How to write an outline外文文献.doc

How to write an outline Part 1 of 2: Planning Your Outline 1 Choose a topic.?Whether your work will be reflective, persuasive, informative,research-based, or some combination thereof, you must choose a general focus to help keep your thoughts on track.[1] At this stage its okay to have a broad topic instead of trying to narrow it down to your specific thesis statement. For example, when youre just starting out, instead of narrowing your topic down right away to the attitudes of the French towards the Maquis resistance fighters in WWII you might look at French life during the German occupation in general. You can also make an outline for a creative piece, like a novel. You will still want to focus on a topic (steampunk reimagining of Hamlet). You wont have a thesis, and the outline will follow the structure of the novel (important events, for example). 2 Determine the larger purpose of your work.?Choosing an end goal will not only give your topic direction, but also help you structure your paper logically. If you’re writing a formal essay,?write a thesis statement?that fulfills this purpose, otherwise youll need to determine what youre trying to accomplish with your work. You could compare and contrast two things, which means that youll be making connections, and using critical thinking to engage in analysis of the two (usually) pieces. This will need to go beyond simply summarizing, but usually wont require much outside research.[2] Present cause and effect. Show why something happened (particularly good for historical essays, because you can look at something that happened in history and the effect it had on events). Define or analyze a particular aspect or concept. For example, you might talk about feminism and talk about the history of the term, the different types of feminism, and what it means to different groups. Present one side of an argument (you should also provide, or at least address, the counter-argument). Provide evidence and draw a conclusion. You sho