Combination Outlines

Rubi Vasquez

Lizette Gonzalez

Richard Nieto

What Is an Outline?

In lamens terms, an outline is a summarizing list: it reduces a body of material to its essential parts

An outline reflects logical thinking and clear classification.

More about Outlines…

Outlines are:A logical, general description

A schematic summary

An organizational pattern

A visual and conceptual design of your writing.

And still more…

Outlining is not just busywork; it is a way of thinking.

An outline is not a separate step in writing a research paper; it should influence every decision from the choice of topic to revision of the final draft.

How are outlines helpful?

Outlines help:Judge the relevance of facts and opinions

Organize ideas in a paragraph

Determine most effective order

Show relationships among ideas in your writing

Construct an ordered overview of your writing

Define boundaries and groups

Outlining Process

1. Brainstorm: List all ideas that you want to include in your paper.

2. Organize: Group related ideas together.

3. Order: Arrange material in subsections from general to specific or from abstract to concrete.

4. Label: Create main and sub headings.

Types of Outlines

There are two main forms of outlines:

Running outlines

Formal outlines

Our focus will be on the a type of formal outline called a Combination Outline.

What is a Combination Outline?

A combination outline is a mixture of a topic outline and a sentence outline.

Steps to write a Combination Outline

Write the title of your paper (centered) at the beginning of your outline.

Following the title should be your thesis statement

The words “Thesis Statement” should be written before the actual statement with colon marks following it.

Correct Format Continued…

Use complete sentences for main topics. (Make sure you use a period)Subtopics should be a phrase, a word, or a dependent clause. (No period)Use Roman numerals for main topics followed by a periodUse capital letters for subtopics, followed by period.Symbols should appear in pairs.

Ex: Where there’s an A there should be a B, a 1 there should be a 2…etc.

IMPORTANT: NO Questions should be asked in an outline!!!!

Grammar and Punctuation Tips

Be consistent! Use parallel and consistent grammatical structure throughout outline.

Capitalize the first letter of every word that follows a number or letter.All symbols should be vertically aligned.Outline should be double spaced!!

Correct ExampleThesis Statement:

I.  First main idea (topic sentence for first body paragraph)

      A.  First subdivision of the main idea

           1.  First reason or example

           2.  Second reason or example

                a   First supporting detail        b.  Second supporting detail

      B.  Second subdivision of the main idea

II.   Second main idea (topic sentence for second body paragraph)

Now its time for you to work!

Thesis: Oneida Community, which began as an idealistic refuge from a materialistic society, prospered and ended up as a profitable corporation.

I.     Several communities were founded in the Burned-over District. 

A.     A hotbed of reforms

 B.     Millennialism

 C.    Perfectionism

 II.    John Humphrey Noyes 

A.     Mutual criticism 

B.     Perfectionism 

C.    Complex marriage 

D.    Male continence 

E.     Founding of Oneida Community

 

III.  Noyes controlled the community like a strong father. 

A.     Mutual criticism

 B.     Regulation of complex marriage

 C.    Stirpiculture

 IV.  Outsiders were fascinated by the Oneida lifestyle. 

A.     Mansion House

 B.     Work assignments were completed every day.

 C.    Bureaucratic organization

V.   As Noyes grew older, criticism of Oneida increased. 

1. Seceded members

 2. Members within the community

3.  Opponents on the outside 

VI.  Although members described Oneida as “Bible communism,” they worked hard and prospered.

 A.     Products

 B.     Peddlers

 C.    Commercial Spirit