections of an essay. A good transition sentence moves the reader on to the next topic while indicating how it relates to the previous one.

… Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

However , considering the issue of personal interaction among students presents a different picture.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Structure an Essay | Tips & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/essay-structure/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, comparing and contrasting in an essay | tips & examples, how to write the body of an essay | drafting & redrafting, transition sentences | tips & examples for clear writing, what is your plagiarism score.

Sample Essay Outline: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Outline for Your Essay

Are you stuck trying to figure out how to create an essay outline? Writing an essay can be a daunting task, and creating an outline to organize your thoughts and ideas can be just as difficult.

This blog post will provide a step-by-step guide to creating a sample essay outline that will help you plan and structure your writing process. With a few simple tips and tricks, you’ll be able to craft an effective essay outline in no time!

What is an essay outline?

An essay outline is a plan for your essay that provides structure and organization to the writing process. It helps you to break down your ideas into smaller, more manageable parts that can be easily written and revised. An essay outline can also serve as a roadmap for your essay, guiding you in your writing process and ensuring that all of your key points are included in the final draft.

Essay outlines provide a basic structure for organizing thoughts and ideas before the actual writing process begins. They also allow writers to organize their arguments, evidence, and other important details in an effective and logical way. Outlines help keep writers on track and avoid any tangents or unnecessary information.

The main purpose of an essay outline is to organize ideas and create a structure for an essay that will flow logically from one point to the next.

The outline of an essay can come in many different forms, but typically it involves making a list of topics that need to be addressed in the essay, creating headings and subheadings to organize the information, and providing some sort of introduction and conclusion.

Outlines often include research notes, sources of evidence, and any other important information needed to effectively write the essay.

By taking the time to create an essay outline, writers can save time and energy during the writing process and ensure that their essays are well-structured and logically organized.

Why use an outline for your essay?

An essay outline is an invaluable tool for students, especially those who are looking to write longer and more complex essays. An essay outline helps you organize your thoughts and ideas while providing a roadmap to structure your essay. It allows you to plan out the main points of your essay and provide supporting evidence for each one. By creating an essay outline, you can easily identify any weak spots in your argument or any areas where further research needs to be done.

Creating an essay outline also saves time when writing an essay. Instead of diving right into the essay, you can plan ahead and use your outline to ensure that all of your points are covered and that your essay has a logical flow.

This is particularly important when writing longer essays that require more in-depth research. An essay outline can also help you avoid any potential problems with a lack of focus and organization.

The best way to use an essay outline is by creating it before you start writing. This allows you to map out your thoughts and ideas ahead of time and gives you a better chance of writing a well-structured essay.

It also helps ensure that all of your points are organized and logically connected. If you create an essay outline, you’ll be able to see at a glance which sections are missing or could use further development, making it easier to identify potential problems before you start writing.

How to create an essay outline?

Creating an essay outline is a crucial part of the writing process. An essay outline allows you to plan and structure your essay in a way that best suits your argument. It can help you keep track of all the relevant information you want to include, helping to ensure you don’t forget anything important.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create an essay outline:

1. Identify your topic: Before you can create an outline for your essay, you must first identify what your main topic will be. This will help you to determine what kind of information should be included in your essay and the order in which it should be presented.

2. Brainstorm: Once you have identified your topic, it’s time to start brainstorming ideas related to it. Write down any words, phrases, or concepts that come to mind and then organize them into categories based on their relevance to your topic.

3. Develop a thesis statement: Once you have brainstormed some ideas, you can develop a thesis statement that outlines the main point of your essay. Your thesis statement should be one sentence that captures the essence of your argument.

4. Create an outline: Now that you have a thesis statement, it’s time to create an outline for your essay. Start by listing out the main points that you want to make in your essay. Then, under each point, list the supporting evidence or arguments that you plan to include. You can also add additional points and supporting evidence if needed.

5. Refine your outline: As you continue to refine and organize your essay outline, consider adding more detail or rearranging the points so they are presented in a logical order. The goal is to create an outline that is clear and easy to understand.

