How to Construct Your Outline
- Now that you have a “Working Outline” with your GQ’s in the most logical order, it’s time start plugging the information/data from your notecards into your outline. Remember that outlines are arranged according to a hierarchy, or a system of organized ranking (see the colorful example above).
* Throughout the entire research process you should adjust your outline using the steps below. Remember, this is a working outline!
Complete the following for each GQ.
1. Throughout your research you will begin to identify the main topics/points and subtopics/points that are most helpful in answering your GQ’s.
- As you discover the most important main topics/points for each GQ place them into your outline and give them a capital letter (A,B,C). Be sure to arrange the main topics in the most logical and compelling order. These should be indented from your left aligned Roman numerals. (See example below)
2. As you continue to collect data, you will begin to identify subtopics/points within your main topics/points. Determine if your data is a subtopic/point or if it is a detail or specific example that supports those subtopics/points.
- As you identify subtopics/points, plug them into your outline using numbers (1,2,3). Be sure to arrange the subtopics/points in the most logical and compelling order. These should be indented from your already indented main topics/points. (See example below)
-As you identify details and specific examples that support those subtopics/points plug them into your outline using a lowercase letter (a,b,c). Be sure to arrange the information/data in the most logical and compelling order. These should be indented further from the already indented subtopics/points. (See example below)
3. Once you feel you have plugged in enough information to adequately and effectively answer your GQ’s, change wording to achieve clarity wherever needed.
- Try reading the information aloud to other groupmates to ensure the information sounds clear.
4. Now step back and review your outline in it’s entirety. Identify any “holes” in your data by testing the strength of each other’s data. Are there areas that require a bit more research? Have you answered each GQ from multiple perspectives?
- Go back and conduct some more research (it’s called re-search for a reason - sometimes you need to try again!). Assign additional research throughout your group fairly. Locate and add information/data to your outline to fill in the “holes.” Make sure you adequately and effectively answer your GQs.
* Throughout the entire research process you should adjust your outline using the steps below. Remember, this is a working outline!
Complete the following for each GQ.
1. Throughout your research you will begin to identify the main topics/points and subtopics/points that are most helpful in answering your GQ’s.
- As you discover the most important main topics/points for each GQ place them into your outline and give them a capital letter (A,B,C). Be sure to arrange the main topics in the most logical and compelling order. These should be indented from your left aligned Roman numerals. (See example below)
2. As you continue to collect data, you will begin to identify subtopics/points within your main topics/points. Determine if your data is a subtopic/point or if it is a detail or specific example that supports those subtopics/points.
- As you identify subtopics/points, plug them into your outline using numbers (1,2,3). Be sure to arrange the subtopics/points in the most logical and compelling order. These should be indented from your already indented main topics/points. (See example below)
-As you identify details and specific examples that support those subtopics/points plug them into your outline using a lowercase letter (a,b,c). Be sure to arrange the information/data in the most logical and compelling order. These should be indented further from the already indented subtopics/points. (See example below)
3. Once you feel you have plugged in enough information to adequately and effectively answer your GQ’s, change wording to achieve clarity wherever needed.
- Try reading the information aloud to other groupmates to ensure the information sounds clear.
4. Now step back and review your outline in it’s entirety. Identify any “holes” in your data by testing the strength of each other’s data. Are there areas that require a bit more research? Have you answered each GQ from multiple perspectives?
- Go back and conduct some more research (it’s called re-search for a reason - sometimes you need to try again!). Assign additional research throughout your group fairly. Locate and add information/data to your outline to fill in the “holes.” Make sure you adequately and effectively answer your GQs.