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The material outlines steps for forming a working thesis, building logical sections, and aligning each claim with related arguments. Detailed section models cover basic outlines, introduction and conclusion paragraphs, research question framing, background and discussion with hypothesis and analysis, storyboard-style ordering, and literary analysis with quotation integration and transitions. Guidance includes matching citation styles and organizing references on a separate page.","Outlining Templates\nMetro State Writing Center, Fall 2026\nNeed to organize your work? Here are 5 templates to follow when you’re feeling stuck. As writer/professor Umberto Eco says in How To Write a Thesis, “Be very committed to the outline. Be equally prepared to revise it” (p. 109).\nSteps for creating a useful outline:\nIdentify a topic and a research question or problem\nDevelop a working hypothesis/thesis\nCreate logical sections based on the topic, question, or thesis\nBasic Outline Template\nWorking Title - a preview of the main consideration\nResearch Question - lay out the main investigation\nWorking Thesis - a tentative answer to the research question\nIntroduction - use this section to:\nEngage your reader\nExplain the purpose/importance of the paper\nState your main point (Thesis Statement)\nBackground/History (may be multiple sections) - use these sections to:\nExplain who, what, and when\nClaims/Main Points (may be multiple sections) - use these sections to:\nDiscuss how or why\nSupport claims made in the Thesis Statement\nDiscuss how each claim relates to the others\nConclusion - use this section to:\nSummarize key points\nDiscuss the wider significance and implications of the topic\nOffer proposals or questions for future study\nReferences, Works Cited, or Bibliography (separate page)\nAn alphabetized list of all sources quoted or referred to in the paper\nThe style for entries (APA, MLA, ASA, Chicago) must match the style used for in-text citations\n\u000f\nIntroduction & Conclusion Outline Templates\nIntroduction Paragraph\nWrite one or two sentences for each point:\nOpening Statement or Attention-Getter\nAn interesting fact, quote, example, or observation about why you are writing\nExplanation of the Topic\nWho, what, when, and where\nThe purpose of the essay\nA preview of the main points\nThesis Statement\nThe main opinion or argument stated as concisely as possible\nConclusion Paragraph\nWrite one or two sentences for each point:\nSummary of Main Points\nReference your strongest points and summarize the argument\nDiscuss the Significance\nExplain why the topic is important and its wider implications\nProposals & Further Questions\nSuggest an action for your reader\nPoint out any future research still needed\nExplain how others might use your work\n\u000f\nResearch Question Outline Template\nCentral Question\nSub-questions\nMain sub-question\nSecondary sub-question\nDevelopment of the central question\nFirst implication\nSecond implication\nBackground & Discussion Sections Outline Template\nBackground\nCurrent and historical state of the issue or topic\nPrevious related research\nDiscussion\nHypothesis - your support, data, or evidence\nAnalysis of the support, data, or evidence\nConclusion/Proposal\nDemonstration of your hypothesis\nConclusions and suggestions for future research\nStoryboard-Style Visual Outline Template\nFlexibly order sections\n\u000f\nLiterary Analysis Outline Template\nIntroduction - use this section to:\nCatch your reader’s attention\nIntroduce the author and title of the work(s) you are analyzing\nProvide a short plot summary\nState your main point/argument (thesis statement)\nClaims/Main Points - use multiple paragraphs to present your argument:\nWrite a topic sentence on what the paragraph is about and how it relates to the thesis\nProvide context for your quote by explaining who, what, and why\nQuote from the text\nAnalyze the quote - show how it supports your thesis\nWrite a closing sentence and transition to the next paragraph\nConclusion - use this section to:\nSummarize the key points of your observations\nExtend your argument - point to its broader significance\nExplain why the text is important","cbCaiuuPVec0EQEm","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiuuPVec0EQEm","docx",39412,4,"English","en",105,"# Steps for creating a useful outline\n## Basic Outline Template\n## Introduction & Conclusion Outline Templates\n## Research Question Outline Template\n## Background & Discussion Sections Outline Template\n## Storyboard-Style Visual Outline Template\n## Literary Analysis Outline Template","[{\"question\":\"What are the key steps to create a useful outline?\",\"answer\":\"Identify a topic and research question, develop a working hypothesis/thesis, and create logical sections based on the topic, question, or thesis. Then connect each claim and section to how they support the thesis, finishing with a conclusion and a references page.\"},{\"question\":\"How should the Basic Outline Template be structured?\",\"answer\":\"It includes a Working Title, Research Question, Working Thesis, and an Introduction with purpose and thesis statement. Background/History sections can be multiple, followed by Claims/Main Points and a Conclusion that summarizes key points and discusses implications, then a separate references page.\"},{\"question\":\"How does a literary analysis outline differ from a general research outline?\",\"answer\":\"A literary analysis outline emphasizes paragraph-level structure: topic sentences linked to the thesis, context for each quote, quote selection, analysis showing how it supports the thesis, and transitions between paragraphs. Its conclusion summarizes observations and extends the argument to broader significance.\"}]","Outlining Templates - Steps for Creating a Useful Outline - Fall 2026 | DOCX",1788222019,2,{"code":4,"msg":31,"data":32},"ok",{"site_id":24,"language":23,"slug":33,"title":14,"keywords":34,"description":15,"schema_data":35,"social_meta":85,"head_meta":87,"extra_data":89,"updated_unix":28},"outlining-templates-steps-for-creating-a-useful-outline-fall-2026","",{"@graph":36,"@context":84},[37,52,67],{"@type":38,"itemListElement":39},"BreadcrumbList",[40,44,47,50],{"item":41,"name":42,"@type":43,"position":11},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":45,"name":46,"@type":43,"position":29},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",{"item":48,"name":13,"@type":43,"position":49},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/presentations/",3,{"item":51,"name":14,"@type":43,"position":21},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/outlining-templates-steps-for-creating-a-useful-outline-fall-2026/167928/",{"url":51,"name":14,"@type":53,"author":54,"headline":14,"publisher":56,"fileFormat":59,"inLanguage":23,"description":15,"dateModified":60,"datePublished":61,"encodingFormat":59,"isAccessibleForFree":62,"interactionStatistic":63},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":55},"Person",{"url":41,"name":57,"@type":58},"DocShare","Organization","application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document","2026-09-04","2026-09-01",true,{"@type":64,"interactionType":65,"userInteractionCount":21},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":66},"ViewAction",{"@type":68,"mainEntity":69},"FAQPage",[70,76,80],{"name":71,"@type":72,"acceptedAnswer":73},"What are the key steps to create a useful outline?","Question",{"text":74,"@type":75},"Identify a topic and research question, develop a working hypothesis/thesis, and create logical sections based on the topic, question, or thesis. Then connect each claim and section to how they support the thesis, finishing with a conclusion and a references page.","Answer",{"name":77,"@type":72,"acceptedAnswer":78},"How should the Basic Outline Template be structured?",{"text":79,"@type":75},"It includes a Working Title, Research Question, Working Thesis, and an Introduction with purpose and thesis statement. Background/History sections can be multiple, followed by Claims/Main Points and a Conclusion that summarizes key points and discusses implications, then a separate references page.",{"name":81,"@type":72,"acceptedAnswer":82},"How does a literary analysis outline differ from a general research outline?",{"text":83,"@type":75},"A literary analysis outline emphasizes paragraph-level structure: topic sentences linked to the thesis, context for each quote, quote selection, analysis showing how it supports the thesis, and transitions between paragraphs. 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