A formal outline may be useful later in the writing process, after you have written a rough draft, especially if your subject matter is complex. Constructing a formal outline can help you see whether the parts of your essay work together and whether your essay’s structure is logical.
The thesis is an important part of the outline. Everything else in the outline supports it, directly or indirectly. If you also include full topic sentences, you will be well on your way to a completed paper.
Guidelines for constructing a formal outline
Sample formal outline: Government regulation of food choices (Harba)
Sample formal outline (Internet surveillance in the workplace)
Go to related page: Formal outlines
Sample paper based on outline: Harba, “What’s for Dinner? Personal Choices vs. Public Health”
Sample paper based on outline: Orlov, “Online Monitoring: A Threat to Employee Privacy in the Wired Workplace”