Once your essay outline is complete, you can use it as a road map when writing your essay. This will make it easier to organize your thoughts and ensure that all of your points are clearly articulated. Keep in mind that your outline may change as you write your essay, and that’s okay! Don’t be afraid to make changes as you go if needed.

Sample of Essay Outline

Here is a detailed essay outline example:

I. Introduction

Hook: Start with an interesting fact or statistic related to your topic Background information: Provide some context for your readers Thesis statement: Clearly state the main point of your essay

A. Main point 1: This should support your thesis statement

Supporting evidence: Provide examples or evidence to back up your main point

Additional information: Include any additional information that may be useful for your readers

B. Main point 2: This should also support your thesis statement

C. Main point 3: This should also support your thesis statement

III. Conclusion

Restate your thesis statement

Summarize your main points

End with a call to action or a thought-provoking question to leave a lasting impression on your readers

Here is an example of how you could use the outline above for a specific topic:

Hook: Did you know that over 1 billion people worldwide suffer from mental health disorders? Background information: Mental health has become a significant issue in recent years, with more and more people seeking help for conditions such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.

Thesis statement: While mental health treatments have come a long way, there is still a significant stigma surrounding these issues that prevents many people from seeking the help they need.

A. Main point 1: Stigma surrounding mental health can prevent people from seeking help

Supporting evidence: Studies have shown that people are often reluctant to seek help for mental health issues due to fear of being judged or discriminated against.

Additional information: This stigma can be particularly prevalent in certain cultures or communities where mental health issues are not widely discussed or understood.

B. Main point 2: Stigma can also make it difficult for people to access mental health resources

Supporting evidence: Many people who do seek help for mental health issues report difficulty finding affordable or accessible treatments.

Additional information: In some cases, people may not even know where to start looking for help or may not feel comfortable reaching out to a professional.

C. Main point 3: It is important to break the stigma surrounding mental health in order to encourage more people to seek help

Supporting evidence: Research has shown that early intervention and treatment can greatly improve outcomes for people with mental health disorders.

Additional information: By breaking the stigma and creating a more supportive and understanding society, we can help more people get the help they need and improve their overall quality of life.

Restate your thesis statement: The stigma surrounding mental health prevents many people from seeking the help they need.

Summarize your main points: This stigma can prevent people from seeking help and can also make it difficult for them to access resources. It is important to break this stigma in order to encourage more people to seek help and improve outcomes.

End with a call to action: Encourage your readers to start a conversation about mental health and support those who may be struggling with these issues.

Needs help with similar assignment?

We are available 24x7 to deliver the best services and assignment ready within 3-4 hours? Order a custom-written, plagiarism-free paper

You might also like

We provide reliable and top-quality writing services with a great balance of affordability and professionalism with all types of academic papers.

Quick Links

• College Admission Essay Writing Services FAQ
• Nursing Case Studies Writing Services
• Buy Custom Research Papers
• Best Nursing Writing Services
• Literary Analysis Essay Writers
• Nursing Paper Writers for Hire
• Professional Paper Writers
• Cheapest Essay Writing Services
• Write My Essay for Me
• The Best Research Paper Writing Services
• Admission Essay Writing Services!
• Shakespeare Essay Writing Services!
• Rewriting Services
• Term Paper Writing Service

Useful Resources

Dissertation Writing Services

Essay Writer For Hire

Free Essay Maker

How to Study

Essay Outlines: An Essential Tool for Structured Writing & 24 Examples

Oct 14, 2023

Oct 14, 2023 | Blog

What is an Essay Outline?

Writing a good essay requires you to come up with a good outline.

An essay outline is more like a rough draft of the actual essay or the essay’s skeleton.

It is your academic paper’s plan or any essay’s main foundation block.

You might get stuck or run out of content to write halfway through your essay without a good outline.

In essence, an outline helps with the structure of your essay.

More importantly, it helps you flow information and organize your points as you write.

Therefore, it helps you to stay focused and not stray from your original ideas.

However, it should be flexible to accommodate new information.

With an outline, you will clearly understand how the paper will go and the transition of ideas.

