Learning Competency: Distinguishes between and among techniques in selecting and organizing information

a. Brainstorming list
b. Graphic organizer
c. Topic outline
d. Sentence outline

Organizing Information Through Graphic Organizers*

Objective
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to organize ideas in a reading text using an outline. You will also be able to
create a topic outline as a draft before writing a piece of work.

When given a writing task, such as an analysis or review of a book you just read, how do you organize your ideas?

Learn about it!

What makes an essay or article easy to read? When ideas flow smoothly from one paragraph to another,
understanding is easier to achieve. All ideas, therefore, must be organized properly. One of the common ways to do
this is through an outline.

What Is an Outline?

An outline is the skeleton of any written text. It serves as a guide in organizing your ideas. Usually, it is done before you
write your piece. It is a tool for reading, too. You can outline the ideas of a piece of work to better understand it.

The two basic types of outline are the topic outline and the sentence outline. A topic outline uses words and phrases
to list ideas, while a sentence outline uses complete sentences to define the subject matter.

In this lesson, you will learn more about the topic outline.

How to Write a Topic Outline

A topic outline is divided into three levels: the headings, the subheadings, and the sub-subheadings.

In choosing the headings of your outline, look for the main ideas in the passage or text. Roman numerals (e.g., I, II, III…)
are used to identify the headings. For subheadings, get the supporting ideas that further explain the main ideas. Use
capital letters (e.g., A, B, C…) to present the subheadings. Sub-subheadings are the specific details or concrete
examples of the supporting ideas. Arabic numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3…) are used for sub-subheadings. However, sub-
subheadings are only given when necessary.

In writing a topic outline, use short words or key phrases only. Also, do not forget to indent the subheadings and
the sub-subheadings.

Example:
Below is the basic format of a topic outline:

Chocolate Hills

I. General Description

A. Total number (count)

B. Color
1. Brown in sunny days
2. Leaf green in rainy days
C. Height
II. Origin Stories

A. Two giants hurling rocks

B. Love story of Arogo and Aloya
Explanation:
Based on the example, the author does the following:

 Identifies two main ideas about a topic

 Writes two or three supporting ideas after each main idea

 Gives two specific details under one supporting idea

Tips
Remember the following points about topic outline:

 Use short words and phrases only in writing.

 Do not forget to indent the subheadings and sub-subheadings. (See the given example.)

Summary
Like a map, an outline shows you where each idea is placed, how all of them fit together, and how each leads to the
central idea in a passage or text. Using an outline makes reading or writing easier.

A topic outline makes use of words and phrases from passages or texts to identify main ideas, supporting ideas, and
specific details or examples.

Keypoints
In this lesson, you have learned the following concepts:

 An outline is a summary that gives the essential features of a text.

 A topic outline is a tool that makes comprehension and writing of ideas easy.
 In writing a topic outline, make sure to use short words and phrases.