How to make an outline for an essay

Outline your essay body: write down a topic sentence for each paragraph, provide supporting evidence you’ll use when writing, and mention how they’ll relate to the topic and your thesis. The more details you outline, the easier it will be to organize all the thoughts while writing.

Roman numerals (I, II, III, etc.) are used to identify major sections of the outline. Usually, you will have five of them, each for every paragraph of the paper. Capital letters (A, B, C, etc.) are used to show substantial points in the sections.

While college essay types are many, the common structure for most of them is five-paragraph. Each essay needs Introduction, Body (paragraphs with arguments), and Conclusion; so, a general format of your essay outline will include all these components.

The first step in your outline is to identify your topic. Once you have a clear understanding of the instructor’s expectations, begin brainstorming topics that fit within the assignment. Make a list of ideas and pick the ones that peak your interest.