The real Rasputin is difficult to discover.Ī. Here is a sentence outline of the research paper on Grigori Rasputin: Sentence outlines are especially well suited for complex subjects. Some instructors allow the entries to be worded as questions, but most prefer declarative sentences. The sentence outline uses a complete sentence for each entry. It is also customary to omit introduction and conclusion entries. Notice that the thesis of the research paper is a separate entry immediately after the title. Thesis: After six decades of being judged a demoniacal libertine, Rasputin now deserves to be viewed from another point of view–as a man who was intensely religious, who passionately desired peace, and who was deeply devoted to his family and friends. Here is a topic outline of the paper on Grigori Rasputin: Topic outlines are particularly useful for outlining relatively simple subjects.

The topic outline words each entry as a phrase, breaking down the subject into major subheadings. Never mix or combine the different formats in a research paper: use one type of outline exclusively. The three main types of outlines are the topic outline, the sentence outline, and the paragraph outline.

The outline now is easier to read because its entries are parallel. C should be reworded to make it grammatically like entries A and B: Notice the lack of parallelism in the following outline:Įntries A and B consist of the preposition “for” followed by a noun, whereas entry C is worded as an infinitive phrase. The clarity and readability of an outline are improved if its entries are worded in similar grammatical form. A and B are sub-ideas that characterize the new government proposed by Rousseau C is a statement that describes the revolt of the French people against the old government. The new government would serve the people instead of the people serving the government.Įntry C is out of place because it is not of equal rank with entries A and B. It would be a government based on the general will.ī. Rousseau gave the people a new government to work toward.Ī. Notice the absence of equal ranking in the following example: All capital-letter entries consequently must be equivalent in importance and derived from the same organizing principle. The logic of an outline requires that each entry be based on the same organizing principle as another entry of equal rank. The basic principle remains the same: Larger ideas or elements are stacked to the left, with smaller ideas or elements to the right. If further subdivisions are necessary, the format is as follows: An outline that divides the subject into three or four levels-that is, down to examples or details-generally is adequate for most college research papers. Notice that every subdivided category must have at least two sections because it is impossible to divide anything into fewer than two parts. If you have not been diligent in gathering specific facts about your topic, this deficiency will now be painfully obvious. Indeed, that is exactly what you are expected to do-to make assertions that are supported by concrete examples and specific details. The presumption behind this arrangement is obvious: You do not merely generalize you support your contentions and propositions with examples and details. Here is an example of the proper form of an outline: And minor ideas are designated by lowercase letters (a, b, c, d, and so on). Subdivisions of these sub-ideas are designated by Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, and so on). Sub-ideas branching off from the main ideas are designated by capital letters (A, B, C, D, and so on). The conventions of formal outlining require that main ideas be designated by Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV, and so on). Conventional Research Paper Outline Format

Rough draft example for research paper