DESCRIPTION

For this assignment, you will develop an outline for the ASP Paper that’s been assigned. In order to produce a paper that is well thought out and well written, some organization is always necessary. The instructions below should help you produce an outline if you’re out of practice.

INSTRUCTIONS

Begin by starting a new document in either Google Docs, Word, etc…

Next, create an outline that will help you organize ideas according to the required format of the assignment. It will be helpful if you create the structure of the outline to match the paragraphs you plan to write (review the main assignment page for the expected paragraph format). For example…

Introduction Paragraph

Opening thought

Introductory background info

1. Introductory background info

(etc)

1. Thesis idea

My First Concept – Paragraph 1 (first idea related to this concept)

Mini-thesis about this concept+idea

Supporting details

1. Supporting details

(etc)

Concluding thought

1. My FIRST Concept – Paragraph 2 (second idea related to this concept)
2. Same bullet points as above
3. My FIRST Concept – Paragraph 3 (third idea related to this concept… if you have a third idea)
4. Same bullet points as above
5. My SECOND Concept – Paragraph 1 (first idea related to this concept) 
6. Same bullet points as above

My Second Concept – Paragraph 2 (second idea related to this concept)

Same bullet points as above

My FIRST Concept – Paragraph 3 (third idea related to this concept… if you have a third idea)

Same bullet points as above

Conclusion Paragraph

1. Broad summary thought to open this paragraph
2. Key point you want to reiterate
3. Another key point you want to reiterate
4. (etc)
5. Final thoughts
6. Takeaway message

Now, write in some thoughts you have. In other words, begin filling in the details of your outline.

Refer to your sources as you find it necessary. Make sure to note page numbers so you can refer back to them AND so you can cite them properly in your paper. REMEMBER – you must cite your textbook to backup your statements (citing other sources is optional).

Look over your outline when it’s all filled in. You may decide to re-order some ideas based on what you see. This is a good time to do that.

1. Congrats! Your outline should be complete and ready to submit.
2. Most importantly — use your outline as a guide to write your paper!

TIP: If your outline contains complete ideas/sentences, you can almost copy and paste them into paragraph format for writing your first draft. This will only entail minor editing if you do a good job on your outline.

In any case, your outline should become your main writing reference after you finish it so you do not have to continually dive back into the textbook.

How useful your outline is to you depends on the effort you put into making it.