Creating A Good Essay Outline - Tips For For High School Students
High school is where you get torrents of essay assignments on every subject, including those in which you thought writing skills aren’t necessary. If you’re struggling with your homework and having a hard time putting your thoughts into words, we’re here to help you.
- Brainstorm: This, of course, comes in steps. You should first decide what you’re going to write; what opinion you’ll stick to, what story to tell. Secondly, you might want to jot down every idea related to the topic that comes to your mind. This is where you start linking everything together and organizing them to fit into the article’s basic pattern.
- Introduction: And the basic pattern begins! But what does the outline have anything to do with the introduction? That’s the trick. Instead of writing a draft around a topic that flies in a cesspool of abstract thoughts, you want to outline every part of the essay, including the opening of the article. Decide briefly what your thesis statement will state and what your hook will be. Nothing detailed, of course, as this is but a framework.
- Body: I want you to write down every thought for this part separately, even those of which you think you won’t make use. For instance, if the topic is about abortion, and you think of something as frivolous as the trending internet humor known as “memes” that mock those who support abortion, write that down. It can make a brilliant counter argument if you put it in elaborate academic language. The point is: every thought counts, and there’s little of which you won’t make use in the body of your essay.
- Conclusion: Yes, yes, a conclusion is nothing but a brief part of your paper which re-words the thesis statement and basically says exactly what you said at the beginning in the same hackneyed pattern that every student employs. It’s not wrong, but it is so unimpressive that it may lead to losing points. Try to be a little creative. This is why you might want to include this in your draft. Think of a clever way to end the article. Go back to your main messy brainstorming blueprint and see if something can fit here. Bearing in mind that you should not introduce new ideas, but can refer to previously employed ones in a way that will lead to closure.
Always create an outline before you begin writing. If you decide to get right to work, you may end up spending a lot longer than you should do your homework. Good luck!