1. How to Make an
Awesome Outline
Your Guide to Creating a
Useful Outline to Guide Your
Rough Draft

2. Step One: Gather Your Resources
Put your hard work to good use!
• Note Cards
• Sources (Critical Analysis Articles &
Novel)

3. Step Two: Organize Your
Information
• Lay out your note cards on a table or on
the floor.
• Decide: What’s the first point you want
to make to support your thesis? The
second?
• Decide: What sub-points and evidence
will you use to support your thesis?
Where will these appear in your paper?

4. Step Two: Organize Your
Information
When you’re finished, your note card
layout should look something like this:
Main Point 1 Main Point 2 Main Point 3
Sub-Point/ Sub-Point/ Sub-Point/ AND SO ON…
Evidence 1 of Evidence 1 of Evidence 1 of
Main Point 1 Main Point 2 Main Point 3
AND SO ON…
Sub-Point/ Sub-Point/ Sub-Point/
Evidence 2 of Evidence 2 of Evidence 2 of
Main Point 1 Main Point 2 Main Point 3
Sub-Point/ Sub-Point/ Sub-Point/
Evidence 3 of Evidence 3 of Evidence 3 of
Main Point 1 Main Point 2 Main Point 3

5. What if I’m Missing the Point?
If you find yourself missing sub-points, or
even main points, never fear!
Look to your previous work for new
evidence!

6. Step Three: Start Outlining!
• Once your note cards are in the order in
which they will appear in your paper, you
may begin writing your actual outline.
• Use your note cards as a guide, and fill
in the outline format.
Hint: To make the writing part of your
outline easier, label and number
your note cards!

7. Outline Format: Channel Your
Inner Neat-Freak!
The following format must be used when outlining
your Research Paper. . .

8. I. Mrs. Daugherty’s class is really awesome
A. Students participate, even on rainy
days
1. Class discussion
a. Maniac Magee
b. Research Paper
2. Asking Questions
B. Students have fun
1. Snowball Fight
2. Holden Imitation Writing
C. Students learn a lot of cool stuff
1. Themes in Literature
2. The Writing Process

9. Format for Outlining
I. Main Point 1 (supports Thesis Statement)
A. Sub-Point One (supports Main Point 1)
1. Evidence (supports Sub-Point One)
2. Evidence (supports Sub-Point One)
3. Evidence (supports Sub-Point One)
B. Sub-Point Two (supports Main Point 1)
1. Evidence (supports Sub-Point Two)
2. Evidence (supports Sub-Point Two)
3. Evidence (supports Sub-Point Two)
C. Sub-Point Three (supports Main Point 1)
1. Evidence (supports Sub-Point Three)
2. Evidence (supports Sub-Point Three)

10. Tips for Outlining
(Okay, They’re More Like Rules...)
• Make sure that you have at least three main
points (as this is a 4-7 page paper, you will
probably need more).
• Be certain that each main point supports your
thesis statement.
• Each sub-point must support your main point,
and each piece of evidence must support your
sub-point.

11. More Tips (Rules)
• Your weakest point should be
sandwiched between your strongest
points.
– If you have more than one weak point, you
need to revisit your sources.
• BE CONSISTENT!
– Your outline format should look exactly the
same throughout. This will improve
organization and make it easier to write
your rough draft.

12. Outlining is an essential step
in the process of writing this
Research paper.
As always, the more work you
put in now, the less work you
will have to do later.