WRITING CLASS PCC-CEC L5

PCC CEC L5 WRITING CLASS

From: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_outlin.html and
your teacher

Developing an Outline

An outline is:
· A logical, general description
· A schematic summary
· An organizational pattern
· A visual and conceptual design of your writing

An outline reflects logical thinking and clear classification.

Purpose

General:
· Aids in the process of writing

Specific:
· Helps you organize your ideas
· Presents your material in a logical form
· Shows the relationships among ideas in your writing
· Constructs an ordered overview of your writing
· Defines boundaries and groups

Process

Before you begin:
· Determine the purpose of your paper.
· Determine the audience you are writing for.
· Develop the thesis of your paper.

Then:
· Brainstorm: List all the ideas that you want to include in your paper.
· Organize: Group related ideas together.
· Order: Arrange material in subsections from general to specific or from abstract to concrete.
· Label: Create main and sub headings.

Theory

· An outline has a balanced structure.
Form

An outline can use Roman numerals/letters or decimal form. (Roman Numeral is the most common.)
Roman Numeral
I.
A.
B.
1.
2.
a.
b.
Decimal
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.2.1
1.2.2
1.2.2.1
1.2.2.2