Help Writing An Outline

[Rogue Robot]

Ok, if you can believe it, I have managed to not have to do this since I was in high school, and that was some time ago. I have to write an outline for a proposed paper in a class.

I know the basics as far as providing a topic, intro, etc., but how far in depth should I be getting? I haven't started the paper yet, obviously, but I'm having trouble with what exactly I should put in my outline.

This is supposed to only be a rough outline, but I obviously don't want to hand in a total piece of crap.

Any suggestions?

If it helps, this is for a graduate level geology course, if that's relevant.

 

[Belisarius]

Lacking the specifics, here's how I would do it.

The scientific articles I've read have a remarkably formal structure, for all the range of topics covered. They usually start with a statement of the problem, pass on to an overview of past research, then to the authors' own research vis-a-vis past study, and then conclude. I'd set up a framework like this before I even did any research, say like:

[Subject]
1.) Overview.
2) Past study / discussion.
3.) My discussion.
4.) Conclusion and/or remaining questions.

That in hand, I'd find topics to fit into each those slots, thereby giving some order to the occasionally chaotic process of gathering and printing notes.

 

[Rogue Robot]

Thank you. My outline is fairly barebones at this point, but I don't suspect my professor expects much as this is just a proposal outline, and we just started class last week.

 

[Lysis]

I hate outlines. Are you required to submit one? I always wrote my college papers without them, but for freelancing I submit an outline for clients. When I make one, I usually have an idea of how I want to layout the book, and then I research each topic for the chapter and write down a shore point for each one.

My outlines look kinda like this:

Chapter I - title
a. point i
b. point ii
Chapter II - title
a. point i
b. point ii


in other words, I don't get too detailed with outlines.

 

[Rogue Robot]

Yeah, he wanted us to propose an outline of a research paper for our class that's due at the end of the term. He told us to select a topic somewhat covered in class or something that he is familiar with, make an outline to submit for him to add questions/comments, and turn it in. I seriously have not ever had to do this. It makes me feel dumb.

 

[Pretty_Diamonds]

You should name your points or whatever. Evidence. Maybe direct quotes or facts you're going to be using. It's more about having everything on there and organized.

 

[Chaos Butterfly]

Outline:

1. Basic intro to the topic
2. Summary of research done on the topic already + gap analysis - as in what is the gap in knowledge that you are going to be filling with this research
3. What you plan to do - methodology/experimental set up etc, just a rough outline of what you plan to do and why.
4. Results and Discussion - although you won't need this for an outline...
5. Conclusions and future work.

Doneskis!!