In-class exercise: Structure--Outlining After the Fact

Engl 4057/5057 ETSU, O'Donnell, Weds Feb 1, 2012

(O'Donnell, ETSU, First-year composition course materials)

I. Make a Paragraph Outline

A. On the essay you will turn in today, number your paragraphs. (Count blocks of dialogue as one para.)

B. On a separate sheet of paper, make a paragraph outline, in the form of a table. In the left hand column of the table, include paragraph numbers; in the right hand column, include a brief phrase that describes the paragraph.

II. Make a Section Outline

A. Step back and consider your draft as a whole. Does the draft naturally divide into major sections? Divide the draft into 3 to 6 major sections.

B. Come up with names--or section headings--for each of those sections.

C. On the same sheet of paper as your paragraph outline, write a section outline, in table form, as below.

column 1 column 2 column 3

section # #s of the paras name of section

w/in that section ("section headings")

Make sure this sheet of paper, with the paragraph and section outlines, is labeled clearly, so that you may send it out into the world.