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SAT Reasoning
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SAT Reasoning: Brainstorming
How to Write an Outline

Outlining is mandatory either for thesis or high school essay. This lesson not only accents the importance of outlines but also demonstrates the three most common outlines which are used in developing essay.

How to Write an Outline

The Importance of Making an Outline

Let’s say, Adam is ambitious of designing and constructing his own school one day. He thinks of constructing in the uninhabited area with the rushing river on is north side. There is a lush green meadow with a large swimming pool and a playground with a luscious green and a pitch to play cricket there. On the southern part there must be the mess where the students would eat and take their lunch.

But what if Adam’s dream school was built without any plans - there were no pattern to convert his dream into reality? Well, Joseph here also dreams of building his own school too. However he did not make any building plan and even did not give directions to constructing company. Just because of his poor attention and concern, ultimately, his dreamed school poorly build and shattered his dreams

Example of an alphanumeric outline

Just like the Adam if you do not make outlines before writing essay you would not be able to write an effective essay successfully. So, outlining is as much important as the essay writing is.

The Three Types of Outlines

The three most frequently used outlining techniques are:

Alphanumeric outline:

It uses a series of letters and numbers to identify main ideas and suggest arrangement of details later on. This is time saving so most writers prefer it.

Decimal outline.

This outline still lacks many clear specifics but does allow for more expansion, showing how each sub-idea relates to the larger whole. Here you can see it:

Full sentence outline:

In drafting traditional essays the sentence outline is most commonly used. Instead of generalization, the sentence outline requires full sentences. Though it takes much time but very effective for writing essay.

Building an Outline

Let’s apply outlining on the Adam’s dream school so to come up with it. For this. Adam will use the full sentence outline.

First, he will write the title of his outline on the paper like 'The Benefits of Environmentally Friendly School Construction.'

So, Adam decided that the first paragraph of his essay will inquire into the lower utility costs associated with owning a school. Next to identify the main idea of the paragraph Adam creates a complete sentence and refer to this as a topic sentence. 'Installing energy-efficient appliances in school leads to a more environmentally friendly school and can greatly reduce utility costs.

'

Hurrah! The direction for this first paragraph is set and now to add specific details from his research Adam will move to the next line on his page. He mark five spaces and write his first specific detail next to capital letter 'A.' 'According to ENERGY Star, school owners could save up to $180 each year by utilizing an environmentally friendly programmable thermostat (RESNET, 2012).'

Thus by analyzing Adam has interpreted his detail as:

'

Making environmentally friendly choices during construction when it comes to installing appliances has lasting economic benefits for school owners.'

Installing energy efficient appliances in school leads to a more en vironmentally friendly school and can greatly reduce utility costs A According to ENERGY star schoolwners could save up to $ 180 each year by utilizing an environment tally friendly programmable thermostat (RESNET, 2012)

Full sentence outlines are commonly used in traditional essay planning

So in your paper when forming outline you are advised to provide two specific details for each of the essay's body paragraphs with at least one sentence of analysis.

One more specific detail is required to Adam for completing sentence outline of this essay So, he will use label B for other sentence. He will cast a light on the importance of most widely used bulbs these days as: 'The front office light is one of the most used lights in the schools; therefore, installing a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) in this location can help curb energy costs (RESNET, 2012).' Once again, Adam follows this detail up with a sentence of analysis: '1. A few simple changes to our school furnishing purchases can change the way we spend and impact the environment.'

So, Adam is successfully completing the outlining for the environment friendly school building. So, he will repeat the technique throughout his planning. And this time he will be able to build his dream school.

Lesson Objectives

Now you are capable to:

  • Explain an outline and its importance
  • Recognize the three types of outlines and their usage
  • Summarize how to construct a sentence outline

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