You might not have the exact wording at this point, but you should have a general idea of the point you’ll make and defend in your essay. Just follow these four steps to craft an outline that makes the rest of the writing process simple. So you’re sitting at your desk, ready to write your outline. If you have any final thoughts or perspectives you want to impress on your reader before they finish reading your essay, this is where you make them. Once you reach your conclusion, you’re almost there! This is the part of your essay where you wrap it up and summarize the points you made in your body paragraphs. In an analytical essay, you’ll write one body section for each point you make to support your thesis. For example, in a compare-and-contrast essay, you’ll write one section (at least one paragraph long) for each comparison and contrast you make. However, the type of essay you’re writing might require you to deviate from this. If you’re supporting your thesis with multiple sources, a general rule to follow is one body paragraph per source cited. Unless your professor assigned a specific number of body paragraphs for your essay, how many of these you write is your call. Your essay might only need two supporting paragraphs, or it could need four or five (or more).

Your essay’s introduction should be concise and quickly hook the reader. It’s also where you state your thesis, the definitive sentence where you make your argument clear. As this name implies, this is where you introduce the topics you’ll be covering in your essay. The first section of your essay is called the introduction. Every essay starts with an introduction section, follows it with at least one body paragraph that supports the points made in the introduction, then wraps up with a conclusion section that reiterates the author’s thesis and summarizes the body paragraphs. Basic parts of an essayĪlthough every essay is unique, they all adhere to the same basic essay structure. Usually, this is so the professor can make sure each student is on the right track in terms of choosing an essay topic that has a sufficient amount of sources to reference, that it fits the parameters of the assignment, and that the student understands the assignment.

It’s not uncommon for professors to require their students to submit essay outlines before getting started on their essays. If you get stuck as you’re writing your essay, your outline is there to help you get back on track. It’s where you organize all the thoughts and insights you brainstormed into a neat roadmap to follow as you write. Outlining is an important early stage in the writing process. This can make it easier for you to determine the most effective way to transition between paragraphs and the ideal order in which to present your supporting paragraphs. Because it’s informal, an outline is usually written in incomplete sentences, similar to notes. Grammarly helps you write with confidence Write with Grammarly What is an essay outline?Īn essay outline is an informal document that lists and orders the parts of an essay so the writer can stay on track and make sure they don’t miss anything.

Outline example