As such, an outline is one of the best tools if you do not want to run out of ideas when writing.  

People Also Read

• A Comprehensive Guide to Writing an Informative Essay Outline
• Writing a 5-Paragraph Essay Outline: A Beginner’s Guide
• 11 Essay Outline Templates to Structure Your Writing

How to Write an Essay Outline?

An outline helps you pen down all the ideas you can use in the essay. This ensures that you have all the points handy when you sit down to write the essay. Here is how you can easily write an outline:

• Pick a topic according to your interest.
• Conduct preliminary research on the topic as much as possible.
• Understand the target audience.
• Determine the type of essay.
• Look at each piece of information that you have collected.
• Group your ideas in different paragraphs.

Essay Outline Format

Another important step before starting to write your essay is to understand the outline or the structure of an outline.

It is essential for effective writing as it gives your writing a smooth flow and enables the reader to easily understand your point of view.

Whatever the essay type, be it a narrative, persuasive, descriptive, or expository essay , it is best to follow the common structure of a five-paragraph essay structure.

This will include an introductory paragraph introducing the topic as a thesis statement and some argument or story.

Three-body paragraphs that will defend the thesis statement or argument with supporting material such as examples or statistics.

Lastly, the conclusion paragraph concludes the whole argument by stating its significance and giving your opinions or suggestions.

Let us discuss these parts of a generic outline in detail:

Introduction

Your introduction section will depend on the type of essay you are writing.

For instance, if you are writing an informative or persuasive essay , you will give your readers some context through the background information about the topic.

This will be an overview of the topic, which you will gradually narrow down to the thesis statement of your essay.

You will have to prove this thesis statement in the later paragraphs. Therefore, it should be based on some facts.

Thus your thesis statement will serve different purposes depending on your choice of essay type.

Body Paragraphs:

The body paragraph is the information-rich part of your writing.

These also provide content in different styles depending on the type of essay you are writing.

For instance, in an informative or persuasive essay, your body paragraphs will include information, facts, and logic to support your thesis statement or persuade your readers.

But in an argumentative essay , body paragraphs will defend your thesis or point of view.

In short, body paragraphs prove the validity of your opinion with the support of the researched outside information.

In creative writing , the body paragraphs will gradually move the story from its initial phase to the last moment going through different phases like falling action, rising action, climax, and anticlimax or denouement.

It does not relate these to the thesis, but the words and symbols make these narrative levels clear.

Conclusion:

The conclusion is very crucial to any writing as it wraps up the whole argument and puts an end that satisfies the whole discussion.

In a persuasive and expository essay, it is better to restate the thesis using different words and thus finalize its validity.

It proves you to be an apt writer as you explain the overall significance of your argument and validate the value of your side of the argument.

In creative writing, the information given in the body is explored.

In other words, you explain the significance of your written piece in your conclusion without directly stating it.

This can be done by explaining the effect of the ending on certain characters. Thus readers can infer the theme portrayed by the writer.

Quick Essay Outline Sample

Topic Introduction Hook Statement/ thesis statement Background Information and Context; Thesis Statement/  hook statement 3. Body Paragraph 1/2/3 Topic Sentence  (Shift of idea from the previous paragraph ) Claim (the argument put forward) Evidence (Information added from outside sources to support your point of view, i.e., claim) Explanation ( explaining evidence to defend the claim ) Concluding Sentence ( wrapping up of Argument in Paragraph ) 4. Conclusion Rephrasing Thesis Statement Restating Main Arguments (1,2,3) Overall Concluding Statement (giving Significance)

You can use this template for argumentative and persuasive essays as a reference.

Importance of Essay Outline

• The main purpose of the outline is to plan the structure of the essay. It helps to focus on the most important parts of the essay and develop them in a proper sequence.
• An outline will also help you organize your main ideas and determine the order in which you will write about them. An outline is a very effective way to think through how you will organize and present the information in your essay.
• Using an outline helps you organize your thoughts from beginning to end and ensures you don’t leave any important parts out of the middle. These outlines do not have anything written; they just help you structure your ideas and thoughts logically to build toward a meaningful and strong conclusion.

