Importance of outlining |
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Preparing an outline before writing a paper helps you a lot because with the outline you have a plan of organization. Developing an outline can help you to see the logical progression of your argument. | |
Types of outlines |
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Types of outlines most used are the topic outline
and the
sentence outline. A topic outline does not have any complete
sentences; each heading is a phrase or a noun, which may have appropriate
modifiers. The wording of the headings on each level should be as nearly
parallel as possible. A sentence outline is clearer and more informative
than a topic outline, for all the headings are complete statements. By
writing sentences, one is forced to clarify his ideas. The following brief
sentence outline illustrates the principles just discussed. ¡@ |
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In addition to sentence outlines and topic outlines, outlines can be categorized as following: 1. an outline the writer makes before writing the text; 2. an outline the writer makes of what he has already written. Both are useful. An outline that is developed before writing should be brief and should be made only after extensive discussion, reading, list-making, brainstorming, and other prewriting activities. It should be a device to guide the writer and not something to lock his into a cage that he couldn¡¦t escape from if he wanted to! ¡@ |