1. Creating Effective Outlines A Learning Enhancement Center Workshop

2. Why Use Outlines? To show the logical structure of your paper or presentation. To show the logical structure of your paper or presentation. To help you organize your ideas. To help you organize your ideas. To help you separate main ideas from supporting ideas. To help you separate main ideas from supporting ideas.

3. Outlines are Flexible Outlines range from casual to formal. Outlines range from casual to formal. Your outline will change as your ideas change. Your outline will change as your ideas change.

4. Getting Started: Brainstorming List everything you can think of related to your subject. List everything you can think of related to your subject. Look at your list and jot down the main ideas. Look at your list and jot down the main ideas. Insert sub-points and examples under the main points. Insert sub-points and examples under the main points.

5. Getting Started: Mind Mapping Place your main idea in the middle of your paper. Place your main idea in the middle of your paper. Connect related ideas using lines. Connect related ideas using lines.

6. XC Student Council

7. Getting Started: The Thesis Write the thesis (the topic with your attitude or opinion about it) Write the thesis (the topic with your attitude or opinion about it) Build an outline around the thesis. Build an outline around the thesis.

8. Arrange the ideas in your outline into a logical pattern. Chronological (order in time) Chronological (order in time) General to Specific General to Specific Least to Most Important Least to Most Important Problem-Solution Problem-Solution

9. Using your outline Use your outline to guide your writing or presentation! Use your outline to guide your writing or presentation! Fill with examples and more information about the points you want to make. Fill with examples and more information about the points you want to make.

10. The Formal Outline Structure I. Roman numerals are against the left margin of the page and contain the major divisions of a text. A. Upper-case letters are the first indentation and contain the secondary ideas that will support a major division in a text. 1. Arabic numerals are indented under 1. Arabic numerals are indented under upper-case letters. upper-case letters. 2. Arabic numerals contain important examples that support the writer’s 2. Arabic numerals contain important examples that support the writer’s ideas. ideas. a. Lower-case letters are indented a. Lower-case letters are indented under Arabic numbers. under Arabic numbers. b. Lower-case letters have specific b. Lower-case letters have specific details or an explanation of an details or an explanation of an example’s main points. example’s main points.

11. The Formal Outline Structure cont’d… B. Except for single examples of specific points, individual divisions (I, II, III) specific points, individual divisions (I, II, III) generally have two or more sub generally have two or more sub points (A, B, C). points (A, B, C). II. Formal outlines contain more than one major division. major division. A. Each outline must have at least two A. Each outline must have at least two roman numerals (I, II). roman numerals (I, II). B. If there is an “A”, then there must be a “B” included as well. B. If there is an “A”, then there must be a “B” included as well.

12. How would the mind map look as an outline? My Life Thesis: Enjoying a variety of activities and relationships helps me have a balanced life. I. School A. XC A. XC B. Student Council B. Student Council II. Social Life A. Dating A. Dating B. Bowling B. Bowling III. Family

13. Practice Outlining: Arrange the information below into an outline. Curious George Curious George Videos Videos Winnie the Pooh Winnie the Pooh E.T. E.T. Michael Jackson: Thriller Music Michael Jackson: Thriller Music Waterboy Waterboy Media Media Pink Floyd: The Wall Pink Floyd: The Wall Harry Potter Harry Potter The Titanic The Titanic Books Books Grateful Dead: Mars Hotel Grateful Dead: Mars Hotel

14. An Answer to the outline activity is on the next page. Note: The categories should fit the division, but it does not matter how the information is organized within the division. Note: The categories should fit the division, but it does not matter how the information is organized within the division.

15. Possible Answer I. Media A. Books 1. Curious George 2. Winnie the Pooh 3. Harry Potter B. Videos 1. Titanic 2. Waterboy 3. E.T. C. Music 1. Michael Jackson: Thriller 2. Pink Floyd: The Wall 3. Grateful Dead: Mars Hotel

16. Your Outline Thesis: Although Franklin Roosevelt’s life and policies appear to reflect an Abnegation attitude, his “get it done” attitude was all Dauntless. I. Response to the Great Depression A. Jobs 1.2. B. Homeless 1.2. II. Response to the war in Europe A.B. III. Response to his polio A.B.C.