When you have decided how to order your ideas, make a written plan — an outline — starting with your thesis statement. Then, state each of your primary support points as a topic sentence for one of the body paragraphs of the essay. Add supporting details to develop or explain the topic sentence. Your plan should also include a possible main point for the concluding paragraph. Although your outline serves as a good guide, it can be changed as you draft your essay.

Some people find it useful to write full sentences as they plan so that their outline is a more complete guide for the essay.

Also, there is no one right order for any essay. Use the order that will help you make your main point most effectively.

OUTLINE FOR A SHORT ESSAY: The example that follows uses “standard” or “formal” outline format, in which numbers and letters distinguish between primary support points and secondary supporting details. Some instructors require this format. If you are making an outline for yourself, you might choose to write a less formal outline, simply indenting secondary supporting details under the primary support rather than using numbers and letters.

Thesis statement

Concluding paragraph