To organize your notes, you need to make an outline that shows how you will support your thesis. First, write down your thesis statement. Then, review your notes to decide what your three or four major support points will be. Write these under your thesis statement and number them. Under each of your major support points, write two or three supporting details, and number them.

As you read McQuiston’s outline, note that although he started with four benefits of green landscaping (water conservation, fertilizers/safety, effect on wildlife, maintenance), as he read and took notes, he decided to put “effect on wildlife” into the “fertilizers/safety” category. Note also that he is reviewing his organized notes and sources and trying to fit them into appropriate places in his essay (the names in parentheses and boldface).