Principles of Outlining
Basic Principles for Developing an Effective Outline
1. Thesis statement should be specific, focused, and arguable.
2. Supporting evidence should be clear, specific, and relevant to the thesis.
3. Supporting evidence should be divided into logical groups to form supporting points.
4. Supporting points should clearly relate to and support the thesis.
5. Outline should present sufficient supporting points and evidence to support the thesis persuasively.
èèè Review the sample outline below, and evaluate it using the principles above. Does the outline demonstrate all of the principles? If not, how could it be revised to improve it? You may add pieces of evidence from the list at the bottom of the page.
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Sample Outline
Working thesis: Kobe Bryant is a better player than the great NBA stars of the 1970s and ‘80s.
Supporting point 1. – Kobe’s offense
A. Reasons Kobe is a great offensive player
B. Scored 81 points in game versus Toronto Raptors in 2006
Supporting point 2. – Kobe’s defense
A. Defensive skills
B. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were never named to the NBA’s All Defensive Team
Supporting point 3. – Kobe’s clutch play
A. Why Kobe’s great in the clutch
B. Gave himself the nickname “Black Mamba”
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Additional evidence about Kobe Bryant
1. Six game-winning shots during the 2009-10 season
2. Led the league in scoring during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons
3. Named to the NBA All-Defensive Team ten times
4. Member of five NBA championship teams, twice named NBA Final MVP
5. Shares the single-game NBA record for three pointers made with twelve
6. According to Nate Smith of the sports blog BleacherReporter, “Kobe Bryant is the definition of clutch.”
7. Held Celtics’ star Rajon Rondo to his worst series in the 2010 playoffs
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