Writing Focus – Organizing Your Support and Creating an Outline

Now that you have conducted extensive research and collected a variety of sources, you might think the next step in writing a research paper is to sit down with a pen or computer and compose paragraphs about your research findings. However, before you write even one word on the first page, you should do some important planning that will make writing your rough draft all the more easier. In this topic, you will develop a rough outline as a guide to the structure of your research paper. In addition, you will also learn essential knowledge that you should keep in mind while outlining your argument. For example, you will explore the rhetorical triangle, logical fallacies, counterclaims, and the importance of writing an effective hook.

Essential Questions

• How can developing a rough outline facilitate the writing process?
  
• What elements should you consider when creating a rough outline?