Outline Starter/Template

Use this handout to start organizing your ideas. Keep in mind that your essay’s prompt will determine how many supporting ideas you will need. Also, keep in mind that you may have to revise and expand this outline more than once before you start drafting. As a rule of thumb, keep your prompt near by for reference. You can even make a copy of it and staple it to your working outline.

Write your take on the prompt. This can be used as ideas to start your thesis statement._____________________________________________________________________________

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 Your writing prompt will determine how many supporting ideas you will need.

Beginning with 3 supporting ideas will help you get started.

Supporting Idea #1:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

a) Details______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                        b)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                        c)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Supporting Idea # 2:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

a)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                        b)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                        c)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Supporting Idea # 3:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                        a)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                        b)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Additional Ideas/Notes or Questions:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Closing Thoughts (This could be a start to your conclusion):

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Remember to revise this outline and make sure you are addressing all portions of your prompt.