Sample outline: Main idea last

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