An outline is a blue print or plan for your paper. It helps you to organize your ideas and arguments. Preparing a research paper outline can make writing your paper more efficient. In essence you provide the framework and then use your research to fill in the blanks.
Faigley et al. (2012) provides an example template to develop your outline. Use this template to prepare your research paper outline.
General Topic_________________________________________________________________
Thesis Statement:______________________________________________________________________________
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Theme/Part I:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
A. Topic 1_______________________________________________________________
B. Topic 2_______________________________________________________________
C. Topic 3_______________________________________________________________
Theme/Part II
_____________________________________________________________________________________
A. Topic 1_______________________________________________________________
B. Topic 2_______________________________________________________________
C. Topic 3_______________________________________________________________
Theme/Part 3
_____________________________________________________________________________________
A. Topic 1_______________________________________________________________
B. Topic 2_______________________________________________________________
C. Topic 3_______________________________________________________________