Examples of Essay Outlines / Types of Essay Outlines

Before you start writing an outline, you must know the different types of outlines you can use. It is important to choose the one that is most appropriate for your research paper . These are:

1. Informative Essay Outline

An informative essay , also known as an expository essay, is a type of writing in which the writer researches a topic and presents coherent ideas to the reader. The main objective of this type of essay is to inform readers by presenting them with new information.

An informative essay educates the reader about a topic. You’ll need to know a good deal about your subject and convey information clearly and organized.

Informative Essay Outline Format

This outline will guide students through their next informative essay. I. Introduction A. Hook B. Background information (define key terms) C. Thesis II. Body Paragraph 1 A. Topic sentence B. Evidence 1 (including citation) C. Evidence 2 (including citation) III. Body Paragraph 2 A. Topic sentence B. Evidence 1 (including citation) C. Evidence 2 (including citation) IV. Body Paragraph 3 A. Topic sentence B. Evidence 1 (including citation) C. Evidence 2 (including citation) IV.Conclusion (restate the thesis statement and summarize the main ideas of the essay)

Use this informative outline to organize your ideas.

2. Narrative Essay Outline

A narrative essay tells a story. It can be an interesting story, a realistic story, or a scary story. The author writes it from his point of view, so the events are told through his eyes and actions. The purpose of a narrative essay is to tell the reader about events, interactions, and experiences that have happened to the author during a particular time frame. It always has a vivid plot.

A narrative essay uses all the story elements — a beginning, middle, and ending, as well as plot, characters, setting, and climax — bringing them together to complete the story. The focus of a narrative essay is the plot, which is told with enough detail to build to a climax.

Structure of a Personal Narrative Essay Outline

Topic Introduction Hook Statement (Intrigue the reader) Set Up The Scene/ Context by giving background information. Thesis Statement 2.  Body Paragraphs Beginning Action → Rising Action → Falling Action (Paragraph 1→ 2 → 3) Use picaresque words Follow the Linear Progression of events by displaying the passage of time Use  transition words  to ensure a smooth flow of the events 3. Conclusion Analyze and Reflect on the action. Explain the significance of the story’s theme! Relate the theme to the real world.

For Narrative Writing, all you need to do is keep the plot in motion and be very careful and particular in the intro and conclusion so as not to lose the flow of the narrative!

Polishing Up!

Before you submit your essay, you must polish it and make it presentable. You can make your essay a perfect piece by following a few simple steps.

The Break Rule:

After you finish writing your essay, take a break to refresh yourself.

Take a break for at least 24 hours and give yourself time to refresh your brain.

Proofreading and editing should not be done immediately, as writing is mentally tiring.

So you must enjoy and refresh your brain to complete the last step of proofreading and editing the essay.

Proofreading and Editing:

When you take at least a 24-hour break, go for the grammar and spelling check and correct mistakes.

This includes punctuation, use of contractions as well as sentence structure. Then you can further improve your essay by improving the vocabulary and removing repetitive phrases.

The sentences you use should make logical sense and flow smoothly. The essay should be a coherent whole.

Use transition words to connect the different ideas and thoughts. Your essay should be simple, easy to read and understand.

Peer Editing:

Ask your peers to reread and edit the piece for you.

This will confirm that your paper is a well-written piece.

The more people read your essay, the more confident you will be about the quality of your work, making it understandable.

This is the last step that completes your essay.

Use this narrative outline to organize your ideas.

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

A compare and contrast essay is a piece of writing that shows likeness and differences among characters, places, concepts, ideas, or other elements. It analyzes them critically to find out and highlight their similarities and dissimilarities.

Compare and contrast essays detail the differences and similarities between these two elements. A compare and contrast writing is based on an in-depth analysis of two or more objects and their practical findings.

