OUTLINES

Last Modified 16 October 2006 by Steve Custer and Bill Locke

Introduction

Outlines organize thoughts into a logical sequence so that the reader can be guided through the argument and be persuaded.  An abbreviated outline of a typical research paper in Quaternary stratigraphy might be as shown below:
  1. Abstract
  2. Introduction
    A.  Statement of the Problem
    B.  The Study Area
    C.  Prior Investigations
        1.  Before 1950: relative dating
        2.  After 1950: numerical dating
            a.  Radiocarbon dating
                i.  conventional
                ii.  accelerator mass spec.
            b.  cosmogenic isotopes
  3. Methods               
    A...
    B...
  4. Discussion
    A...
    B..
  5. Conclusions
  6. References
 NOTES: 
  1. Five levels of subdivision are possible (Roman numerals, capital letters, Arabic numerals, lower-case letters, and i, ii, iii...), but all should not be necessary for your papers.
  2. Thought is multi-dimensional, but reading (thus writing) is only linear.  You are trying to organize your thoughts so that your reader will be lead efficiently through your thought processes.
  3. The introduction should contain the position, hypothesis, or main idea so the reader knows what the primary objective is.  
  4. There is no single correct order of thought!

For review or position papers, other outlines might be more appropriate:

  1. Introduction
  2. Hypothesis I
  3. Hypothesis II
  4. Hypothesis III
  5. Tests
  6. Discussion or Conclusions
  1. Introduction
  2. Hypothesis I
  3. Tests of I
  4. Hypothesis II
  5. Tests of II
  6. Discussion or Conclusions
  1. Introduction with Position
  2. Line of Evidence or Study A
  3. Line of Evidence or Study B
  4. Line of Evidence or Study C
  5. Line of Evidence or Study D
  6.  Discussion or Conclusions
  1. Introduction
  2. Dataset I
  3. Dataset II
  4. Dataset III
  5. Discussion or Conclusions
Notes:
  1. The first two (above) are effectively identical, with tests either grouped or split.  A transition sentence or paragraph at the end of the Introduction should be used to prepare the reader for whichever one is used.
  2. The third and fourth are similar, with the third using a chronologic approach and the fourth a subdisciplinary approach.  The Retallack et al. (1966)  reference (at http://www.lib.montana.edu/services/reserves/ESCI301/) is an example of the latter.
  3. This summary is not exhaustive!
  4. Remember, your paper is short so exhaustive chronologies of the literature may not be appropriate.  In a short paper you may want to focus on the position and then proceed to demonstrate the point with various lines of evidence or data to support the position.  

No matter what outline strategy you adopt, some outline should be used for each draft, but be flexible. An outline is a tool, not concrete-and-steel template. The outline of your paper may change many times before your writing is finished. Changes should be expected each time your thinking about the position statement improves. With the advent of computerized word processing, block moves are straight forward and word changes are relatively simple so change the outline anytime you see the need.  (You might save backup files in case you want to  go back.) Prepare an outline before you write. After you have written your first outline and first draft, reoutline the paper. Did your outline change as you wrote? (Outlines often change.) If the outline did not change, as you read your first draft can you see outline changes that would improve the paper?  

An Alternative Strategy: writing to your figures

Figures and tables form an excellent outline because scientific writing is usually based on data. This data is commonly presented in the form of figures or tables which are either adopted with citation from other's work, collected by you as a summary of the results of others and presented in a table or figure you prepare. An excellent outline strategy is to collect all the figures and tables which support your paper position, put them in a logical order, discuss each in one or more paragraphs, write the conclusion, write the introduction, polish the bibliography, rewrite the paper, and turn in the product. I urge you (nay - dare you!) to try writing from the inside out using your figures and tables as the outline. The strategy is effective for several reasons:

  1. You have to clearly know the position to identify the relevant data.
  2. You are forced to decide which figures and tables best advance your position early in the writing process.
  3. The sequence of figures and tables provide structure (an outline) for your writing and remind you directly of how the data supports your position as you write. Note that the order in which you assemble your figures will likely follow one of the examples above.
  4. Preparation of the figures in advance reduces choppy writing which comes from, "Darn, what was that data. I can't remember. I guess I had better stop writing and go to the library to find that article." The flow of the writing is preserved because the data in the form of figures and tables is all there in front of you. 

Discussion Questions:

    What are common outline strategies you have encountered in the literature?
    Identify a partner and share your outlines.  What is good?  What seems unclear to your partner?  

Assignment:

Bring your preliminary outline to class.

Time Commitment:

1 h for outline
1 h start writing

Grade:

1% for attendance
1% for bringing a typed outline with your name on it to class