Sample outline: Main idea first

Figure. Revised outline for a paragraph.This revised outline shows the preferred organization for a paragraph in academic English, with the main point stated first, followed by the evidence or support. The sentences in the paragraph are as follows: 1. (Main idea) While independence is typically an attractive feature of American culture, it is not always positive. 2. In the United States, teenagers often move out of their parents’ homes when they turn eighteen. 3. The parents’ money is considered only the parents’ money--not the money of their adult children. 4. Without their parents’ financial help, young American adults often scramble to find affordable housing, transportation, and jobs to pay for all of their needs. 5. The fast pace of their daily activities and their lack of job security can be very stressful.

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