1. Outlining
Paul Mundy

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Mind mapping 1
Subject
Main ideas
Details

14. 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

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

16. 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

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

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

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

20. Resources www.brainstorming.co.uk
owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/ gl_block.html