Creating Reading and Writing Outline Writing outline
Defining an Outline: -is a skeletal overview of your draft which contains your
An outline is a summary that gives the essential features fundamental points and the different ideas that support
of a text. It shows how the parts of a text are related to them.
one another as parts that are of equal importance, or
sections that are subordinate to a main idea. The thought of planning your own draft is not that
inviting to many. They would rather rough it in their
Two types of outline: writing, and then fix eveything in the end.
Reading outline - is used to get the main ideas of
When you learn how to create a writing outline, you can
a text that is already written.
understand how outlines direct drafts, making writing
Writing outline - is a skeletal version of your
much more easier and more manageable.
essay. It is used as a guide to organize your
ideas. You will also love that feeling of seeing your ideas flow
smoothly from point to point, and better appreciate your
Creating a Reading Outline: paper when it looks cleaner and more coherent.
A reading outline is highly structured. Below are some
steps that you can follow in creating a reading outline: What is an outline?
1. Read the entire text first. Skim the text afterward. -an outline works like a map. It shows you where each of
2. Locate the main idea or thesis of the whole essay. your ideas is placed in your writing, how all of them fit
Look at the title of the text. together, and how each leads to the central idea of
Look for heading, if any. writing.
Look for information that answers the question, -it shows what information each section or paragraph
“What is the text talking about?” will contain, and in what order.
3. Look for key phrases in each paragraph of the essay.
4. Locate the topic sentence of each paragraph. -it also determines the boundaries of your drafts; how
5. Depending on the length of the text, look at the topic much of your subject you will need to cover without
sentences and group those with related ideas together. lacking or exceeding in details.
See if they describe a process or are examples.
6. To logically organize information, the contents of the Importance of outlines
reading are arranged according to levels level refers to
the number of ranks in the hierarchy information in the It is important to have an outline early because it will
reading. (page 1) Provide a general group name for each steer your draft in the right direction as you go writing.
group of topic sentences. These will be the main
divisions of your outline, or the first level. Label these It will also save you time from problems in content
with a Roman numeral. The topic sentences will be the organization and revision, as it already minimizes these
subtopics, or the second level. Label these with capital before you even start writing your drafts.
letters. *Just understand that an outline is a writing aid that will
7. Evaluate the supporting details provided. These will show you how to present your points from start to end,
be the third level of your outline. Label these with but it should not dictate the form or style you want to use
Arabic numerals. in your writing.
8. Go back to the text after you have finished your
outline. Check whether you have followed its sequence How to make a formal outline
closely and that you have not missed any important
information. Main ideas are written beside ROMAN NUMERALS
CREATING A WRITING OUTLINE Supporting Ideas are written under each main idea and
are written beside Capital or Uppercase letters
- It allows you to brainstorm new ideas and make sure
Specific Details are written under each supporting ideas
Your paper will be organized, focused and supported. beside number
Subsidiary Idea are written under each Specific Detail
corresponding their main idea beside Lowercase letters
Tips and Suggestions in creating your outline
»Determine what is the purpose of writing your paper,
who your reading audience is, and what point of view
and tone you would like to assume in delivering your
message.
»Begin your outline with a thesis statement.
»Review your notes.
»Add in any new ideas as necessary.
»Group together similar topic/s supporting your paper.
»Label all the main topics with Roman Numerals.
»Identify subtopics and classify them under the correct
main topics.
»Identify supporting points and classify them under the
correct subtopics.
»Identify particular details and classify them under the
correct supporting points.
»Check your outline for unsupported evidence.
»Re-examine all your main topics, subtopics, supporting
topics, and particular details to see that they all develop
your paper and are logically sequenced
»Show your proposed outline to a number of people such
as your teachers, classmates, your friends or even family
Two kinds of generally accepted outlines
1.Scratch-is a simple list of ideas that take the form of
words and phrases
2.Sentence Outline-uses sentences to define the subject
matter
