How to Convert an Outline to a Paper


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First, fix the problems in your outline before you begin the writing process. You should actually create a new-and-improved version of your outline by editing it on your computer, carefully following the teacher's suggestions.

Helpful Tip: as you address the teacher's suggestions scribbled on your outline, cross them out (lightly), so that you know you have taken care of them.

Often it is necessary to do additional research before you begin writing.

Helpful Tip: I suggest that you take care of this research as soon as you get your outline back; you don't want to find yourself stuck at home over the weekend without sufficient source materials. Give yourself plenty of time for doing this research: it often takes longer than you can anticipate to track down small points requested by the teacher. Make sure to create a bibliographical card for any new source used during this time.

Print out the newly-corrected outline, so that you have it before you when you begin to write. If your outline contains all of your research and citations, you will need nothing else when you sit down to write the paper. However, if the substance of your research remains in your notecards, organize them in the appropriate order. It is good to have a copy of our style guide, Writers Inc., on hand.

Be acutely aware of avoiding plagiarism during this writing process. Remember that if you paraphrase a source, you need to substantially change the language into your own.

Now for some tips about the form of your paper...

Remember that form is as important as content. Thus, each paragraph should be a beautifully constructed gem with a clear topic sentence which (1) offers the reader the controlling idea of the paragraph and (2) supports the development of your thesis statement. You are creating a tight argument that flows from the thesis, paragraph by paragraph. Each paragraph should have a link back to the thesis.

You should also create such "flow" from sentence to sentence within each paragraph. Thus, think hard about TRANSITIONAL WORDS AND PHRASES as you write.

Helpful Tip: Writers Inc has a great list of transitions in Section 115, which you should have next to you as you write great transitions like however, for instance, along with, equally important, besides, truly, in fact, indeed, that is. The adept use of transitions really makes a difference in your writing.

If you include a quotation, make sure that it is followed by a parenthetical citation and that you follow good practices of quotation integration.

You should italicize all foreign words that aren't proper nouns.

Format of Final Paper: All margins should be 1". The paper should be double-spaced, well-titled at the top, and well-proofread. Remember to number the pages at the bottom.

Order of components: paper, appendices, annotated works cited.

About These Guidelines:

These guidelines were originally created as handouts by
Nancy Feidelman for her History 9 class.
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