Developing an Outline ENG 102: WP #2 / Checkpoint #4

An outline is … A logical, general description A logical, general description A schematic summary A schematic summary An organizational pattern An organizational pattern A visual and conceptual design of your writing A visual and conceptual design of your writing An outline reflects logical thinking and correct classification. An outline reflects logical thinking and correct classification.

PURPOSE Generally aids you in the process of writing Generally aids you in the process of writing Particularly helps organize your ideas Particularly helps organize your ideas Presents your material in a logical form Presents your material in a logical form Shows the relationship of ideas in your writing Shows the relationship of ideas in your writing Constructs an ordered overview of your writing Constructs an ordered overview of your writing Defines boundaries and groups Defines boundaries and groups

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

PROCESS: Then Brainstorm - List all the ideas you want to include in this writing. Brainstorm - List all the ideas you want to include in this writing. Organize - Group ideas together that are related to each other. Organize - Group ideas together that are related to each other. Order - Divide this material into groups arranging from the general to the specific, or from abstract to concrete. Order - Divide this material into groups arranging from the general to the specific, or from abstract to concrete. Label - Create main and subtopic headings and write coordinate levels in parallel form. Label - Create main and subtopic headings and write coordinate levels in parallel form.

THEORY An outline has a balanced structure which uses the principles of An outline has a balanced structure which uses the principles of Coordination Coordination Subordination Subordination Division Division Parallelism Parallelism

PARALLELISM Coordinate heads should be expressed in parallel form Coordinate heads should be expressed in parallel form Nouns should be made parallel with nouns, verb forms with verb forms, adjectives with adjectives, and so on Nouns should be made parallel with nouns, verb forms with verb forms, adjectives with adjectives, and so on Logical and clear writing should not be sacrificed simply to maintain parallelism Logical and clear writing should not be sacrificed simply to maintain parallelism Reasonableness and flexibility of form is preferred to rigidity Reasonableness and flexibility of form is preferred to rigidity

Examples of Parallelism Nouns - computers, programs, users Nouns - computers, programs, users Verbs - to compute, to program, to use Verbs - to compute, to program, to use Adjectives - home computers, new programs, experienced users Adjectives - home computers, new programs, experienced users

COORDINATION Items of equal significance have comparable numeral or letter designations Items of equal significance have comparable numeral or letter designations An A is equal a B, a 1 to a 2, an a to a b, etc. An A is equal a B, a 1 to a 2, an a to a b, etc. Coordinates should be seen as "having the same value" Coordinates should be seen as "having the same value" Coordination enables the writer to maintain coherent and consistent documents Coordination enables the writer to maintain coherent and consistent documents

Coordination Examples Correct coordination A. Word processing programs A. Word processing programs B. Data base programs B. Data base programs C. Spreadsheet programs C. Spreadsheet programs Incorrect coordination A. Word processing programs A. Word processing programs B. MS Word for Windows B. MS Word for Windows C. ThinkTank C. ThinkTank

SUBORDINATION In order to indicate relevance, that is levels of significance, an outline uses major and minor heading In order to indicate relevance, that is levels of significance, an outline uses major and minor heading Organize material from general to specific or from abstract to concrete Organize material from general to specific or from abstract to concrete The more general or abstract the concept, the higher the level or rank in the outline The more general or abstract the concept, the higher the level or rank in the outline This principle allows material to be ordered in terms of logic and requires a clear articulation of the relationship between component parts used in the outline. This principle allows material to be ordered in terms of logic and requires a clear articulation of the relationship between component parts used in the outline. Subdivisions of a major division should always have the same relationship to the whole. Subdivisions of a major division should always have the same relationship to the whole.

Subordination Examples Correct subordination Correct subordination A. Word processing programs 1. Textra 1. Textra 2. Word Perfect 2. Word Perfect B. Thought processors 1. Thinktank 1. Thinktank 2. THOR 2. THOR Faulty subordination Faulty subordination A. Word processing programs 1. MS Word for Windows 1. MS Word for Windows 2. Useful 2. Useful 3. Obsolete 3. Obsolete

DIVISION To divide, use at least two parts. To divide, use at least two parts. There can never be an A without a B, a 1 without a 2, an a without a b, etc. There can never be an A without a B, a 1 without a 2, an a without a b, etc. Usually there is more than one way to divide parts. Usually there is more than one way to divide parts. When dividing, use only one basis of division at each rank and make the basis of division as sharp as possible. When dividing, use only one basis of division at each rank and make the basis of division as sharp as possible.

Division Examples Example 1: Correct Example 1: Correct A. Microcomputers hardware 1. Types 1. Types 2. Cost 2. Cost B. Microcomputers software 1. Pre-installed 1. Pre-installed 2. User installed 2. User installed Example 2: Incorrect Example 2: Incorrect A. Computers 1. Micro 1. Micro a. Floppy Disk a. Floppy Disk b. Hard disk b. Hard disk B. Computer Uses 1. Institutional 1. Institutional 2. Personal 2. Personal

TYPES OF OUTLINES An outline can use An outline can useTOPICORSENTENCEstructure

TOPIC OUTLINES Use words or phrases for all entries Use words or phrases for all entries Use no punctuation after entries Use no punctuation after entries Advantages - present brief overviews of work Advantages - present brief overviews of work Are generally easier and faster to write than a sentence outlines Are generally easier and faster to write than a sentence outlines

SENTENCE OUTLINES Use complete sentences for all entries Use complete sentences for all entries Use correct punctuation Use correct punctuation Advantages - present more detailed overviews of work including possible topic sentences Advantages - present more detailed overviews of work including possible topic sentences Are easier and faster for writing the final paper Are easier and faster for writing the final paper

FORM The most important rule for outlining form is to be consistent. The most important rule for outlining form is to be consistent.

CREDITS The information for this PowerPoint presentation comes from Purdue University English Department’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) The information for this PowerPoint presentation comes from Purdue University English Department’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) There are many useful handouts for academic writers there. There are many useful handouts for academic writers there