To write a compare and contrast essay, you must gather evidence and present a well-reasoned argument on a debatable issue. You want to take two things and discuss both the similarities and the differences between them. For example, if you wanted to focus on contrasting two subjects, you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you might choose to compare and contrast two oranges or apples to highlight subtle differences. For example, Red Delicious apples are sweet, while Granny Smiths are tart and acidic. Similarly, Braeburn apples are crisp and juicy, while Gala apples are very soft.

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline Format

duction Introduction to the broad topic Specific topic Thesis statement Body Paragraphs Body paragraph #1—First aspect that’s similar or different Subject #1 Detail #1 Detail #2 Subject #2 Detail #1 Detail #2 Body paragraph #2—Second aspect that’s similar or different Subject #1 Detail #1 Detail #2 Subject #2 Detail #1 Detail #2 Body paragraph #3—Third aspect that’s similar or different Subject #1 Detail #1 Detail #2 Subject #2 Detail #1 Detail #2 Conclusion Summary of main points—Restate the thesis statement while synthesizing information from body paragraphs. Evaluate the similarities/differences and discuss any future implications (if applicable) Significance—what’s the point you’re making?

Use this compare-and-contrast outline to organize your ideas.

Argumentative Essay Outline

An argumentative essay is a piece of writing where you present your point of view on a certain subject, supported by evidence and arguments.

To write an argumentative essay, you should use proper arguments and convincing language to persuade the readers that your point of view is more valid than other positions.

An argument is a reasoned opinion supported and explained by evidence. In an argumentative essay, you should focus on presenting and defending a claim rather than explaining the claim. An argumentative essay is usually written in the third person.

An argumentative essay presents both sides of an issue. However, it presents one side more positively or meticulously than the other so that readers can be swayed to the one the author intends. The purpose of this type of essay is to convince a reader rather than to inform.

Argumentative Essay Outline Format

Introductory Paragraph – Attention getter – Background information on the topic – Thesis statement (argumentative thesis) Body Paragraphs – Topic sentence explaining the main idea of the paragraph – Evidence to support your topic sentence and thesis statement (research) – Analysis of how the evidence connects to your claim and why it supports your argument (analysis and connection) Conclusion Paragraph – Restate your thesis statement (the argumentative claim) in different words. – Summarize your key points. – End with a clincher.

Use this argumentative outline to organize your ideas.

Persuasive Essay Outline

A persuasive essay is used to convince a reader about a particularly good idea or focus you believe in. Your persuasive essay could be based on anything you have an opinion about.

This type of paper differs from others because you need to use your opinion to make an argument. Your point of view matters and other people should be convinced it is true.

To write a persuasive essay, you must know your audience and which arguments they will respond to. Suppose you can try to find out what your audience believes so that you can consider their beliefs. Remember that not everyone will agree with your point of view and that some people may be against what you have to say. Writing a persuasive essay means convincing someone about something using reasons, facts, and other things supporting your opinion.

Persuasive Essay Outline Format (5-paragraph essay)

1) Introduction paragraph: Get the reader’s attention by using a “hook.” Pull your audience in! Quote, Fact, or something interesting to start an essay Give some background information about the topic. Would you please explain what the topic is and why it is controversial or important to you? Thesis or focus statement (MUST BE STATED in the LAST sentence of your  introduction paragraph ). This sentence states your opinion about the topic and will be proven in the rest of your essay with three strong reasons and support. Example:  I am in favor of ____________ because ____________, ______________, and ___________. Example:  I am against _____________because _____________, _____________, and ___________. 2) Body Paragraphs : (1st body paragraph) First argument or reason to support your position A topic sentence explaining your first reason. Example : My first reason for being against ___________ is __________________________. Provide support/evidence to prove your first reason with facts, data, examples, etc. (2nd body paragraph) Second argument or reason to support your position. A topic sentence explains your second reason. Example:  Another reason I do not support _____________is _______________. Support your second reason with facts, data, examples, etc. (3rd body paragraph) Counter argument and third reason to support position. State what the other side believes or may argue Example:  Some may argue _______________ Challenge their argument with your third reason and provide support. Example:  but I disagree because _____________. Give support such as facts, data, examples, etc., explaining why your opinion is right and the other side is not right. Conclusion Paragraph: Sum up your main points and three reasons. Restate your thesis.

