Outline Format
for a Three-Paragraph Essay (or piece of writing)
Christine Bauer-Ramazani 

NOTE:  Outline points is usually in phrase form, e.g.  Adj + N + Prep + N (= Noun Phrase) or parallel verb phrases.  The following numbering system is standard and should be followed for outline assignments.

____________________________________________
Title of Essay

  I.  Introduction

          A.       Background information (interesting facts, statistics, rhetorical questions)

1.  _________________________________

     2.  _________________________________

B.  Thesis Statement: (Write the sentence in full. Include Topic, Controlling Idea, 3 Aspects/Focal Points.)

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________.

II.    ________________________________________ 
                              (Main idea/aspect # 1)

          A.    ___________________________________ 
                              (Supporting point #1)

          1.   ________________________________
                    (Example/detail)

          2.     ________________________________
                    (Example/detail)

             B.    ___________________________________
                                      (Supporting point #2)

          1. ________________________________
                    (Example/detail)

          2. ________________________________
                    (Example/detail)

 C. ____________________________________
                    (Supporting point #3) 

         1. _________________________________
                     (Example/detail)
   2. _________________________________
                     (Example/detail)

 III.    Conclusion

A.    ______________________________________________________
(Restatement of the thesis/summary of aspects)

B.  ___________________________________
  (Outlook for the future/Recommendations)

© 2014: Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Saint Michael's College. Last updated: March 3, 2014