6 Essay Outline Template and Examples

Are you writing an essay but need help figuring out where to start? Or maybe you have the beginning and middle but need to know how to end it. Check out these six essay outline templates and examples I made to help get you started. Each one is unique, but all have the same basic structure.

Once you have your outline, writing the essay will be much easier. So, download one of these templates today and get started on your next great essay!

What Is the Best Essay Outline?

The best writing essay template varies based on the essay’s purpose. You need to employ a descriptive tone when writing a narrative essay but present more facts and stats when you’re working on an argumentative one. Regardless of the type, a well-structured essay outline is what you need to get started.

Do I Need to Make an Outline for My College Essay?

The college essay is a commonly assigned personal narrative writing assignment for college admissions.

The purpose of college essays is to give admissions people insight into who you are as an individual, outside of your grades and standardized test scores. An effective college essay tells a specific story about who you are and how you have grown due to your experiences.

It should not be a list of your accomplishments or a resume of your extracurricular activities. A good college essay should be engaging and reveal something unique about you that cannot be found anywhere else in your application.

One way to ensure that your college essay is engaging and tells a unique story is to create an outline before you begin writing. By creating an outline, you will have a roadmap for your essay that will keep you on track and help you stay focused on the most important aspects of your story. An outline will also help the essay flow well and be easy to read.

College essays are typically three to five pages long, so it is important to use your space wisely and ensure that each sentence serves a purpose. Your outline can be as basic or as detailed as you need it to be, but it should at least have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

With a clear understanding of the structure of your essay, you will be able to craft a compelling and memorable story that will leave a lasting impression on admissions officers.

What Are the 4 Contents of an Outline?

There are four main principles to creating an outline:

• Consistency: Always follow the standard outlining format.
• Unity: Each letter and number in the outline must represent one idea.
• Coherence: Ideas should have a natural flow and ideas connected.
• Emphasis: The materials should be balanced and engaging for the audience.

What Does a Good Outline Look Like?

A good outline can distinguish between a successful essay and one that fails to engage the reader. An outline should be created before you begin writing, including a general overview of the main points you want to cover and more specific subpoints. In addition, an outline can help you to keep your argument focused and on track.

Without an outline, it is easy to wander off-topic or get sidetracked by tangential issues. By contrast, a well-crafted outline will ensure that your essay is organized and flows smoothly from beginning to end.

Why You Need an Outline for Everything You Write

When you sit down to write, whether it’s a school paper or a blog post, you probably don’t start by typing out a complete sentence. More likely, you begin with a vague idea, a few keywords, or even just a blank page. But if you want to produce something coherent and well-organized, it’s important to take some time to create an outline.

I use outlines for all my fiction novels, short stories, and screenplays. And, while it takes some work upfront, it makes the writing process flow smoothly and go faster.

An outline is simply a tool for organizing your thoughts. Listing out the main points you want to cover can help you to see the overall structure of your piece and make sure that all of your ideas fit together logically.

It can also be helpful in identifying any gaps in your reasoning or areas where you need further research. And once you’ve got a good outline, the actual process of writing will be much smoother and quicker.

So next time you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed by a writing project, try starting with an outline. It seems like an extra step, but it will save you time and hassle in the long run.

Types of Essay Outlines: Pick the Perfect Essay Outline

There’s a variety of essays to write. Pick which template and effective essay outline work best for the kind of essay you’re doing.

Informative Essay Outline

Introduction

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Write an introduction that takes into account these ideas:

• Tell the reader what you want to inform them about in two or three sentences.
• Clearly state the topic of the essay.
• Add informative details related to the topic.

Essay Body

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Consider the following when writing the body of your essay:

• Dedicate at least one paragraph to each of the ideas expressed in the essay.
• Mention the topic of each paragraph right at its start.
• Support your ideas with details and concise information.
• Structure your ideas so they flow and make sense.
• Every paragraph should have a transition into the next.
• Include charts, tables, and graphs as needed.

Conclusion

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Your conclusion should contain the following:

• A brief summary of the body.
• A reiteration of the topic discussed.
• A satisfactory ending with key takeaways.

Narrative Essay Outline

Introduction

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Key elements of your introduction:

• A hook that catches the attention of the reader.
• Some background information on the topic to set the tone and mood.
• Introduce the main idea of the essay.
• Give insights about the who, when, and where.
• Say what happened without getting into the details of the story.
• A cliffhanger.

Body

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In the body:

• Structure your information properly.
• Begin with the major point of the topic.
• Continue by adding facts, details, reasons, and evidence.
• Explain and elaborate on the topic further.
• Include your thoughts and feelings.
• Use a lot of descriptive words and action verbs.
• Make the reader feel what you felt.