Example: I am strongly against ______________.

Final words: last comments or call to action. Encourage the reader to agree and take your side on the issue.

Use this persuasive outline to organize your ideas.

Expository Essay Outline

An expository essay is a writing where the writer presents opinions, points of view, ideas, concepts, and arguments on a particular topic. It is usually a formal piece of writing with an introduction, a discussion, and a conclusion.

Expository Essays are often written in response to a prompt that asks the writer to expose or explain a specific topic. Essay questions on tests are normally written to prompt an essay in this very style and may look like the following:

Describe the causes of the American Civil War.

Explain what your favorite means of travel is and why.

An expository essay provides an explanation or information about something through factual data. Facts can be further explained by using clear and concise ideas. Towards the end of the expository essay, the writer should be able to build an argument out of the facts provided gradually.

Expository Essay Structure Outline 

Introduction 1. Begin with a hook . Tell a detailed story that pulls the reader in. The story should relate to the thesis statement of your essay in some way. 2. Tie-in  – This is a sentence (or a few complete sentences) that links your hook to your essay’s thesis. 3. Thesis statement  – This sentence is typically the last sentence of the introduction. It responds to the prompt and provides the main idea of the entire essay. The thesis statement should NOT include three supporting reasons. Sample thesis statement for the prompt “What is your favorite time of the year?”: “Without a doubt, Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year.” Body Paragraph 1 1. Begin with a topic sentence  – The topic sentence provides the direction for the entire paragraph and should include one reason/example supporting your thesis statement. For example, with the prompt and thesis statement mentioned above, an appropriate topic sentence for body paragraph one might be “ Undoubtedly, I eat better on Thanksgiving than any other time of the year.” 2. Extension sentence  – This sentence further clarifies the idea presented in the topic sentence. It lets you start moving into the details you will develop in the paragraph. 3. Details  – Provide detailed examples that support the idea you presented in your topic sentence. Personal anecdotes provide excellent details. 4. Closing sentence  – This is the last sentence of the paragraph and should summarize the main idea or put a finishing thought to it. Body Paragraph 2 1. Transition  – This should summarize the main idea from the previous paragraph and lead to the new idea for this paragraph. Note that this also serves as the topic sentence for this paragraph with a new supporting reason. Possible transition structures include: Not only  do I eat like a king on Thanksgiving,  but  I also get to spend precious moments with family members I rarely see. Besides  eating like a king on Thanksgiving, I  also  spend precious moments with family members I rarely see. Eating well on Thanksgiving  is only the beginning; I also  spend precious moments with family members I rarely see. While  eating well on Thanksgiving is a pleasure ,  the precious moments I get to spend with family members I rarely see are even more important. 2. The rest of Body Paragraph 2 follows the same structure as Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 3 1. The most important supporting detail/reason  should be reserved for this paragraph to end your essay with a bang. Ways to transition to this last idea include: Above all else , Thanksgiving is a time I get to show my gratitude for everything I have. Most significantly,  Thanksgiving is a time I get to show my gratitude for everything I have. 2. The rest of Body Paragraph 2 follows the same structure as Body Paragraph 1 Conclusion 1. Restate/summarize your three supporting reasons/examples  from each topic sentence. Example: I savor every bite of the food I eat on Thanksgiving. Also, I appreciate the opportunity to spend quality time with my family and show gratitude for everything I have. 2. Link back to your story in the hook  and finish it up. 3. Restate your thesis statement  using different words.

Use this expository outline to organize your ideas.

Reflective Essay Outline

A reflective essay is a piece of academic writing aiming to examine, observe, and describe the progress of the writer’s individual experience. When writing your essay, remember to focus on a deeper look at yourself, on your inner emotions, rather than the event itself.

A reflective essay always aims to introduce the reader to interesting moments from the writer’s life and fix attention to feelings about a certain issue. The point is that it should convey meaning and be an instructive story.

