An outline is an organised list of major and minor points used to map out the structure of an essay. We choose the verb to build for our outlines, instead of to write, because we think of them as a structure for our ideas. They are the frame from which we will turn our thoughts into sentences, paragraphs, and full essays.
Many people like to build at least a rough outline before they begin to draft their work. However, the outline can come at any point in your writing process. Maybe you want to begin with a list of ideas and fill it in as you research. Maybe you want to form your thesis after doing a lot of research. Maybe you write a simple draft first and then do a reverse outline from that.
The tabs of this guide will support you in using outlining to improve your writing. The sections are organised as follows:
