Outlines Reading Texts in Various
Disciplines
English for Academic and Professional Purposes
summarizing the essential features
1 of a text in hierarchical or logical
order
to look over or read quickly
2 specially to find the main ideas
a piece of writing, written or
3 printed material
states the purpose and/or central
4 idea of a text
o An outline is a summary that gives the essential
features of a text. It shows how the parts of a
text are related to one another as parts that are
of equal importance, or sections that are
subordinate to a main idea (Valdriz, 2017).
o Outlines provide a brief “frame” or overview of
ideas in a text.
They show the relationships among ideas, as
similar ideas are on similar levels. At a glance,
outlines allow you to see if all major supporting
ideas relate to the overall main idea. They also
distinguish between major supporting ideas and
more minor examples and details. Outlines show
the conceptual or idea structure of a text. (Lumen
Learning, n.d.)
Why is outlining important?
It gives an overview of the topic and it enables us to see
how various subtopics relate to one another.
Recording the information in our own word tests our
understanding of what we read.
It is an effective way to record needed information from
reference books you do not own.
Writing Outline Reading Outline
Done before writing something Done after you read something
(pre-writing) (post-reading).
o Writing outline serves as your guide or
blueprint in writing to ensure o Reading outline will reflect the
organization of your ideas; summary or abstract of the text.
o As a prewriting strategy for creating o What you make when you study a
your own text/essay, as it’s often easier paper.
to develop ideas in brief form to create o As a way to understand, recall, react
the essay’s idea framework first, before to, and analyze a text you read
you fill that framework in with
examples and details
Outline provides a means of
organizing your information in a
hierarchical or logical order.
For research papers, a formal outline
can help you keep track of large
amounts of information.
1 Place your thesis statement at the beginning
2 List the major points that support your thesis
List supporting ideas or arguments for each major
3 point.
If applicable, continue to subdivide each supporting
4 idea until your outline is fully developed.
o When preparing an outline, you can either use a decimal outline
or alphanumeric outline.
only uses numbers as
labels
uses both letters
and numbers as
labels
o First, write the title at the top center of the
paper.
o Next, write the thesis statement.
o Use Roman numerals for the major sections of
the paper.
o After, use capital letters for main ideas (per
paragraph).
o Use Arabic numbers for supporting details.
o Use small letters for additional information.
(for Alphanumeric Outline)
REMEMBER:
Indention is very
crucial in every
outline.
Topic outline summarizes
the main idea and
supporting details in
words and phrases.
Sentence outline uses
full sentences. In doing
the outline, remember
the basic sentence
writing mechanics,
which includes
grammar and
punctuations.
There are four principles that need to be followed in organizing the contents or entries in
an outline.
Requires ideas of the same relevance
to be labeled in the same way.
Shows that minor details must be
placed under their respective major
details.
There are four principles that need to be followed in organizing the contents or entries in
an outline.
Requires that no cluster should
contain only one item.
Requires all entries in each cluster to
use the same structure and format.
