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Outlining

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Outlines are used to help us organize our notes or personal ideas. Outlines help us organize:

1) our ideas (using key words only) into related groups or themes (paragraphs) (questions we noted)

2) summarize important ideas for the introduction (to let the reader know the purpose)

3) summarizes important ideas for the conclusion (sums up your information, ideas, or story problems)

Looking at outlining for specific types of writing:

Personal, Impromptu Writing

Writing to Communicate Ideas and Information
Reports, Articles, and Letters
Instructions and Procedures

Writing Stories

Writing Poems


Outlining for Personal, Impromptu Writing
Introduction (do  this after you outline the body (middle paragraphs)

1. tell your reader what they will be reading about (my summer holidays)

2. key words that explain your topics and order (reading, travelling, swimming)

3. tell your reader briefly what we will learn (I had a great summer

I      Topic One: use a key word to describe this paragraph's topic (e.g. reading)

1. these sentences probably tell us what, where or why you read

2. books

3. favourite reading spot

4. feelings about reading


II         Topic Two: key word about this paragraph's topic (travelling)

1. where

2. what you saw

3. what you did

 4. your feelings about your travelling   

III     Topic Three: key word about this paragraph's topic (swimming)

1. where you swam

2. your favourite swimming spot

3. why

 4. your feelings about your swimming

Conclusion (do  after you do the body (middle paragraphs)

1. remind your reader what they read about (your summer holidays)

2. summarize these ideas

 3. try to leave your reader with something to think about


Outlining for Writing to Communicate Ideas and Information (Reports etc.):
Introduction (do  this after you outline the body  or middle paragraphs)
  
1. tell your reader what they will be reading about (three Canadian landscapes)

2. jot down key words that explain your topics and order  (tundra, farmland, wetlands)

3. tell your reader briefly what we will learn (diversity of Canadian landscapes)

I       Topic One: use a key word to describe this paragraph's topic (e.g. tundra)

1. these sentences probably tell us what the tundra means

2. looks like

3. where it is in Canada

4. perhaps your impression of this landscape

II   Topic Two: key word about this paragraph's topic (farmland)

1. what farmland means

2. looks like

3. where it is in Canada

 4. perhaps your impressions of this landscape

III      Topic Three: key word about this paragraph's topic (farmland)

1. what wetlands means

2. looks like

3. where it is in Canada

 4. perhaps your impressions of this landscape

Conclusion (do  after you do the body (middle paragraphs)

1. remind your reader what they read about (three Canadian landscapes)

2. summarize or compare the ideas

 3. try to leave your reader with something to think about



Outlining for Writing to Communicate Ideas and Information (Instructions etc.):
Introduction (do  this after you outline the body (middle paragraphs) 
1. tell your reader what they will be building or doing

2.

3.

I       

1.

2.

3.

4.

II  

1.

2.

3. 

 4.

III     

1. 

2.

3. 

 4.

Conclusion

1.

2.

 3.



Outlining for Writing Stories

Introduction

1.

2.

3.

I      _________________________________________

1.

2.

3.

4.


II         _________________________________________
1.

2.

3.

4. 

III     _________________________________________

1.

2.

3.

4.


Conclusion

1.

2.

 3.



Outlining for Writing Poems

Introduction
1.

2.

3.

I      _________________________________________

1.

2.

3.

4.


II         _________________________________________
1.

2.

3.

4. 

III     _________________________________________

1.

2.

3.

4.


Conclusion

1.

2.

 3.



Outlining Form for Communicating Information               Name ________________  
(to view and print specfic form, choose rtf)

Topic: _________________

Introduction
(do after you outline the body; introduce large topic, summarize three main topics)

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

I       Topic One: ____________________________________________________

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________


II   Topic Two: ____________________________________________________

1. _________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________________


III      Topic Three: _________________________________________________

1. _________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________________


Conclusion
(done last: remind reader of your topic, summarize information, end with something to think about)

1. ___________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________






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