[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-488568-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":85,"doc-detail-488568-en":134},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":78,"head_meta":80,"extra_data":82,"updated_unix":84},105,"en","essay-outline-template-academic-writing-structure","Essay Outline Template - Academic Writing Structure","","An academic essay outline template that guides writers in structuring arguments and planning paragraph flow. It explains the purpose of an outline and provides a sample framework covering introduction elements (hook, background, thesis), body paragraphs (topic sentences, supporting evidence with citations, analysis, transitions, and summarizing), and an optional expansion for additional body points. It also defines conclusion components (summarizing without new evidence and offering closing thoughts) plus a references section.",{"@graph":14,"@context":77},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/essay-outline-template-academic-writing-structure/488568/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/essay-outline-template-academic-writing-structure/488568.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"MrHarris58","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-10-01",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",7,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69,73],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the purpose of an essay outline?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"An outline helps structure and plan arguments and ideas, and it serves as a guide for organizing paragraphs. It also provides a starting point to organize thoughts and brainstorm the paper’s flow.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What should be included in the thesis statement section?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"The thesis statement should state the topic and position, remembering that it equals a claim plus reasons. It should also outline main points and ideas.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How should each body paragraph be developed?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence, then include supporting evidence and ideas such as facts, proof, statistics, and quotes with citations. The writer should analyze the evidence, explain why it matters, and transition to the next point before summarizing and moving forward.",{"name":74,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":75},"What should the conclusion avoid and what should it provide?",{"text":76,"@type":64},"The conclusion should not introduce new information or evidence and should not repeat prior writing verbatim. It should summarize key points and offer closing thoughts, such as a call-to-action or a look into the future related to the topic.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":79,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":81,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":83,"site_id":7},488568,1792941836,{"code":4,"msg":86,"data":87},"success",[88,92,96,99,104,109,113,118,123,126,130],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},70,"exam",{"id":100,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":105,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":110,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":112},"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":114,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":115,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":119,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":121,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":125},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":127,"slug":129},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":131,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":132,"show_sort_weight":100,"slug":133},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":86,"data":135},{"doc_id":83,"user_id":136,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":137,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":138,"file_id":139,"file_url":140,"file_type":141,"file_size":142,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":143,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":144,"faqs":145,"seo_title":146,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":147,"read_time":100,"preview_page_count":4},687212988360,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","San José State University Writing Center  \n[www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter](www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter)  \nWritten by Alex Zvargulis R.  \nEssay Outline Template  \nWhat is an outline?  \nWhen writing an academic essay, an outline can help you structure and plan your arguments and ideas, while creating a guide for how to organize your paragraphs. Almost all essays can follow the same basic structure with variations based on the number of paragraphs or specific requirements. However, this outline template can provide you with a starting point to help you organize your thoughts and brainstorm the shape and flow of your paper.  \nSample Outline Template  \nI. Introduction  \nA. Hook/ Attention Grabber  \n1. Provide a sentence that will catch the reader’s interest.  \n2. Try not to make a broad/generalized statement.  \n3. Offer something concise and catchy.  \nB. Background Information  \n1. Provide general background information.  \n2. Offer some more specific background information (as needed) .  \n3. Provide the title of the piece and the author’s name if the essay is about a specific book/poem/article/passage.  \nC. Thesis Statement  \n1. State your topic and position. Remember that a thesis = claim + reasons.  \n2. Outline your main points and ideas.  \nII. Body  \nA. Paragraph 1 (first main point)  \n1. Topic sentence: what is this paragraph about?  \n2. Supporting evidence and ideas  \na) Give reasons, facts, proof, statistics, quotes (with citations) .  \nb) Analyze your supporting evidence.  \n(1) Why does your evidence matter? What does it mean?  \n(2) Transition to the next point.  \n3. Summarize and transition to your next main idea.  \nB. Paragraph 2 (second main point)  \n1. Topic sentence: what is this paragraph about?  \n2. Supporting evidence and ideas  \na) Give reasons, facts, proof, statistics, quotes (with citations) .  \nEssay Outline Template, Fall 2020. 1 of 2  \nb) Analyze your supporting evidence.  \n(1) Why does your evidence matter? What does it mean?  \n(2) Transition to the next point.  \n3. Summarize and transition to your next main idea.  \nC. Possible Paragraph 3 (third main point)  \n1. Topic sentence: what is this paragraph about?  \n2. Supporting evidence and ideas  \na) Give reasons, facts, proof, statistics, quotes (with citations) .  \nb) Analyze your supporting evidence.  \n(1) Why does your evidence matter? What does it mean?  \n(2) Transition to the next point.  \n3. Summarize and transition to your next main idea or conclusion.  \nD. Possible Paragraph 4 (fourth main point)  \n1. Topic sentence: what is this paragraph about?  \n2. Supporting evidence and ideas  \na) Give reasons, facts, proof, statistics, quotes (with citations) .  \nb) Analyze your supporting evidence.  \n(1) Why does your evidence matter? What does it mean?  \n(2) Transition to the next point.  \nc) Provide more reasons/facts/evidence/etc. (with citations) .  \nd) Analyze your supporting evidence.  \n(1) Why does your evidence matter? What does it mean?  \n(2) Transition to the concluding sentence.  \n3. Summarize and transition to your conclusion.  \n[NOTE: Continue with as many body paragraphs as necessary to develop your topic fully. Remember to include only one main point per paragraph. If you’re moving to a new main point, create a new paragraph.]  \nIII. Conclusion  \nA. Summarize key points and pull it all together.  \n1. Don’t introduce new information/ evidence.  \n2. Don’t repeat your writing verbatim from previous parts of the paper.  \nB. Offer closing thoughts and give the reader something to think about.  \n1. Suggest a call-to-action.  \n2. Provide a look into the future related to your topic.  \nIV. References  \nEssay Outline Template, Fall 2020. 2 of 2","cbCaielfZ1rWo8YB","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaielfZ1rWo8YB","pdf",85518,"English","# Introduction\n## Hook/ Attention Grabber\n## Background Information\n## Thesis Statement\n# Body\n## Paragraph 1 (first main point)\n## Paragraph 2 (second main point)\n## Possible Paragraph 3 (third main point)\n## Possible Paragraph 4 (fourth main point)\n# Conclusion\n## Summarize key points\n## Offer closing thoughts\n# References","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of an essay outline?\",\"answer\":\"An outline helps structure and plan arguments and ideas, and it serves as a guide for organizing paragraphs. It also provides a starting point to organize thoughts and brainstorm the paper’s flow.\"},{\"question\":\"What should be included in the thesis statement section?\",\"answer\":\"The thesis statement should state the topic and position, remembering that it equals a claim plus reasons. It should also outline main points and ideas.\"},{\"question\":\"How should each body paragraph be developed?\",\"answer\":\"Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence, then include supporting evidence and ideas such as facts, proof, statistics, and quotes with citations. The writer should analyze the evidence, explain why it matters, and transition to the next point before summarizing and moving forward.\"},{\"question\":\"What should the conclusion avoid and what should it provide?\",\"answer\":\"The conclusion should not introduce new information or evidence and should not repeat prior writing verbatim. It should summarize key points and offer closing thoughts, such as a call-to-action or a look into the future related to the topic.\"}]","Essay Outline Template - Academic Writing Structure | PDF",1790814857]