Outlining Strategies by Walden University

Outlining 

1. Definition: Listing each paragraph’s topic sentence
2. Advantages:
   1. Ensure that each paragraph is serving a specific purpose – paper’s central argument
   2. Find opportunities to combine or eliminate potential paragraphs
   3. Identify paper’s strengths and weaknesses to guide in revision
3. Parts
   1. Introduction – provides context to readers to prepare them for the paper’s argument or purpose
      1. Discussion of specific topic (not a broad background overview) - begin
      2. Central argument – end
   2. Background
      1. Purpose: justify your own project or paper by pointing out a gap in the current research which your work will address
      2. Optional inclusion: literature review
         1. Surveying the current state of knowledge on your topic; or
         2. Historical overview of relevant information
   3. Major and Minor Points – building until there is enough evidence and analysis to justify the conclusion
      1. Major points – building blocks (towards the conclusion)
      2. Minor points
         1. Subtopics within the major points
         2. Develop the nuances of major points but may not be significant enough to warrant extended attention on their own
         3. Optional forms:
            1. Statistics (from sources)
            2. Supporting ideas
   4. Conclusion
      9. Restates major claim / thesis statement and end by tying that into larger discussions such as:
         1. Current research in your field
         2. Next steps for other researchers
         3. Broader studies
         4. Other future implications

 Tips:

• Reserve a full page for your introduction and conclusion combined
• A standard 5- to 7-page paper has three to four main points

English 101: Outline of American English Grammar

I. Parts of Speech - function in a sentence
A. Main Parts
1. Nouns
a. definition: words that indicate/identify/name people, places, or things
b. functions:
i. subject of a:
1.) clause
2.) sentence
ii. object ([1.] direct or [2.] indirect) of a verb
iii. object of a preposition
iv. predicate nouns - follow linking verbs to rename or re-identify the subject of a clause or sentence.
2. Pronouns
a. definition: words that represent nouns
b. function (same as nouns)
3. Verbs
a. definition: words that describe the -
i. actions
ii. states of being of nouns
b. function (necessary at least 1 in a sentence): root of a predicate to form a sentence
4. Adjectives
a. definition: words that modify (add description to):
1.) nouns; and
2.) pronouns (occasionally)
b. function: subject or predicate
5. Adverbs
a. words that modify:
1.) verbs,
2.) adjectives,
3.) other adverbs, or even
4.) entire clauses
b. function: predicate - depending on what they modify (and how), adverbs can appear
anywhere in the sentence
c. Common form: adjectives + "ly"
6. Prepositions
a. definition:  words that express a relationship between a 1.) noun or pronoun (object of the preposition) and 2.) another part of the sentence
b. function of prepositional phrases:
i. adjectives; or
ii. adverbs
7. Conjunctions
a. Definition: words that connect other words, phrases, or clauses,
expressing a specific kind of relationship between the two (or more) elements
B. Others
1. Particles - similar in appearance to preposition but different function
2. Determiners - similar to adjectives a. quantifier
3. Gerunds

II. Inflection
A. Conjugation - inflection of:
1. Verbs (i.e. tenses)
B. Declension - inflection of:
1. Nouns (i.e. plurality)
2. Pronouns
3. Adjectives
4. Adverbs

III. Syntax - rules and patters that govern how to structure sentences
A. Words and phrases
1. Basic
a. Subjects; and
b. Predicates
2. Complex
a. Modifiers ([i.] direct: articles, adjectives or prepositional phrases and [ii.] indirect)
b. Phrases
c. Clauses
B. Sentence

Sourced from: The Farflex Grammar Book 1

Knowing When to Use "Who" or "Whom" in a Sentence

Have you ever stopped and think if you should use "Who" or is it "Whom" in a sentence?  I have to admit, I use to ask myself that often.  But I found a simple test to know which one should be use.  Just replace:

• Who = He/She
• Whom = Him/Her

Let's apply the test in examples:

1. Who loves orange soda?  (He or she loves orange soda?)
2. Whom shall it be? (Should it be him or her?)

See?  With the test, it becomes easy to determine. Now, we can always abide by the grammar rules and avoid this common grammatical error.

Knowing When to Use "Me" or "I" in a Sentence

I used to be confused when to use "Me" or "I" in a sentence.  But there's actually a simple test to know which is more adequate to use.  All you have to do is to replace:

• You and "I" = We
• You and "Me" = Us

So let's try some examples:

1. You and I are going to be rich!  (We are going to be rich!) 
2. It's you and me against the world. (It's us against the world)

Simple right?  Keep this grammar rule in mind and you'll avoid this common grammatical error.