Outline Types for Research Papers

Outline Types for Research Papers Outline Types for Research Papers Your first step when writing a research paper is the outline. It helps you arrange your thoughts and keeps ideas coherent. Whether the paper is meant to be a lengthy discussion or a short presentation, an outline is a useful guide for the writer. There is no single, correct way to write an outline. The best outline is one you’re comfortable creating and is appropriate for the assignment. Here are some types of outlines for research papers: Informal Outline Starting with an informal outline will help you concentrate and list your thoughts. You’ll discover which points you’d like to emphasize, the details you lack, and how you’d like the paper to look. The informal outline consists mainly of words or phrases, with only bullets or numbers as a format. This kind of outline is especially handy when you’re pressed for time and need to draft something quickly. Formal Outline When writing a more formal or longer paper, or when you have more time to prepare the work, constructing a formal outline is a good idea. You can begin with an informal outline and transform it later With a formal outline, a specific format must be followed. Roman numerals, letters and numbers are used to organize the ideas. The phrase or sentence structure of the main points and supporting points must be the same. Both formal and informal outlines can be further expanded to form topic or sentence outlines: Topic Outline In a topic outline, your ideas and explanations are sorted and distributed into different parts. Each part focuses on a certain topic (written in phrase form), and enumerates the details below. The usual format for topic outlines is Roman numerals for the main points, capital letters for the topics under each main point, and numbers for those under the sub-topics. Sentence Outline The sentence outline presents (in sentence form) the proofs supporting your thesis statement. The summary of the entire research paper is embodied in the sentences of this outline. The main points are labelled with Roman numerals, the supporting points for each labelled with capital letters, and details for each supporting point labelled with numbers. Reverse Outline While formal and informal outlines are created before the actual writing of the paper, the reverse outline is developed when you’re done with an initial draft. It can be used to check: If the draft accomplishes its purpose If all key elements are present If the order of ideas makes sense To create a reverse outline, determine the main idea of each of your paragraphs. When combined, they should form the summary of your thesis statement. Following an outline helps you keep ideas clear and that you don’t neglect any important information. There can be instances when you need to make changes or add to your outline, but your main points should remain the same. If you need assistance drafting any research papers, in Ontario and Canada is available for your academic needs. Our team is committed to helping you compose, proofread, and edit your essays.