How to Write an Essay Outline – Steps & Examples

Introduction

1. Hook
2. Background
3. Thesis Statement

Theme one

1. Topic sentence: First answer/example to question.
2. First piece of evidence.
3. Second piece of evidence.

Theme two

1. Topic sentence: Second answer/example to question.
2. First piece of evidence.
3. Second piece of evidence.

Theme three

1. Topic sentence: Third answer/example to question.
2. First piece of evidence.
3. Second piece of evidence.

Conclusion

1. Summarise your argument.
2. Extend the argument
3. Show why the text is of significance.

Introduction

1. Describe the relationship between the main character Laura and the theme of coming of age.
2. Emphasise the significance of Laura’s older sister, Mary, losing her sight due to scarlet fever.
3. Set up your research question: Why Laura must suddenly take on the role of the oldest child in the family and grow in maturity when her eldest sister, Mary, loses her sight.

Link with the previous novels

1. Discuss the typical sibling relationship between Laura and Mary in the previous novels.
2. Analyse how their relationship changed after Mary’s rapidly fading eyesight.

Impact of Mary’s blindness on the family

1. Discuss how Laura’s responsibilities increase because Mary can no longer see to care for herself.
2. Describe how Mary’s blindness turns Laura’s life upside down because Laura is responsible for Mary’s safety and wellbeing.

The burden of Laura’s responsibilities

1. Laura must “see out loud” for Mary, as is described in the chapter “Riding the Cars.”
2. Give details of the heavy burden Laura carries.

Conclusion

1. Provide a summary of the three themes: Link with previous novels, the impact of Mary’s blindness on the family, and the burden of Laura’s responsibilities.

Introduction

1. Claim that the conquest of Makkah marked the beginning of the Golden Islamic Age.
2. Provide background on the circumstances that led to the siege of Mecca.
3. Write the thesis statement: The event marked the end of the ongoing wars between Muslims and the Quraysh tribe of Mecca and allowed Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to unite Arabia into a single Muslim religious polity.

Circumstances leading to the epic clash

1. Discuss the cruel and harrowing experience of living in Mecca as a Muslim.
2. Mention the expulsion of Muslims from Mecca after Muhammad claimed that he was the prophet of Allah (God).
3. Describe how this forced Muslims to migrate from Mecca and find refuge in Medina.

Regrouping in Medina

1. Explain Muhammad’s departure from Mecca under threat from the city’s power elite and his regrouping in Medina.
2. Discuss how Christian King, Al-Najashi, came to Muslims’ aid as his kingdom provided shelter to the Muslim emigrants.

The beginning of the golden Islamic Age

1. Describe the event of the conquering of Mecca’s town by Muslims led by the Islamic prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
2. Provide insight into the circumstances that encouraged volunteers and contingents from allied tribes to join the Muslim army.
3. Map out the tactics employed by the Muslim army during the assault on Mecca.

Conclusion

1. A summary of the historical event is explained.
2. Emphasise the significance of the conquest of Mecca in medieval times. Argumentative essay outline

Introduction

1. The significance of online learning programmes
2. The impact of e-learning on public libraries
3. Thesis statement: Public libraries should be shut down, and, in their place, everyone should be given an iPad with an e-reader subscription.

Libraries are expensive to maintain

1. Shutting down libraries will save local cities and towns money.
2. More people will read because they won’t have to travel to the library.
3. People will get access to more materials without buying physical copies of the books.

A severe mistake to replace libraries with tablets

1. People read 20—30% slower on tablets and retain 20% less information when using digital resources.
2. Staring too long at a screen can cause health problems.
3. People will not be able to read online in an internet shutdown or partial blackout.

Libraries are more than lending books

1. There are numerous benefits of service libraries, with many only available if the library has a physical location.
2. Physical libraries can organise community events for children and senior citizens.
3. One-third of the UK population see libraries as a necessary component of their community system.

Conclusion

1. A summary of the arguments presented.
2. The advantages of public libraries over digital learning
3. Emphasise the importance of public libraries to the community network.

Introduction

1. Hook
2. Significance of topic to you and reader
3. Thesis statement

Body paragraphs

1. The setting, background about the event
2. Characters (people involved)
3. Short anecdote or foreshadowing
4. The onset of the event
5. Climax
6. Ending or resolution

Conclusion

1. Moral of the story
2. Significance of the overall subject
3. Call-to-action (if applicable)