Part 1 of How to write an outline for an essay.

No matter the type of essay, if you are struggling with a project we always recommend an outline. Many students then ask us how to write an outline for an essay. Other times to use an outline:

• Any paper that is unusual, for you, in length. If it’s the longest paper you have written, use an outline.
• Any paper on an unfamiliar subject. It is easy to get distracted while working in unfamiliar territory. An outline can serve as a map to help you get back on track when you lose your way trying to understand complicated ideas.
• Any time you are stressed out. Struggling doesn’t just refer to ideas and concepts, but when you are short of time, energy, patience, etc., employ a deadline.

Don’t let a rough history with graded outlines chase you away. Often students have only every used outlines when they were required and then the outline was graded. Sometimes the grades were harsh, picking at structures and alignment and a bunch of other things that few students understand well.

Put all of that out of your mind.

For most of you, your outline needs an entry for an introduction, body, and conclusion. The one you will need to break down the most will be the body. The sections here will depend on the nature of the paper, but here are two groupings that can be helpful.

• Chronological. For many subjects, like history, this will be a natural choice. However, it can also be useful for science and technology papers, as well as other fields like literature, the social sciences, and more. You can use years, decades, centuries, or more conceptual frameworks like before, during, and after.
• Points of view. Sections can be dedicated to different viewpoints, but be wary of putting too much stress on differences. You should describe differences, but don’t focus on the argument, focus on the viewpoint; save analysis for its own section.

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