Conclusion

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In the conclusion:

• Summarize the entire experience.
• End with the one important thing you want your readers to remember.
• Talk about the consequences of what happened.
• Note how this experience changed you.
• Do these past events still have an impact on the present?

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

Introduction

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In the introduction:

• Make a general statement about the topic.
• Introduce what is being compared.

Body

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In the body:

• Structure the main body into ideas comparing different aspects.
• For each idea, introduce the first difference or similarity.
• Use examples to show the difference or similarities.
• Make the comparison clear.
• Reinstate the idea discussed throughout the paragraph.
• Repeat as needed for each of the comparisons in the essay.

Conclusion

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In the conclusion:

• Conclude by talking about the main differences and similarities mentioned throughout the essay.
• If needed, conclude which of the items compared is better.

Argumentative Essay Outline

Introduction

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In the introduction:

• Start with a hook that captivates the reader’s interest.
• Consider using rhetorical questions.
• Present background information that might be relevant to the topic.
• Do not reveal the main arguments you’ll address in the body.
• Make your thesis statement at the end of the intro.

Body

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In the body:

• The first sentence should transition from the intro to the body of the article.
• Introduce the main sub-argument.
• Link the main sub-argument to the thesis statement.
• Offer whatever facts and stats you have to support your claim.
• Link to external resources.
• Summarize the significance of the claim and how it’s related to the thesis.

Conclusion

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In the conclusion:

• Start your conclusion with a reiteration of the thesis statement.
• Be assertive.
• Summarize the sub-arguments briefly.
• Write a memorable concluding statement.

Persuasive Essay Outline

Introduction

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In the introduction:

• Start with a hook that’s relevant to the topic.
• Form the thesis statement to state your position on the topic.
• Pick three arguments that you will use to convince the reader of your position.

Body

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In the body:

• Write a paragraph about the first argument stated in the introduction.
• Support your argument with examples.
• Transition to the second idea and write a paragraph about that.
• Use whatever facts and stats you can.
• Include visual aid to support your claim.
• Do this for all three paragraphs.

Conclusion

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In the conclusion:

• Reiterate your thesis statement and your arguments.
• Connect the closing statement with the opening hook.

Expository Essay Outline

Introduction

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In the introduction:

• Start with a hook.
• Ask rhetorical questions.
• Expose the thesis statement.
• Offer background info on the topic you want to discuss.
• Use a transition sentence at the end of the intro.

Body

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In the body:

• An expository essay doesn’t need arguments, so it’s technically easier for the writer.
• They have three body paragraphs that talk about topic-related issues.
• Each claim needs to be supported with facts and evidence.
• Cite your sources.
• Pay attention to the quality of your sources.

Conclusion

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In the conclusion:

• Add a synopsis of the most important points.
• Restate the main point being made or the thesis statement.
• Include all of the most important information that pertains to your thesis.
• Make connections between the information in the body and the info presented.

Best Tips for Writing an Essay

Follow these simple points when constructing your own essay.

Start With an Outline

One of the best tips for writing an essay is to start with an outline. An outline will help to organize your thoughts and ensure that you include all relevant information in your essay. An outline can also be helpful when revising your essay, as it can help you see where you need to add or delete information.

Make Sure Your Thesis Statement Is Clear

Your thesis statement should be the main point of your essay, so it must be clear and concise. A good thesis statement should be one or two sentences long and directly state your essay’s main point.

Include Supporting Evidence

To make your argument convincing, you will need to include supporting evidence. This evidence can come from statistics, expert opinions, or real-life examples. Including this type of evidence will help to strengthen your argument and make it more persuasive.

Use Transitions Between Paragraphs

When you are writing your essay, it is important to use transitions between paragraphs. Transitions help to create a logical flow between ideas and make your essay easier to read. With transitions, your essay may seem smooth and cohesive.

Choose Your Words Carefully

The words that you use in your essay can make a big difference in how effective it is. When choosing your words, be sure to select those that are precise and convey exactly what you mean. Vague or ambiguous words can make your argument sound weak and unconvincing.

Edit and Proofread Your Essay

Once you have finished writing your essay, editing and proofreading it before submitting it is important. Editing involves ensuring that your grammar and punctuation are correct and that your paper flows well and makes sense. Proofreading involves reading your paper aloud to catch any errors you may have missed when editing.

Final Thoughts

An outline is simply a tool for organizing your thoughts. It can help identify gaps in reasoning or areas where further research is needed. In English, there are different types of essays depending on what information to want to transmit. A college essay outline template can be useful when you’re looking for admission, while a persuasive essay can be helpful in a debate class.