With a thesis in hand, plan the essay before you draft it. An outline lists the thesis, the main points and their support, in order.
| Level | Outline |
|---|---|
| Thesis | Our school should start a composting program, because it cuts waste, teaches science and feeds the garden. |
| I. | Composting cuts cafeteria waste. |
| A. | Food scraps make up a large share of our trash. |
| B. | Less trash means fewer pickups. |
| II. | Composting teaches science. |
| A. | Students can measure how fast scraps break down. |
| B. | Classes can study the worms and microbes at work. |
| III. | Compost feeds the school garden. |
| A. | Compost adds nutrients to the soil. |
| B. | The garden would need less store-bought fertilizer. |
Key idea
An outline puts the thesis, the main points (I, II, III) and their support (A, B) in order. Each main point supports the thesis; each sub-point supports its main point.
Why it works
An outline lets you see the whole essay at once, while it is still easy to change. Moving a line in an outline takes a second; moving a paragraph in a draft takes much longer. It also shows gaps: a main point with no support underneath needs more research.
Worked example: Does each point fit?
A student adds “IV. Compost bins come in many colors.” to the outline above. Does it belong?
- Ask: does it support the thesis (cuts waste, teaches science, feeds the garden)?
- The color of bins does none of those.
Answer: No. It doesn’t support the thesis, so it comes out.
Worked example: Where does it go?
Where does “Students can test the soil before and after adding compost” fit?
- It is a science activity, but it is also about the garden.
- It best supports II (teaches science), as a third sub-point C.
Answer: Under II, as C.
Common mistake
Skipping the outline, or writing one whose points don’t each support the thesis. Check by reading the thesis, then each Roman numeral after it with “because” in between: “We should compost, because … composting teaches science.” If a line doesn’t make sense after “because,” it doesn’t support the thesis.
Outlines can be formal (numerals and letters) or quick lists. What matters is the order and the fit, not the format.