{"id":3540,"date":"2016-03-23T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-24T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/blog\/?p=3540"},"modified":"2020-09-18T12:35:31","modified_gmt":"2020-09-18T19:35:31","slug":"7-essay-outline-templates-get-essay-going","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/7-essay-outline-templates-get-essay-going\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Essay Outline Templates to Get Your Essay Going"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aiming for the big \u2018A\u2019 on that next essay? Well guess what\u2014<\/span>winging it<\/span><\/i> without an essay outline is just not an option!<\/span><\/p>\n

By now, you\u2019ve probably made plans in one form or another. You\u2019ve marked quizzes and paper due dates on a calendar. Maybe you\u2019ve put together a surprise birthday party for your friend. Thinking about setting a wedding date with your significant other? Now you\u2019re really talking about planning.<\/span><\/p>\n

But why do we plan? What makes us set a schedule for a series of events ahead of time? In this post, I\u2019ll answer these questions and focus on why outlining your papers is a vital part of the writing process. <\/span><\/p>\n

Then you\u2019ll get the chance to access some awesome essay outline templates to help you start writing a well-planned and strongly organized paper that wows your professor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Planning Saves Lives \u2026 or Grades<\/span><\/h2>\n

Okay, so your freshman analysis paper on gender roles in <\/span>50 Shades of Grey<\/span><\/i> may not win a Pulitzer or change anybody\u2019s life. But if you don\u2019t outline your paper, you\u2019re probably heading for a crash.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you don\u2019t outline your paper, you\u2019re probably heading for a crash.<\/a><\/div>\n

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Speaking of crashes, think about something you probably do on a daily basis, driving\u2014or riding in\u2014a car. A lot of planning went into that machine to make it work and get you safely from point A to point B. <\/span><\/p>\n

If the engineers hadn\u2019t carefully blueprinted all the working parts and how they fit together, then that car wouldn\u2019t run at all. Essays are similar. An unplanned essay that isn\u2019t outlined usually won\u2019t pass your professor\u2019s inspection and just gets you nowhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

An essay outline denotes <\/span>how you\u2019ll structure your paper<\/span><\/a>. You can (and should!) make changes along the way. But you want to get everything written down so that you can refer to the outline while you\u2019re writing your rough draft.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you start out with a good idea of how your paper will function and transition between ideas and paragraphs, then you\u2019ll stay on track and avoid writing yourself into a corner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beware the corners\u2014<\/span><\/i>this is what happens when you get to a point in your paper and feel like you have run out of ideas or have no place else to go. Don\u2019t let this happen to you\u2014plan ahead!<\/span><\/p>\n

Got It\u2013But How Do I Start?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Good <\/span>time management skills<\/span><\/a> definitely don\u2019t hurt. But just like your paper won\u2019t write itself, your essay is going nowhere if you don\u2019t sit down and start working on that outline.<\/span><\/p>\n

But maybe it\u2019s been awhile since you\u2019ve composed an outline, and some forms are better than others. No worries\u2014instead of starting from scratch, we\u2019ve got you covered with these templates. You just have to fill in the blanks and keep moving forward!<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, it\u2019s a good idea to think about the <\/span>process behind writing a paper<\/span><\/a> before moving forward with your outline. Most papers\u2014like most cars\u2014have the same basic working parts.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Most papers\u2014like most cars\u2014have the same basic working parts. <\/a><\/div>\n

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You usually need a <\/span>thesis statement<\/span><\/a> in your introductory paragraph, body paragraphs that follow a logical order and support that thesis, and <\/span>a conclusion<\/span><\/a> that wraps it all up.<\/span><\/p>\n

And though most essay have those same working parts, there are different types of essays. Each one requires a different approach to outlining. So without further ado \u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

7 Super-Awesome Essay Outline Templates<\/span><\/h2>\n

1. Analytical essay outline<\/span><\/h3>\n

Download the template!<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This outline template can help you pick apart a topic and support your thesis so well that your professor\u2019s jaw will drop. <\/span>An analytical essay isn\u2019t a summary<\/a>\u2014<\/span>it requires you to concentrate on how a book or poem was written, why a song was composed, what themes are prevalent in a movie, and <\/span>why that matters<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/p>\n

