/What_should_an_outline_look_like

What should an outline look like?

- Proper MLA heading and title: See below.

- Headers: Put a header on every page. The last page is your Works Cited page.

- Parallel structure: Parallel the parts of speech (All the capital Roman numerals should be parallel in part of speech. All of the capital A’s under a particular Roman numeral should be parallel. All of the Arabic numerals under a capital letter should be the same part of speech. And so it goes.) This should not be a sentence outline. Consider using Topic: Explanation if you must put in a sentence somewhere. The “Topic” part will still be parallel.

- Outline structure: Every I has a II; every A, a B; every 1, a 2. Line 'em up with tabs.

Don't just come up with something; incorporate it into the previous heading if you don't have a second idea.

- Capitalization: The first word only of each entry (with the exception of normally capitalized words) starts with a capital letter.

- Documentation: Cite in parentheses in MLA Format. Usually the citation is the first word of the Works Cited entry with just the page number. You should have at least three sources, at least one of which is a different type, and not lean too heavily on one source.

- Topics for quotes: Don’t leave quotes alone; much like the headings and commenting on the notes, you need to decide what you will use the quote for in the outline.

You can do it!

On this page is an example of an outline. You do not have to follow the exact numbers of subjects, topics, subtopics, and details, but this is the basic structure of the outline. Don’t include the words Topic heading, Subtopic, or Detail.

Last 1 First Last Miss Liu English II Pre-­‐AP, Period 20 April 2012

Research Paper Outline – Major Grade

I. Introduction

A. Attention grabber

B. Thesis statement: Write your thesis statement here.

II. Topic heading 1 A. Subtopic 1 1.

Detail 1 (Author #) 2.

Detail 2 (Author #) B. Subtopic 2 III. Topic heading 2 A. Subtopic 1 1.

Detail 1 (“Article” #) 2.

Detail 2 (Author #) B. Subtopic 2 (Author) IV. Conclusion A. Closing comments to various threads of paper B. Reference to significance (“First” #)

See pp. 43-46 of MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th ed., for more information.

Make a Works Cited page as the last page of your outline. This will eventually be the last page of your research paper. List only works that you cite in your paper.

An example of a Works Cited page is on this page. Do not number your entries. Either double-space the entire thing or skip a space between single-spaced entries. Use a hanging indent. Alphabetize by the first important word, ignoring “A” and “The.” Last 2 Works Cited Last, First. “Article Name.” Name of Web Site. Mo. Year. Sponsoring Organization.

Web. DD Month Year of Access.

Last, First, ed. "Title of Article." Title of the Anthology. City: Publisher, Year. #-#.

Print.

Last, First. “Name of Author (Years).” Title of the Book. Ed. First Last. City: Publisher, Year. #-#. Vol. n of Dictionary of Literary Biography. #-#. Print.

Last, First. “Title of Article.” Source Info. Database Name. Web. DD Month Year of Access.

Last, First. "Title of Article." Title of Work by Different Authors. Ed. First Last. nth ed.

Vol. n. City: Publisher, Year. #-#. Print.

Last, First. Title of the Entire Book if You Used a Whole Book. City: Publisher, Year.

Print.

Last, First. Original publication information as written. Rpt. in Title of the Collection of Criticism. Ed. First Last. Vol. n. City: Publisher, Year. #-#. Print.

"Title of Encyclopedia Article." Name of Encyclopedia. nth ed. Year. Print.