1. Creating an Outline

2. Why is an outline like a roll of film?
An outline helps you develop a snapshot of your paper before you write it.

3. How is an outline like a skeleton?
They are the bare bones on which you hang the muscle of a composition.

4. An outline:
Has a title
Should begin with a thesis statement or introductory sentence
Is made up of either topics or sentences, but not both
Follows parallel structure

5. Roller Hockey
Roller hockey will soon be the most popular new sport in the world.
(This should be a provable/supportable point. Everything that follows this should be support or proof the thesis statement.)

6. Topic vs Sentence (Choose one style and stay with it throughout the entire outline.)
Short phrases
Complete, properly written sentences with subject, verb, and correct use of punctuation, grammar, and capitalization

7. Parallel Structure
Each section of the outline should follow parallel structure.
Each topic in a group should follow the same structure.
However you start the outline, make sure to follow the same structure throughout.
Example: If the first item ends with _ing, then the rest of the items in that section should end with _ing.

8. Outlines
I. Uses A. Summarize information from readings B. Preparation for a paper C. Preparation for a speech II. Characteristics Note: Uses and Characteristics are both plural nouns, so they are parallel. Keep consistent with singular or pluarl and make sure all verbs are in the same tense. Question: Are the subtopics parallel?

9. Outlines
I. Uses A. Summary of information from readings B. Preparation for a paper C. Preparation for a speech II. Characteristics Note: Summarize was changed to “Summary of” so that each of the subtopics begins with a noun.

10. An outline uses: Roman numerals (large and small)
Upper and lower case letters
Arabic numbers
Indentation

11. Order of the outline Large Roman numerals – to mark the main topic
Followed by Indented capital letter items
Further indented Arabic numbers and lower case letters, and small Roman numerals, all followed by a period.

12. American Writers I. Novelists A. Mark Twain B. Edith Wharton
C. John Steinbeck
Poets
A. Robert Frost
B. Emily Dickinson
C. Langston Hughes

13. Title Statement: Put thesis statement here.
Main topic one
A. Subtopic one
B. Subtopic two
1. sub – sub topic one
2. sub – sub topic two
a. Sub – sub – sub topic one
b. Sub – sub – sub topic two
i. sub – sub – sub – sub topic one
ii. sub – sub – sub – sub topic two