How To Structure An Essay Outline.

Every paper that we write in school comes with an essay outline. A detailed outline will guide you through the writing process, assist you in organizing your thoughts, and outline all the ideas that your paper will contain. An essay outline is all about three pages long.

The idea behind having this structure is to ensure that we have all the important parts covered. When you start writing the essay, there’s a high chance that you will be caught up in your writing process. It becomes easy to lose track of the essay. On the contrary, when you outline your work, you will have a grasp of where to start with your writing and where to end up.

If you are to outline an essay, you should include the following:

1. Introduction

This part is where you give a brief history of the topic. That way, it becomes easy for the reader to get a general idea of what your paper is all about. You can note that the first paragraph should introduce the topic, but this can vary depending on the kind of essay you are writing.

It is also crucial to note that you should not introduce the topic using a past tense. Instead, introduce it using present or future tense.

1. Body section

In this section, you will be discussing all the key ideas in your paper. It helps a lot to provide a firm stance for your thoughts because your audience will understand the importance of your argument. It is also crucial to point out why you think so. This helps the audience to see your view clearly. Remember, the aim is to persuade. As such, you’ll need to persuade the reader to see the benefit of what you are doing.

Be keen to note down every evidence you will use. It is essential because your readers need to know if you are supporting your arguments with facts.

1. Conclusion

This is where you bring your main points and narrow it down. It helps a lot if you can relate your thesis to the thesis statement. When it comes to a conclusion, you should restate your stand and summarize the main points.

1. Reference page

When you are done with the essay, you’ll need to include a reference page. This is where you will point out the sources used when writing your essay. Remember, each of your sources must be valid and up to date.

A standard APA essay outline will look like this:

1. Intro paragraph
2. Body paragraphs
3. Conclusion

In this structure, it is always a good idea to vary the design depending on the type of assignment you are doing. Some students might like to start off their papers using the structured formats. Others like the free-flowing format.

In conclusion, it is important to point out that an essay is a paper that gives a reason to believe. It should persuade the audience to do something. In writing an essay, you can make it interesting by pointing out your research into the topic. After all, the purpose of an essay is to teach.