Producing an Amazing Research Outline Step by step instructions for success 

Set up your Outline in MLA format Note that you should have a header (your name, my name, period, date [day month year]) You also need a title (“outline” is okay) Notice that it is SINGLE SPACED but still at 1 inch margins

Thesis First: Always! Direction Focus Stability First, type the word “Thesis” and a colon “:” Then, type your thesis. Remember your thesis should have parallel structure & should only be 1-2 sentences! Direction Focus Stability

Start with Roman Numeral One [ I ] Roman numeral [ I ] is your first subtopic (reason). Write a complete sentence including a transition direction

Then, letter “A” focus points Letter a is a SUBTOPIC of your SUBTOPIC (A reason for your reason) Should also have a transition & should be a complete sentence. focus points

ALL ROMAN NUMERALS AND CAPITAL LETTERS SHOULD BE YOUR OWN WORDS!

Then, the number ‘1’ 2 Numbers come from your NOTES You need EVIDENCE to back up ALL your REASONS! How many pieces per reason minimum? 2

Then, the number ‘1’ All numbers should have a parenthetical citation! Do summaries and paraphrases have citations? What is a direct quote? What do all direct quotes need? yes " "

ALL NUMBERS COME FROM YOUR NOTES AND HAVE A PARENTHETICAL CITATION!

Parenthetical Citations Are derived from the Works Cited. You take whatever is out in front the author’s last name (McMillen Shortened version of the title (“Year-Round” add the paragraph or page number a page number= # (“Year Round” 6) a paragraph number = par. # (McMillen par. 6)

focus points A Second letter “A” After you finish with the evidence, you need a conclusion sentence for the subtopic, so you need a second letter A

Rinse and Repeat…well, just repeat.

Now you try with the sample… List one way thesis statements give papers stability: 1. List what you would put here: 2. List what you would put here: A. What is the second A for? B. List a second way a thesis statement gives papers stability: B. What is the second B for? II. What is the second II for?

Now it’s time to start your own Best of luck! You should have most of the back of the handout completed today! Outline: Due by FRIDAY (we will be in the library). PRINTED AND IN YOUR HANDS.