As a student, you will be tasked to write various writing assignments such as research papers or student papers. Some of the common writing assignments that professors require their students are essay writing which includes the composition of argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, and descriptive essays. A writing outline is a tool that students can use to organize the flow of their composition and the order of their ideas.

As a student, you will be tasked to write various writing assignments such as research papers or student papers. Some of the common writing assignments that professors require their students are essay writing which includes the composition of argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, and descriptive essays. A writing outline is a tool that students can use to organize the flow of their composition and the order of their ideas.

10+ Paragraph Outline Samples

1. Paragraph Outline

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2. Single Paragraph Outline

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3. Five Paragraph Outline

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4. Five Paragraph Essay Outline

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5. Accordion Paragraph Outline

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6. Body Paragraph Outline

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7. Multiple Paragraph Outline

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8. Expanded Paragraph Sentence Outline

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9. Four Paragraph Essay Outline

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10. Paragraph by Paragraph Outline

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11. Power Paragraph Outline

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What is a Paragraph Outline?

An outline acts as the blueprint for a written composition and is used to organize ideas, visualize the paper’s possible structure, and develop essential points. With this tool, writers can better understand the ways in which they will be able to connect the information to support their thesis statement and argument of their paper. Once a writer is about to write their first draft, they use their outline as their guide to determine what to write and how to organize their thoughts.

How to Write a Paragraph Outline

The length of an outline depends on the amount of information the writer will be using. The standard structure of an outline includes an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. But if you are tasked with writing a 2-page book report or literary analysis, you will need to include additional points like the analysis of the book’s theme, character, and plot.

Step 1: Conduct Research to Gather Essential Data

No matter how you proceed in your writing process, you always have to prepare for it first. Academic writing involves researching and collecting pieces of evidence while creative writing involves brainstorming and thinking of new ideas.

Step 2: List Down the Topics You Want to Cover

Once you determined what topics to write about, you can now organize your list. Group your ideas into separate topics and make sure that each paragraph contains only one main topic. Then connect the information to the most relevant paragraph topic.

Step 3: Determine the Order of Discussion

After categorizing your topics, divide them into paragraphs. Determine which of these topics needs background information and which should be discussed in the earlier part of your composition.

Step 4: Provide the Supporting Details

Fill in supporting details in your paragraph and list of references to your sources. You can link the source materials to your outline which will make it easier for your readers to locate the source of your information. Then, review your outline for improvement and revise it accordingly.

FAQs

When do writers use outlines?

Writers use outlines for various forms of writing such as academic papers and creative writing. It allows them to focus on creating their essay structure, organize information according to its appropriate flow or order, and allows them to focus on providing detailed information without getting distracted by concerns related to the organization of their ideas.

What is the standard structure of an outline?

An outline’s standard structure utilizes an alphanumeric system, alternating between letters and numerals. In this structure, main topics are listed in Roman numerals, paragraphs are listed as capital letters, points and subtopics in a paragraph in Arabic numerals, and details are listed as letters in lowercase.

What is included in an outline?

An outline is written and divided into sections and paragraphs, followed by relevant information, points, or pieces of evidence listed down under their corresponding topics. This allows easier rearrangement of the composition’s order of paragraphs if the writer decides to change its structure.

Outlines allow students and professional writers to track all subjects or topics and points they want to include in their compositions. Being knowledgeable about the proper use of outline poses a great advantage when it comes to composing various forms of writing like research papers and creative writing. With an outline, writers can focus on writing the details of their composition instead of worrying about the proper order of their ideas.

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