Leveling Outline
Outlining is vital to all writing, but it is particularly important when crafting longer works, like research papers. There are a number of formal outlines one can follow, like the traditional Harvard outline. However, outlining for a larger work can be challenging; it’s often difficult to know what each paragraph will discuss when starting out. This is why it is useful to complete outlining in stages, or levels.
When leveling an outline, you start with general sections. For example, in the outline below, the author is drafting a problem-solution essay.(When writing a problem-solution paper, you have the option of placing in the emphasis on the problem, the solution, or splitting the emphasis equally.) In the example below, the author opted to place the emphasis on the solution, discussing the problem just in the introduction.
Level 1: Sections
This level allows a writer to see the main ideas, discussing major sections of the paper.
- Introduction
- Physical Activity
- Healthy eating
- Alternative medicine
- Therapy
- Conclusion
Level 2: Paragraphs
After the general sections, the next level deals with body paragraphs. Sometimes a section can be broken into a number of paragraphs, like the section below on therapy; sometimes a section can be just one paragraph, like the section below on healthy eating. Regardless of how many paragraphs in the section, level two comprises sections and topic sentences for supporting body paragraphs.
- Introduction
- Problems
- Solutions thesis
- Physical Activity
- Exercise: Healthy eating and exercise can make a significant impact.
- Yoga: Yoga, in particular, can make a major impact
- Healthy eating
- Balanced diet: eating balanced and nutritious meals allows one to maintain energy and decrease mood swings.
- Alternative medicine
- Supplements: Patient can use supplements as a beneficial alternative to powerful antidepressants.
- Amino acids: Amino acids are what make up neurotransmitters in the brain.
- St. John’s Wort: St. John’s Wort, is an herb that is considered another antidepressant alternative
- Therapy
- Explanation of therapies: The alternative with the most substantial, positive effect is therapy.
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Most popular therapy methods is Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Interpersonal therapy: Interpersonal therapy is used for one-to-one communication.
- Psychodynamic therapy: Psychodynamic therapy is used to increase self-awareness
- Alternative medicine therapy: Therapies that are more physical include acupuncture and massages.
- Conclusion
- Restatement of main ideas
Level 3: Supporting Evidence
This level of the outline includes specific supporting evidence for the main ideas.
- Introduction
- Problems
- Number of depressed people
- Medication
- Side effects
- tolerance
- Solutions thesis
- Doctors should recommend lifestyle changes, like change in diet, exercise, and alternative medicines, to patients as a first course of action, followed by therapy.
- Problems
- Physical Activity
- Exercise: Healthy eating and exercise can make a significant impact.
- Endorphins
- Brain growth
- Yoga: Yoga, in particular, can make a major impact
- Explain how breathing helps
- Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement recommendation
- Exercise: Healthy eating and exercise can make a significant impact.
- Healthy eating
- Balanced diet: eating balanced and nutritious meals allows one to maintain energy and decrease mood swings.
- Junk food negatives and healthy food benefits
- Balanced diet: eating balanced and nutritious meals allows one to maintain energy and decrease mood swings.
- Alternative medicine
- Supplements: Patient can use supplements as a beneficial alternative to powerful antidepressants.
- Vitamin B and Omega 3s
- Amino acids: Amino acids are what make up neurotransmitters in the brain.
- Brain food
- St. John’s Wort: St. John’s Wort, is an herb that is considered another antidepressant alternative
- Side effects
- Beneficial uses in Europe
- Supplements: Patient can use supplements as a beneficial alternative to powerful antidepressants.
- Therapy
- Explanation of therapies: The alternative with the most substantial, positive effect is therapy.
- List of different therapies
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Most popular therapy methods is Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Journaling
- Self-reflection
- Interpersonal therapy: Interpersonal therapy is used for one-to-one communication.
- Managing behaviors
- Psychodynamic therapy: Psychodynamic therapy is used to increase self-awareness
- Development of subconscious
- Alternative medicine therapy: Therapies that are more physical include acupuncture and massages.
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Explanation of therapies: The alternative with the most substantial, positive effect is therapy.
- Conclusion
- Restatement of main ideas