You come up with an answer and then explain why you\u2019re right. This template covers the basics and narrows the focus, so you can write a killer thesis statement and use strong evidence to support your claim.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Argumentative essay outline<\/span><\/h3>\n

Download the template!<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nearly all college students will write an argumentative essay, so steel yourself and get ready to create a powerful outline. In this type of essay, you\u2019ll try to persuade your readers that your thoughts on a given topic are the right ones. <\/span><\/p>\n

But unlike a persuasive essay, you\u2019ll have to do some solid research and back up your ideas with hard facts. <\/span>This is a great template to guide you through writing your intro, developing your argument, refuting your opponent\u2019s arguments, and bringing your essay over the finish line with the conclusion. <\/span><\/p>\n

In an argument essay, you must consider the opposing side(s). This handy template will also show you how to tackle the best of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Compare and contrast essay outline<\/span><\/h3>\n

Download the template!<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A compare and contrast essay takes two subjects and focuses on their similarities and differences. Sounds easy, right? Wait\u2014there\u2019s more! <\/span><\/p>\n

Like all good essays, this one also serves a larger purpose\u2014maybe you\u2019re trying to state something unknown, clear up a misunderstanding, or show that one topic is better than another. <\/span><\/p>\n

This template can help you reach these goals using the point-by-point comparison method. Check it out.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Expository essay outline<\/span><\/h3>\n

Download the template!<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Do you like helpful advice? Me too. That\u2019s what you get with this awesome expository essay template. An expository essay is kind of like a book report. Your teacher makes you write one of these to show that you\u2019ve aptly researched a topic. <\/span><\/p>\n

Though there are many ways to organize this type of essay, start with this outline, and you\u2019ll be in good shape. It will help you explain your topic using facts, evidence, and analysis\u2014all of which will help you showcase the larger significance at hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Persuasive essay outline<\/span><\/h3>\n

Download the template!<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Prove it to me<\/span><\/i>. A persuasive essay\u2019s goal is to convince your readers that your viewpoint is the right one. It\u2019s kind of like an argument essay, except that you don\u2019t have to use well-researched facts in order to support your thesis. You can focus on emotional anecdotes and stories to convince your reader that you\u2019re 100% correct. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is a great outline template that really delivers from intro to conclusion. Need to define your audience and lay down your best hook<\/a>? Look no further than this stellar template.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Reflective essay outline<\/span><\/h3>\n

Download the template!<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In a reflective essay, you get to recall an event, object, or person that helped you become who you are today. This is a fun essay to write because all the material for it exists in your own head. You don\u2019t have to research or argue. You simply offer the reader a meaningful glimpse into your life. <\/span><\/p>\n

These essays don\u2019t have to be serious\u2014<\/span>just ask David Sedaris<\/a>\u2014<\/span>but there are good and bad ways to write them. Never fear\u2014this template is here to guide you in setting up your hook, descriptive body paragraphs, and an impactful conclusion.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Research essay outline<\/span><\/h3>\n

Download the template!<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Research essays are beastly\u2014they\u2019re longer than most papers to start. They also typically require more effort because you\u2019re gathering sources and revealing what experts are saying about your topic. But this type of essay is cool because it helps you sharpen both your writing skills and knowledge about a topic. <\/span><\/p>\n

So learn something, and slay that research essay beast by starting with the best weapon. This template will help you put a framework to your ideas\u2014covering the thesis, context, and history behind your topic, the existing arguments, and why the topic\/research matters.<\/span><\/p>\n

From Outline to Essay<\/span><\/h2>\n

Outlining your essay before you begin writing it has so many advantages. It\u2019s easier to change and reorganize a few points on a page than doing the same for large paragraphs in a rough draft. <\/span><\/p>\n

Outlines save you time and provide peace of mind when it comes to writing papers. Even when you’re putting words to the page, you can always refer back to an outline to keep you on the right track and avoid getting stuck in one of those scary corners we talked about. <\/span><\/p>\n

Want to win the essay-writing race? Then make a habit of outlining your essays from now on.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some Inspiration<\/span><\/h2>\n

Sometimes it just helps to see how others have tackled essays in the past. Check out some of these great example essays from the Kibin database to inspire your next trip down essay-writing lane.<\/span><\/p>\n