The format of a reflective essay greatly differs from an argumentative or research paper. A reflective essay is more of a well-structured story or a diary entry rife with insight and reflection. You might be required to arrange your essay using the APA style or the MLA format . The use of the first person pronoun ‘I’ is welcomed. Do not abuse this guideline! Though it is welcomed, it is not necessary.

Reflective Essay Outline Format

Introduction Hook —give a quick preview of the most exciting part of that story Thesis Statement —without giving too much away, write how this experience influenced you. Body Paragraph 1 Description of an influential person, place, or event Body Paragraph 2 The effect of the person, place, or event had on you at the time Body Paragraph 3 Lesson learned from reflecting on a person, place, or event Conclusion Summary of the experience Overall impact/lesson learned

Use this reflective outline to organize your ideas.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline

A cause-and-effect essay explains why the event or the situation occurs (causes) and its results (effects). A curriculum usually includes this exercise to test your ability to understand the logic of certain events or actions. If you can see the logic behind cause and effect in the world around you, you will better understand how the world works.

A cause-and-effect essay helps readers understand why something happened or is happening or shows readers how a situation will unfold. In other words, it answers questions such as “Why?” (the reason for something) and “What happens next?” (the consequences). Cause-and-effect essays examine causes, describe effects, or do both.

When writing a cause-and-effect essay, you should be sure that you have researched the specific causes and are confident that you’re demonstrating why they lead to particular results. In other words, ensure your ideas are logically related and effectively arranged.

It is important to note that this type of essay needs to be fairly objective as its aim is not to persuade readers to think in a certain way but to provide information on objective facts. In other words, your point should be supported with facts and pieces of evidence, not with your thoughts on the subject.

Sample cause and effect essay format

1. Introduction Attention grabber Basic information about the topic Thesis statement (indicate what the essay will be about causes, effects, or both) 2. Body paragraph I Topic sentence (indicates causes, effects, or both) Cause 1/effect 1 (detailed explanation with examples) 3. Body paragraph II Topic sentence (indicates causes, effects, or both) Cause 2/effect 2 (detailed explanation with examples) 4. Body paragraph III Topic sentence (indicates causes, effects, or both) Cause 3/effect 3 (detailed explanation with examples) 5. Conclusion Restating the thesis statement Reminding the reader of the main points Concluding sentence

This essay template outline will help you structure your essay and create a good flow and link between the causes.

Research Essay Outline

A research essay is a form of writing that requires the writer to investigate a topic and gather, generate, and evaluate evidence. The evidence can e researched and gathered from library books, journals, youtube, and web pages. The writer then writes about the topic by introducing their findings in an organized way, including thoughts and ideas based on the information they gathered during their investigation.

A research essay outline journey reports facts, data, and other information on a specific topic. It’s a research essay because you research your subject before writing it. Unlike an expository essay, which only requires you to examine and report the facts you find, a research essay requires you to form an opinion about a subject, then support that opinion with information from primary and secondary sources.

A research paper differs from a research proposal (also known as a prospectus), although the writing process is similar. Research papers are intended to demonstrate a student’s academic knowledge of a subject. A proposal is a persuasive piece meant to convince its audience of the value of a research project. Think of the proposal as the pitch and the paper as the finished product.

Research papers are similar to academic essays but are usually longer and more detailed assignments designed to assess your writing and scholarly research skills.

Research Essay Outline Format

1. Introduction: a. Hook statement b. Background/context c. Thesis statement 2. Body Paragraph: a. First Argument (topic sentence) i. Research/evidence to support the argument ii. Analysis of evidence b. Second Argument (topic sentence) i. Research/evidence to support the argument ii. Analysis of evidence c. Third Argument (topic sentence) i. Research/evidence to support the argument ii. Analysis of evidence 3. Conclusion:  a. Restate thesis statement b. Summarize the main arguments and their evidence

Use this research outline to organize your ideas.

Literary Analysis Essay Outline

A literary analysis essay is an argumentative analysis that carefully examines a piece of literature by looking at the story’s characters, theme, tone, setting, plot, and other literary devices used to narrate the story. It encourages readers to consider how and why a novel, poem, or play was written. It is meant to analyze a key element in the literature; thus, you should refrain from writing a paper explaining every point of the story’s plot. An argument can be raised by looking at certain characters or deciding to write about conflicts in the story.

