What is outline

Definition of outline Entry 1 of 2. Definition of outline Entry 2 of 2. Synonyms for outline Synonyms: Noun contour , figure , silhouette Synonyms: Verb define , delineate , silhouette , sketch , trace Visit the Thesaurus for More.

Choose the Right Synonym for outline Noun outline , contour , profile , silhouette mean the line that bounds and gives form to something. Examples of outline in a Sentence Noun The pictures were drawn in outline and then filled in with color. The leaves etched into the vase have a gold outline. Organize your essay by writing an outline in which you state your main idea followed by your supporting points.

Verb The President outlined his agenda for the next term. The book outlines the major events of the country's history.

All players must follow the rules outlined above. Recent Examples on the Web: Noun On TikTok, rangoli videos take the viewer from simple outline to bold pattern at a mesmerizing speed; together, posts tagged rangoli have more than million views. Taylor Jr. First Known Use of outline Noun , in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb circa , in the meaning defined at sense 1. Learn More About outline. Time Traveler for outline The first known use of outline was in See more words from the same year.

An outline is a formal system used to develop a framework for thinking about what should be the organization and eventual contents of your paper. An outline helps you predict the overall structure and flow of a paper. Why and How to Create a Useful Outline. Purdue University. Writing papers in college requires you to come up with sophisticated, complex, and sometimes very creative ways of structuring your ideas.

Taking the time to draft an outline can help you determine if your ideas connect to each other, what order of ideas works best, where gaps in your thinking may exist, or whether you have sufficient evidence to support each of your points. It is also an effective way to think about the time you will need to complete each part of your paper before you begin writing. A good outline is important because :. How to Structure and Organize Your Paper. Purdue University; Lietzau, Kathleen.

Creating Outlines. Writing Center, University of Richmond. General Approaches. There are two general approaches you can take when writing an outline for your paper:. The topic outline consists of short phrases. This approach is useful when you are dealing with a number of different issues that could be arranged in a variety of different ways in your paper. Due to short phrases having more content than using simple sentences, they create better content from which to build your paper.

The sentence outline is done in full sentences. This approach is useful when your paper focuses on complex issues in detail. The sentence outline is also useful because sentences themselves have many of the details in them needed to build a paper and it allows you to include those details in the sentences instead of having to create an outline of short phrases that goes on page after page.

Steps to Making the Outline. A strong outline details each topic and subtopic in your paper, organizing these points so that they build your argument toward an evidence-based conclusion.

Writing an outline will also help you focus on the task at hand and avoid unnecessary tangents, logical fallacies, and underdeveloped paragraphs. Once you have developed the basic outline of the paper, organize the contents to match the standard format of a research paper as described in this guide.

Things to Consider When Writing an Outline. Muirhead, Brent. Purdue University; How to Make an Outline. Psychology Writing Center. University of Washington; Kartawijaya, Sukarta. Hunter College; Outlining.

Department of English Writing Guide. George Mason University; Plotnic, Jerry. E-mail the Writing Center at writingsupport waldenu. E-mail the Dissertation Editors at editor waldenu. Want to peruse other writing resources? Help us do better. Was this helpful? Need more information? Ask us! Or browse Quick Answers by Topic. Walden University Quick Answers. Warning: Your browser has javascript disabled.

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