Please read this entire page.

This video also walks through outlining in a more visual way and it's only 2 min.

Outlining as part of Writing Process

What is an Outline?

Outlines are blueprints for a writing assignment. Before diving into writing a larger piece of writing, like an essay, most writers find it helpful to map out, or list, the topics they plan on writing about. Then, when they go to draft their assignment, they have a plan to follow that has outlined or listed all the topics they want to write about in the order they want to write about them. After drafting, the outline also comes in handy as a way to reevaluate the structure of your essay. Think of your outline as a tool throughout the writing process.

What goes in an Outline?

Anything and everything you want to write about should go in your outline. However, know that your decisions do not need to be final. If you're thinking about adding a quote and can't decide between two, feel free to write them both down and decide later when you're drafting. If you include an example and then later decide it's not the right fit, that's okay too: you are the writer, you are in control of your essay, and you can change, edit, delete, rearrange, at your heart's content.

What does an Outline look like?

An outline typically looks like a bulleted list with smaller points being more indented, like so:

- - First Idea You Will Discuss
    - Example of that main idea
    - Example of that main idea
    - Explanation of the example
  - Second idea
    - Quote that supports that main idea
    - Explanation of the quote.
  - (Actual Essays will also include an Introduction/Conclusion though our assignments don't need those)

Outlines use indenting to denote more specific information. The further indented the information is, the mores specific it is. We will use a specific outline format for our research paper. Before that, you can use any format or style you'd like. I

For our Midterm, I recommend following the following format:

Summary

Thesis paraphrase of Tufekci
Main idea*
Main idea
Main idea

Analysis

first way to evaluate her argument (such as tone)
- quote to support your point
second way you're analyzing her argument (such as use of evidence)
- quote to support your point

etc. for 5-8 paragraphs

*you should write out the main idea - do not use this phrase as a placeholder. Remember the goal is to start mapping out what you're going to write.