Although a quick synopsis of the essay is needed within the argument of a literary analysis, the objective is not to write a report about a book or story. Instead, a literary analysis discusses a writer’s interpretation of a text through careful examination of the author’s choices within the text: word choice, main themes, motifs/symbols, character development, structure, imagery, etc. A literary analysis is not merely a summary or review; it discusses opinions and reasoning to prove an original thesis.

Literary Analysis Essay Outline Format

Introduction Introduce the Title of the Piece and the Author’s Name. Give sufficient background on the piece, but don’t give too much detail so that you spoil the surprise for the reader. Give your thesis statement (what your paper will explain or argue and the main points) Body Paragraphs Topic Sentence : Begin with a topic sentence that supports your thesis statement. Points: list three key points that support your topic sentence. Evidence:  include textual evidence (quotes from your reading) that supports each point. ~~~Explain why this is evidence and how it supports your point~~~. Closing Sentence:  Reparate your paragraph by referring to your topic sentence. ~~~This is where you go beyond just repeating what your evidence says and makes a connection for the reader about how this evidence is important to the broader argument of your paper.~~~ Body Paragraphs 2, 3 , etc. (repeat as needed) Conclusion Restate your thesis statement. Do not copy it word for word, but put it in different wording. Now is where you show what you learned from writing this paper. List all of the main points from your body paragraphs and briefly describe/explain how each point.

Use this literary analysis essay outline to organize your ideas.

Blank Informative Essay Template Outline

Blank sentence outline for literary analysis essay, essay paper outline template, five-paragraph essay outline, printable essay plan outline, business school essay exam outline, basic proper essay outline, topical outlines essay format, short essay outline template, group explanatory essay outline format, standard detailed essay outline, sample college research paper outline, final thought.

An outline is widely used in literature or writing. It helps the writer to organize their ideas and arguments. Outlining is an organized way of writing. It helps the writer become more efficient and easy to perform again.

While plenty of options exist for students who need to write an outline, it cannot be very clear when deciding which one you should use. Thankfully, many free outlines are available, and the templates above showcase some of the best we have found.

Need Some Help with Writing your Essay Outline?

Essay writing will still be a daunting task for you, even after reading this article.

You do not need to worry about that as EssayFreelanceWriters.Com is there to willingly and readily help you with the best custom essay writing service on the web and with your assignment!

We have a professional writing team of paper writers holding college degrees that assist our students in writing their assignments.

Whether it is a persuasive, expository, narrative, or creative writing essay, our experts very aptly know the structure and style of all custom essays and will successfully fulfill your requirements! What are you thinking? Live chat with our experts and get started today.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do i need to write an essay outline.

You will sometimes be asked to hand in an outline before you start writing your essay. Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly. Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an outline is essential to the writing process. Writing one (as informally as you like) clarifies your structure when you are working on an essay.

Should I use full sentences in my essay outline?

If you have to hand in your outline, you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you must use complete sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor. When writing an outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find writing their ideas in full sentences helpful, while others prefer summarizing them in short, numbered sentences.

Do I have to stick to my essay outline as I write?

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay. However, departing from your outline is okay if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could improve. Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

With a deep understanding of the student experience, I craft blog content that resonates with young learners. My articles offer practical advice and actionable strategies to help students achieve a healthy and successful academic life.

• 500 Word Essay - Writing Guide and Examples

Most Popular Articles

Racism thesis statement example, how to rephrase a thesis statement, capstone project topic suggestions, how to write an abortion essay, should students wear school uniforms essay, list causal essay topics write, respect essay, signal words, great synonyms, informative speech examples, essay writing guide, introduction paragraph for an essay, argumentative essay writing, essay outline templates, write an autobiographical essay, personal narrative essay ideas, descriptive essay writing, how to write a reflective-essay, how to write a lab report abstract, how to write a grant proposal, point of view in an essay, debate topics for youth at church, theatre research paper topics, privacy overview.