Purdue University North Central Writing Center Handout

Outline For Essays

Prof. S. Lichtman

This outline form can help you organize your essay material so that you can never get lost in an essay, nor can you ever run out of ideas.

            I. Thesis Statement

                        A. 

                        B.    Three Aspects

                        C. 

            II. Conclusion

Other sub-topics may be entered under any of the major sections, but no other letters or Roman numerals should ever be added.  An expanded form of this outline might look like this:

            I.  Thesis Statement

                        1.

                        2.  Background material

                        3.

                           A.

                                        l.

                                    2.

                           B.

                                    l.

                                    2.

                                    3.

                           C.

                                    1.

                                    2.

            II. Conclusion

                        l.                      Future considerations

                        2.                     other applications

                        3.                     of your thesis

Since the concluding paragraphs should match the opening paragraphs point for point, there should be the same number of paragraphs closing the essay as there are opening the essay.