Outline Your Writing Habit Final Project Presentation Haidy Hui

What is an Outline? a way of idea listing made before students write their essays a way of idea listing made before students write their essays a way of organizing information a way of organizing information provide a summary showing the logical flow of a paper provide a summary showing the logical flow of a paper a guideline a guideline

How beneficial an Outline is? Categorize different ideas into different body paragraphs Categorize different ideas into different body paragraphs Avoid overlapping, repeating and inappropriate ideas Avoid overlapping, repeating and inappropriate ideas Being able to discover combinable ideas Being able to discover combinable ideas Check whether their points directly reflect the thesis statement Check whether their points directly reflect the thesis statement Good structure enhanced Good structure enhanced Avoid making unchangeable mistakes Avoid making unchangeable mistakes Avoid going off track Avoid going off track Ensure appropriate answers are given Ensure appropriate answers are given

Types of Outline Mind Maps Mind Maps Point-Form Outline Point-Form Outline

Mind Maps A diagram used to represent and link ideas and words A diagram used to represent and link ideas and words Usually used at the stage of brainstorming Usually used at the stage of brainstorming Symbols, pictures and single words (key words) are used Symbols, pictures and single words (key words) are used Different colors are used Different colors are used By organizing their ideas into a mind map, student are allowed to figure out through a diagram what points are unsuitable and overlapping. By organizing their ideas into a mind map, student are allowed to figure out through a diagram what points are unsuitable and overlapping. The paper is equally distributed into different parts? Balanced? The paper is equally distributed into different parts? Balanced? Sufficient evidences are provided? Sufficient evidences are provided?

Point Form Outline A more formal and detailed outline A more formal and detailed outline A proposal and a plan A proposal and a plan Not only linking different ideas, but organizing them into body paragraphs Not only linking different ideas, but organizing them into body paragraphs Thesis statement formulated Thesis statement formulated Topic sentences decided Topic sentences decided A hook? A hook? Ensure good structure Ensure good structure A detailed outline = 1/3 of a paper!! (my experience) A detailed outline = 1/3 of a paper!! (my experience)

An Effective Outline Division Division Parallelism Parallelism Coordination Coordination Subordination Subordination

Division Every heading should be divided into several subheadings or points Every heading should be divided into several subheadings or points make sure sufficient examples are taken in account to support the main idea make sure sufficient examples are taken in account to support the main idea

Parallelism Headings and subheadings should have a parallel structure Headings and subheadings should have a parallel structure E.g. I. Wash ingredients II. Set oven’s temperature II. Set oven’s temperature (Both headings start with a “verb”)

Coordination headings should have the same value of significance, so as the subheadings headings should have the same value of significance, so as the subheadings To enhance every point has a balanced worth To enhance every point has a balanced worth

Subordination headings should be more general headings should be more general subheadings should be more specific subheadings should be more specific E.g. I. Immoral acts of Paulina a. killing her husband a. killing her husband b. torturing her mother b. torturing her mother

Check List – The 3Cs Clear? Clear? - appropriate reflection to the thesis - good structure Concise? Concise? - sufficient evidence to support Comprehensive? Comprehensive? - do address all the questions assigned to you by your instructor

Tutoring Strategies 1. Personal experience 2. Examples with demonstration 3. Practice 4. Encouragements

Practice Exercise Besides theories, also give them chance to practice Besides theories, also give them chance to practice Find an essay that they never read Find an essay that they never read Ask them to draw the mind map / outline Ask them to draw the mind map / outline Deconstruct an essay an see how it works Deconstruct an essay an see how it works Ask them to outline an essay they wrote Ask them to outline an essay they wrote Leading questions: why do you think it is not well balanced? Where are the overlapping ideas? Leading questions: why do you think it is not well balanced? Where are the overlapping ideas? Help them figure their weakness for improvements Help them figure their weakness for improvements

Encouragements Tutors should understand different students have different writing habits Tutors should understand different students have different writing habits Encourage them to use different outlining method Encourage them to use different outlining method Which one suits them best? Which one suits them best?

Outlining Addict

Sources enceInternet/MakingOutline.html enceInternet/MakingOutline.html enceInternet/MakingOutline.html enceInternet/MakingOutline.html 4/01/ 4/01/ 4/01/ 4/01/ / / / / / / / /