Description
Your outline must show that you have taken the time to develop and organize your ideas.
What are your main points?
What arguments will you use to support them?
How will you use your sources?
The most common type of outline is an alphanumeric outline, or an outline that uses letters and numbers in the following order:
I. A. B. II. A. B. III.
A.
B. IV.
A. B.
Roman Numerals
I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, etc.
Represent main ideas to be covered in the paper in the order they will be presented Uppercase Letters
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, etc. Represent subtopics within each main idea
Arabic Numbers
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, etc.
Represent details or subdivisions within subtopics
Lowercase Letters
a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, l, m, etc. Represent details within subdivisions
You must write in complete sentences. However, if you choose not to follow the Roman numeral format and to use simple bullet points instead, that is fine. You must cite at least four sources in-text.
You will be graded on:
Thoroughness. Obviously, new ideas will occur to you as you are writing your actual paper, so not every point you make has to be included in your outline. You do, however, need to demonstrate that you are far along in developing your arguments, and that you have 350 words-worth of arguments, supports, and evidence. (20 pts)
Do your supports actually support the case you are making? (20 pts)
Are you citing actual data, information, or statistics that show that you have done the
research? (15 pts)
Have you mentioned at least four of the sources you will use and shown how you will
use them to support your argument? (in APA in-text citation format; no need for a reference list) (15 pts)
The writing. Have you written in complete sentences, with correct grammar, punctuation, syntax, etc? (10 pts)
Structure. Have you organized your arguments and supports in a way that makes them clear and readable? (20 pts)