Writing for Healthcare Professionals The Outline Dr. Hyman, Professor

Outline Outline Definition: Provides the main topics or principal ideas of a subject. It is the writer’s blueprint for a paper.

The preliminary outline The outline Helps the writer organize ideas. It will guide the research. The preliminary outline Helps the writer organize the ideas for the final paper. The final outline Outlines provide an image of the paper.

The outline An outline can be compared to a roadmap; it provides direction for the paper.

Types of Formal Outlines Topic Outline: Employs the use of nouns and phrases; do not use punctuation at the end of the noun or phrase.

Types of Formal Outlines Sentence- The sentence outline uses complete sentences for each division.

Rules for the formal outline The formal outline requires at least two points per section. Every I must have a II. Every A must have a B.

Below is a sample outline. I. First major idea A. First subordinate idea under I B. Second subordinate idea under I II. Second major idea III. Third major subordinate idea A. First subordinate idea under III B. Second subordinate idea under III C. Third subordinate idea under III Note: The ideas in your outline must be parallel.

Successful outlines have a systematic structure. The ideas must be parallel. Example: Topic: Fad Diets I. Three day diet or I. Evaluating Three Day Diet II. Cabbage Soup Diet II. Analyzing Cabbage Soup Diet III. Grapefruit Diet III. Eating Grapefruit Diet The terms are parallel; nouns are matched with nouns.

Writ 324: Organizational Rubric for your Synthesis/Research Paper : 7 pages Introduction: Describe your patient; use only initials (No name), sex, and age, primary and secondary diagnosis. Include symptoms that led to hospitalization. Please include your thesis/ purpose statement in the introduction. Literature Review Please include diagnosis and description of the patient. Provide references that examine what has been written about the disease. Past medical history. Explain in clear terms how the past medical history may influence or has influenced the client’s primary diagnosis for this hospitalization; do not merely list the past medical history. Include in this section one or two references from an academic journal. Identify the current medications. Of all the client’s medications, which specific drugs have the potential to have a major impact on the client’s current status? Please include what researchers have said about the medication. Discharge Planning Explain specific patient education instructions that the client will need to maintain health after discharge. Please take into account the client’s past medical history. Cite at least 2 journal articles and 2 other references for your educational instructions. Summary/ Conclusion

Outline for a general scientific paper (literature review) I. Introduction : Explain the topic. Demonstrate the importance of the topic. You also want to place your thesis/purpose statement in this section. II. Point one: Include research findings from at least three sources; be sure to analyze the articles; provide your point of view. II. Point Two: Include research findings from studies. III. Point Three: Include research findings from studies. IV. Evaluate the literature; you want to include strengths, weaknesses, implications for additional research.

A preliminary outline is due on Monday, November 9, 2009. You may write a topic or sentence outline. Best regards, Dr. Hyman