Skip to main content
Humanities LibreTexts

8.4.2: Outline Your Argument

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID
    174308

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)

    How Do I Organize My Information to Make an Argument?

    Integrating your ideas and your information from research is a complex process, and sometimes it can be difficult to separate the two. Some paragraphs in your paper will consist mostly of details from your research. That is fine, as long as you explain what those details mean or how they are linked. You should also include sentences and transitions that show the relationship between different claims and evidence from your research by grouping related ideas or pointing out connections or contrasts. The result is that you are not simply presenting information; you are synthesizing, analyzing, and interpreting it. Your paper's thesis and topic sentences should be your own ideas, with information from research providing support for your ideas.

    Remember that the outline represents the order and connections of your ideas, not the paragraph structure of the paper. You may need several paragraphs for one section of the outline that includes many details, and only one paragraph for other sections.

    Working Outline

    The final step to complete before beginning your rough draft is to choose an organizational structure. For some assignments, this may be determined by your professor's requirements. For instance, if you are asked to explore the impact of a new communications device, a cause-and-effect structure is obviously appropriate. In other cases, you will need to determine the structure based on what suits your topic and purpose. This is known as the working outline, which helps you to visualize your main arguments and evidence you've collected, the opposing arguments, and your rebuttals of the opposing arguments. If any part of your outline is missing information, you'll know where to do more research before you start writing your draft.

    The standard format for an outline looks something like this:

    I. Introduction

    A. Context and explanation of topic and controversy

    1. Stakeholders

    2. Different views on the issue

    B. Your thesis recommending one view or course of action

    II. First Major Point Supporting Thesis

    A. First sub-point of the first major point

    1. First set of sub-point details such as examples, definitions, data, quotes from expert sources

    2. Second set of sub-point details

    B. Second sub-point of the first major point

    1. First set of sub-point details

    2. Second set of sub-point details

    III. Second Major Point Supporting Thesis

    A. First sub-point of the second major point

    B. Second sub-point of the second major point

    and so on

    IV. First Major Point Opposing Thesis

    A. First sub-point of the first major point

    1. First set of sub-point details

    2. Second set of sub-point details

    B. Rebuttal to first opposing point

    V. Second Major Point Opposing Thesis

    and so on

    VI. Conclusion

    A. Summary of Most Important Points Supporting Thesis

    1. Consequences of action/inaction

    2. Stakeholders

    B. Current investigations or other developments in the controversy

    C. Recommendation for action

    Works Cited List

    Note

    Construction Tips

    You don't need to use complete sentences in your outline, but each line should have subjects and verbs that indicate content and meaning, not merely place holders or labels. For example, in a paper researching the effects of genetically modified foods, rather than a subject line of "Benefits" followed by labels such as "Crop Resistance" or "Nutrition," the following excerpt clearly communicates the paper's content:

    I. Genetic modification protects crops from environmental damage

    A. Prevents crops from getting destroyed by pests

    B. Helps some crops survive in sudden cold weather

    II. Genetic modification increases nutrition

    A. Golden rice contains vitamin A for malnourished populations

    B. Recombinant DNA biotechnology in some food carries vaccines against several diseases such as hepatitis B and diabetes

    C. Genetic modification can lower or remove the allergenic proteins in specific foods like peanuts

    Generally speaking, if you have one “point,” be it a major point or a sub-point, you need to have at least a second similar point. In other words, if you have a sub-point you are labeling “A.,” you should have one labeled “B.” In terms of the grammar and syntax of your various points, keep them short and consistent. Your professor may ask you to include a thesis statement for the essay at the beginning of the outline. Your works cited list should be placed at the end; this could include the same or a revised list of sources from your annotated bibliography, minus the annotation paragraphs. List the entries in alphabetical order.

    Outlining in PowerPoint or Other Formats

    Most composition classes will require you to follow the guidelines in this chapter to write a research paper in MLA format. But some disciplines use other formats which rely even more heavily on the outline format to carry the writer's argument. For example, a sociology professor may require research to be presented in ten PowerPoint or Prezi slides, or in a video or webpage. These formats require outline forms of text rather than paragraphs and pages. In these types of assignments, making sure all critical information is presented succinctly in the outline is essential.

    Definition: Outlines

    Working Outline: Prepare working outline before you write your rough draft. This will help you organize your argument and check to see that you have enough supporting evidence for your points. If some sections of the outline lack detail, do more targeted research on that topic.

    Formal Outline: Your professor may require you to turn in a formal outline with the final draft. Formal outlines are placed before the final draft in your turn-in packet, and can function as a table of contents for your essay: they give the reader a summary of the main points and sub-points of what they are about to read. Since it is based on your completed paper, the formal outline should be written after the final draft is complete.

    This page titled 8.4.2: Outline Your Argument is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sravani Banerjee, Elizabeth Eckford, Nicholas Goodwin, Robin Hahn, and Binh Vo (Open Educational Resource Initiative at Evergreen Valley College) .