Outlines contain a beginning or introduction, middle or arguments, and end or conclusion.

In the beginning or introduction, you want to outline the information necessary. A good practice is to summarize your topic; the purpose of the paper (or thesis statement); the aspects or issues you will be exploring; and the who, what, when, where, why, and how of your paper.

In the middle or argument section, you want to compile supporting information and resources for each of your primary claims. This is where you can frame each of your assertions, how they relate to your thesis statement, and catalog supporting resources. This supporting information can be quotes, facts, or statistics you discovered in your research.

Finally, in the end or conclusion, you should restate your topic and the purpose of the paper. Then, you’ll draft a collection of outstanding questions, considerations, or contrary positions that should be weighed when evaluating your subject as a whole.

Learn more about the stages of writing, developing an outline, and reverse outlining.