Hello!
How are you? Here are some special notes for all of you about writing outlines.
About outlines
First, what is an outline? An outline is like a guide or set of steps to what will be in your written composition (作文).
Because of this, the language in an outline should be cut down to the minimum - no complete sentences and only keywords and key phrases. It should be as concise (簡明) as possible.
Outlines are divided into an introduction, with main ideas, supporting points, and details.
Let's look at an example of an outline for a paper comparing Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla and their research with electricity.
Parts to an outline
Introduction
The introduction shows the key to what the paper is about. It has a Roman numeral (ローマ数字) - always, Roman numeral I.
例えば：
I. The research of Edison and Tesla with electricity
Note: Write this in regular type - do not put in italics or in bold. Also, do not put a period (.) after - this is a guide point, not a full sentence.
Main ideas - first main idea
The first main idea should show the first thing you will treat in your topic. It will have a Roman numeral II.
例えば：
II. Edison
Note: It should be as short as possible - even a key word. Do not put in italics or in bold. Also here, do not put a period (.) after.
Main ideas - second main idea
The second main idea should show the next thing you will treat in your topic. It will have a Roman numeral III.
例えば：
III. Tesla
Note: It should be as short as possible - even a key word. Do not put in italics or in bold. Also here, do not put a period (.) after.
Supporting points
Your supporting points go with the main ideas, and they break down the main points. They will have capital letters with periods after (A., B., C., etc), and be indented around five (5) spaces.
Let's look at an example of subheadings with the first main point about Edison:
例えば：
II. Edison
A. Experiments with electricity
B. Direct current (DC) research
Note: The supporting points should also be as short as possible - even key words are okay. Do not put in italics or in bold. Also here, do not put a period (.) after.
Details
Details show, in a short way, some important pieces of information about the main points.
They have Arabic numerals (算用数字、アラビア数字), and are also indented five (5) spaces from the supporting points.
例えば：
II. Edison
A. Experiments with electricity
B. Direct current (DC) research
1. Carbon filament
2. Electric lamp
Note: The details should also be as short as possible - key words are okay. Do not put in italics or in bold. Also here, do not put a period (.) after.
Not every supporting point needs to have details, but if they are important enough to be further broken down, then you should put in some details.
Conclusion
The conclusion is a summarized sentence, or even phrase, that shows the final point of your topic. It will have whatever the last Roman numeral is in your outline.
In the example of the Edison and Tesla paper topic, this one has the Roman numeral V.
例えば：
V. Overall impact of Edison over Tesla
Note: Like the introduction, main ideas, supporting points and details, the conclusion should also be as short as possible. Also - do not put in italics or in bold, do not put a period (.) after.
Completed outline
Look at this example of a completed outline, with a title, labeled to show you what each part of the outline means. This is to show you what you should try for in your outline writing.
While this example is a little small, you can expand it on your screen. Because this is a screenshot, you can also print this out:
First, what is an outline? An outline is like a guide or set of steps to what will be in your written composition (作文).
Because of this, the language in an outline should be cut down to the minimum - no complete sentences and only keywords and key phrases. It should be as concise (簡明) as possible.
Outlines are divided into an introduction, with main ideas, supporting points, and details.
Let's look at an example of an outline for a paper comparing Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla and their research with electricity.
Parts to an outline
Introduction
The introduction shows the key to what the paper is about. It has a Roman numeral (ローマ数字) - always, Roman numeral I.
例えば：
I. The research of Edison and Tesla with electricity
Note: Write this in regular type - do not put in italics or in bold. Also, do not put a period (.) after - this is a guide point, not a full sentence.
Main ideas - first main idea
The first main idea should show the first thing you will treat in your topic. It will have a Roman numeral II.
例えば：
II. Edison
Note: It should be as short as possible - even a key word. Do not put in italics or in bold. Also here, do not put a period (.) after.
Main ideas - second main idea
The second main idea should show the next thing you will treat in your topic. It will have a Roman numeral III.
例えば：
III. Tesla
Note: It should be as short as possible - even a key word. Do not put in italics or in bold. Also here, do not put a period (.) after.
Supporting points
Your supporting points go with the main ideas, and they break down the main points. They will have capital letters with periods after (A., B., C., etc), and be indented around five (5) spaces.
Let's look at an example of subheadings with the first main point about Edison:
例えば：
II. Edison
A. Experiments with electricity
B. Direct current (DC) research
Note: The supporting points should also be as short as possible - even key words are okay. Do not put in italics or in bold. Also here, do not put a period (.) after.
Details
Details show, in a short way, some important pieces of information about the main points.
They have Arabic numerals (算用数字、アラビア数字), and are also indented five (5) spaces from the supporting points.
例えば：
II. Edison
A. Experiments with electricity
B. Direct current (DC) research
1. Carbon filament
2. Electric lamp
Note: The details should also be as short as possible - key words are okay. Do not put in italics or in bold. Also here, do not put a period (.) after.
Not every supporting point needs to have details, but if they are important enough to be further broken down, then you should put in some details.
Conclusion
The conclusion is a summarized sentence, or even phrase, that shows the final point of your topic. It will have whatever the last Roman numeral is in your outline.
In the example of the Edison and Tesla paper topic, this one has the Roman numeral V.
例えば：
V. Overall impact of Edison over Tesla
Note: Like the introduction, main ideas, supporting points and details, the conclusion should also be as short as possible. Also - do not put in italics or in bold, do not put a period (.) after.
Completed outline
Look at this example of a completed outline, with a title, labeled to show you what each part of the outline means. This is to show you what you should try for in your outline writing.
While this example is a little small, you can expand it on your screen. Because this is a screenshot, you can also print this out:
Now here is the same outline, without the labels. This is how it should look when you turn it in. As this also is a screenshot, you can also print it out:
So this is what the final versions of your outlines should look like - keywords and key phrases only!
I hope these notes can help you with your summary and outline writing. Good luck!
Image: Copyright-free photograph from Apple Photo Gallery.
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