Topic and Sentence Outlines

Topic and Sentence Outlines There are two major types of outline:  

Topic Outline Sentence Outline

A topic outline lists words or phrases. A sentence outline lists complete sentences. A topic outline arranges your ideas hierarchically (showing which are main and which are sub-points), in the sequence you want, and shows what you will talk about. As the name implies, it identifies all the little mini-topics that your paper will comprise, and shows how they relate. A sentence outline does all of this, plus it shows exactly what you will say about each mini-topic. Each sentence, instead of simply identifying a minitopic, is like a mini-thesis statement about that mini-topic. It expresses the specific and complete idea that that section of the paper will cover as part of proving the overall thesis. The method described below will produce a sentence outline. You can view sample topic and sentence outlines at “How to Write an Outline” from Los Angeles Valley College. This will give you a good idea of the difference between the two, and how a sentence outline acts like a series of mini-theses. Also review “What is a Thesis” for more on the difference between a topic and a thesis. Your sentence outline should, if done thoroughly and carefully, represent almost a first draft of your research paper. Once you’ve written it, the paper will practically write itself. You’ll just be filling in the blanks, so to speak— providing specific examples and other support to flesh out and prove the ideas you’ve already sketched out. The purpose, in other words, of doing this work is not to make work for you, but to save you work in the long run by breaking the job down into smaller, manageable tasks.

Two Types of Outlines Informal Outlines An informal outline orders information and helps a writer gain clarity in thought; however, they are rarely acceptable for your professors. These types are generally for personal use only. Sample Informal Outline Thesis Statement: With the right training, any writer can use the outline to help organize and direct her report to attain clarity of thought use indents and bullets transitions signify change of thought to help with sufficient evidence detail examples as a checklist of info include notes to self about citations or exciting ideas when writing the first draft can use as a reference

Formal Outlines Content and format are rigid in the formal outline. The two blend to display the relationships among ideas in an orderly fashion. A formal outline can be a topic outline or a sentence outline. Each item in a topic outline is a word or phrase; each item in a sentence outline is a complete sentence. Formal outlines never mix the two. Conventions of Formal Outlines Formal Outline Pattern Thesis Statement: I. First main idea A. First subdivision of the main idea 1. First reason or example

a. First supporting detail b. Second supporting detail 2. Second reason or example a. First supporting detail b. Second supporting detail B. Second subdivision of the main idea 1. First reason or example a. First supporting detail b. Second supporting detail 2. Second reason or example a. First supporting detail b. Second supporting detail II. Second main idea A. First subdivision of the main idea 1. First reason or example a. First supporting detail b. Second supporting detail 2. Second reason or example a. First supporting detail b. Second supporting detail B. Second subdivision of the main idea 1. First reason or example a. First supporting detail b. Second supporting detail 2. Second reason or example a. First supporting detail b. Second supporting detail

Traits of a Formal Outline Signal groupings and levels of importance with numbers, letters, and indentations; subdivide each level with more than one entry; use the same level of generality for all subdivisions; do not overlap headings, i.e., different points require different ideas; arrange phrases and sentences grammatically parallel; capitalize the first word of each entry; end each sentence in a sentence outline with periods but not the items in a

topic outline; do not include introduction or conclusion; place the thesis statement above the outline itself. To: Jan Strever From: Jim Hank Date: February 24, 1998 Subject: Outline for LINUX Installation Manual Thesis Statement: A simplified manual outlining the steps required to install LINUX and bring up the program for the first time. I.Pre-installation 1.System requirements a.Processor b.Memory (RAM) c.Hard disk space d.Drive types 2.Information required prior to installation a.Available hard disk space b.Mouse type c.Brand and model of monitor d.Horizontal and vertical sync of monitor e.Video mode of monitor 3.Re-partitioning your hard disk a.How PC should be partitioned b.How to re-partition your hard disk II.Installing the LINUX software 1.How to install software 2.Maneuvering through installation screens 3.Installation (screen by screen) III. LINUX after installation 1.Booting your computer to LINUX a.Logging into LINUX

b.Logging out of LINUX 2. Booting your computer to another Operating System IV. Concluding Operations