Outlining Paul Mundy www.mamud.com

A suggested outline (case study) Title Author Lead Background (what the problem was) Story (what you did) Results (what happened as a result) Evidence (data) Analysis (what you learned) Recommendations (what to do next time) More information (where to go for more info)

A suggested outline (policy brief) Title Author Summary Statement of the issue or problem Background Existing policy situation Policy options  Advantages and disadvantages of each option Evidence based on your research Your recommendations References or further reading

Develop a structure, then put information into it Decide what categories you want to use (or must use) Put the categories in a logical order Sort your notes into these categories Situation Problem Results Intervention Results Analysis Situation Intervention Problem Examples Analysis Recommendations Recommendations Examples

Develop the structure from the information itself Sort your information into categories: put similar types of information together Give each category a title Sort the categories into a logical order Problem Situation Problem Intervention Results Recommendations Analysis Situation Examples Analysis Recommendations Intervention Results Examples

Four ways to start writing Write a summary sentence Write some possible leads Write an ending Write without notes

Overcoming writer’s block 1 Brainstorm Get ideas from a group Use cards to sort ideas Make a mind map Write down thoughts on the topic in a mind map diagram Get someone to interview you Tell him/her about your topic He/she takes notes and ask questions

Overcoming writer’s block 2 Write down ideas in any order Don’t worry about the words or sentence flow Reorder ideas Find the right words, then rewrite Begin in the middle Leave the intro till later, when you have a clearer idea of what the paper is about Make a recording Imagine your audience in front of you Transcribe the recording

Overcoming writer’s block 3 Change the audience Pretend you're writing to a child, a friend, someone new to the subject Explain the topic slowly and clearly Play a role Pretend you are someone else writing Eg, head of an NGO, company lobbyist

Brainstorming 1 Needs several people Take 5 minutes to think of ideas Write ideas on cards – one per card Each person gives one idea in turn Go around group until ideas are exhausted

Brainstorming 2 Put cards on table or floor Sort cards into categories Develop outline from categories Categories become major headings Individual cards become subheadings or points

Brainstorming rules Postpone and withhold your judgment of ideas Encourage wild and exaggerated ideas Quantity counts at this stage, not quality Build on the ideas put forward by others Every person and every idea has equal worth

Mind mapping 1 Subject Main ideas Details

Mind mapping rules Write the subject in the centre of page Draw a circle around it For main subheadings, draw lines out from circle Label lines with subheadings Draw new lines to each subheading for each new idea. Add labels For individual facts, draw lines from appropriate heading. Label them Convert the mind map into an outline Main ideas become main headings Details become subheadings or individual points

Mind mapping Livestock marketing Kinna mkt Transport Conflict Volume Situation Problem Quality Livestock marketing Intervention Results Income Coop growth Coop Buyer

Outlining in Microsoft Word 1 Use Headings Styles Heading 1 Heading 2 Heading 3 Body text body text body text body text body text body text body text body text body text

Outlining in Microsoft Word 2 Use Outline View to see various levels in outline

Outlining in Microsoft Word 3 Place cursor on heading Select Level to change level of heading

Outlining in Microsoft Word 4 Double-click on + to expand or contract text Move up or down to change order of sections

Resources www.brainstorming.co.uk www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01.htm owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/ gl_block.html