Warm-Up Activity

• Read the words and phrases below.

Decide which two name the general
categories, or main topics.
• Next, find the words and phrases
that name the subtopics that go
under each of the main topics.
• Finally, decide which words and
phrases could be sub-subtopics of the
subtopics listed.
• foods • animals
• Birds • corn on the cob
• robin • hamburger
• meats • insects
• Hawk • mosquito
• vegetables • broccoli
• pork chops • beetle
Organizing Notes
into an Outline
Two types of Outline
• Sentence outline – which consists
of complete sentences that
would expound the ideas that are
presented in the written output
• Topic outline – which presents
keywords or phrases.
 Basic Rules in Organizing a topic
outline and sentence outline
1. Use Roman numerals, capital letters
and Arabic numerals to indicate
main headings and subheadings
2. Use words or phrases. Do not say:
How I take care of my orchid plants;
say, taking care of my orchid plants
3. Place a period after each number
and letter; heading and subheading.
4. Do not place a period after each
letter or number in parentheses.
5. Place a period after each item when
it is a complete sentence.
6. Capitalize the first word of each
point
7. Use the same grammatical
constructions throughout an outline
8. Do not mix sentences and topics in
the same outline.
3 styles of outlining
1.The Roman numeral
outlines
2.Dewey Decimal outlines
3.Alphanumeric outlines
I. Introduction:
• (this portion is very important because it
catches the interest of the reader).
A.Catch Attention. Options are:
1. Questions/anecdotes
2. Lines from movie/song/poem etc.
B. State the thesis or reason for
writing this or the importance of
your essay.
II. Body
A.Build points (idea 1)
1. Develop ideas
2. Support main claims
B. Build points (idea 2)
1. Develop ideas
2. Support main claim
III. Conclusion
A. (option 1) Reemphasize main idea
B. (option 2) Answer the question in
introduction
C. (option 3) Connect with the
story/anecdote in the introduction.
D. (option 4) Continue line of song/
poem/ movie etc.
 Activity
• Work with a pair and choose one topic
among the choices below. Construct a
topic and sentence outline.
• TOPICS
1. Poverty
2. Corruption
3. Study habits
4. Computer games
5. Social networking