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It must be said first that there is no
correct or incorrect
Informal Outline format. An informal outline simple serves the purpose to
help you organize your ideas so you might as well make diagrams,
draw ideas within bubbles, whatever helps you getting that first
scratch done!
If you have already generated your first draft, this
is a great time to create an outline--an outline should help you identify
gaps in your argument and problems with structure and logic. If you have
not completed your draft, an outline can help you organize your material,
and provide you with the opportunity to map out the rest of your paper.
The informal outline is a blueprint for the
argument--it should identify
your main argument, and all of the primary aspects of your argument
(without the Roman Numerals). One easy way to formulate this document is
to write your thesis statement at the top of the page, and below it, list
all of your topic sentences--now, this only works if your topic sentences
are complex and complete.
You also have the option of writing a "Thumbnail Outline", a
list of statements articulating the different sections or main ideas
relating to your topic. These should be thoughtful, complex sentences.
Your outline should be no longer than a page and it should be a series of
sentences or short paragraphs. If you are writing out all of your topic
sentences, you will have as many sentences as you have paragraphs (as many
as 15-25). If you are writing a Thumbnail Outline, you may have 5-7
sections. No matter which outline you choose, make sure to write your
thesis on the top of the page.
Source:
http://www.seattlecentral.edu/faculty/kkiely/102_W04/Assignment_Pages/102_Assign_Outline.htm
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