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Utilizing the tips provided in this website will help improve your writing skills.
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Example
Example
Writing Outlines
"I plan to closely read the lyrics of the song by printing them out and going through them with a pen and highlighter. This will help me to pull out phrases and words that I think are important because whenever I listen to this song, I can never tell exactly what message Sheeran wants to convey. I would like to really dig into each line of the song because he sings/raps them so fast that it gets hard to tell exactly what he says in each line..."
Excerpt from Inquiry One proposal.
This is one brief example of one type of outline. Here, the writer describes how she will approach an analysis of a song. She also clearly explains a few key aspects of her close reading that she wants to focus on. Highlighting what you want to focus on in your writing is one way to create an outline.
Beginning to write: Outlines
Outlines are a great place to start any piece of writing. They serve as a way to begin brainstorming and planning for your essay. Outlines can be anything from simple pre-writing thoughts for a paper, to very clear guidelines you want to follow.
"Story: breaking my thumb while swimming
Characters: me, Billy, Dinan, lifeguard
Structure: first scene- me at Children’s Hospital; second scene- Billy examining thumb in pool; third scene- Dinan making fun of me; fourth scene- me breaking my thumb; fifth scene- thoughts at school the next day; six scene- Dinan telling me that the more I keep it secret, the more embarrassing it will be; seventh scene- me now and my thoughts now..."
Excerpt from Inquiry Three outline.
Here is another example of an outline. The author briefly lays out what her story will be, the characters involved, and the plot of the story. An outline like this is useful in writing because it can serve as a guide while you compose your piece. Like the other example, it is yet another way to control your focus in writing.