OUTLINE OF A

COMPOSITION
Part I – An Overview

By Jimena Rivadeneira, MTEFL.

 An outline is a guide that gives a visual structure of your work.
TITLE
(Should be relevant to the question and responding the question, interesting, attractive, short)
I. MAIN IDEA
(Topic sentence)
II. BODY
(Supporting your main idea)
REASON 1
(2 or 3 details and examples)
REASON 2
(2 or 3 details and examples)
REASON 3
(2 or 3 details and examples)

III. CONCLUSION:
(Summarise and reinforce your main idea)
 What is the process of writing an outline?
1. Selecting the topic
1.1 Make sure you understand the question.
2. Planning and organizing
2.1 Brainstorm ideas about the topic.
2.2 Select the ideas you want to use and omit those which are nor relevant.
2.3 Organize the ideas into 3 main groups (reasons).
2.4 Write ideas for each reason (details and examples).
3. Writing the first draft
3.1 Write a title for your work
3.2 Work on main idea, supporting ideas.
3.3 Write a conclusion.
4. Revising
4.1 Once finished, read your draft again and consider any corrections.
5. Proofreading and editing
5.1 Receive feedback from your teacher.
Taken from Blas, L., Gordon, D. (2010). Writers at Work, (p.18).
6. Writing the final draft
 TITLE
A Dining Disaster
I. MAIN IDEA
Going back to Rosco’s Steak House seems to be a nightmare for my palate!
II. BODY
REASON 1: First of all, the service is terrible.
The waiter was rude.
There were not enough waiters too.
And even worse, they charge extra money to use the bathroom.
REASON 2: Another reason I’ll never go back is that the atmosphere is unpleasant.
The place looked dirty.
Moreover, there were not enough tables to sit.
And, the music was too loud.
REASON 3: What convinced me more than anything else, though, was the food.
They didn´t have my favourite dessert.
Also, the food was too spicy.
But, the most awful event was that there was a fly in my soup.

III. CONCLUSION
To sum up, I don’t understand how a place like Rosco’s can stay in business.
 MARKING CRITERIA
WRITING RUBRIC ENG.3: BRAINSTORMING AND 3-PARAGRAPH
COMPOSITION OUTLINE
Organization & Development  Word choice / Grammar use  Mechanics / Length  
Exemplary organization and development  Exemplary Word Choice / Grammar usage  Exemplary Mechanics 
 Clearly stated title   (VOC) precise and relevant word choice   May have minor errors 
 Brainstorming min.15 ideas   (VOC) use of connectors and transition words   o Indent  
 Clearly stated topic sentence (1)   Consistent grammar usage  o Punctuation  
 Strong supporting ideas (3) and concluding o Subject/verb agreement  o Capitalization  
sentence (1)  o Singular/plural nouns  o Spelling 
 Third supporting idea or reason is the most o Verb (tense and usage)  o Spacing   
important  o Pronouns usage   Needs little or no editing 
 Well executed progression of clear ideas  o Adjective / Adverb   150-180 words  
Excellent (4.00)    Excellent (4.00)    Excellent (2.00)   
Very Good (3.00)  Grade:  Very Good (3.00)  Grade:  Very Good (1.50)  Grade: 
Fair (2.00)    Fair (2.00)    Fair (1.00)   
Needs improvement (1.0)  Needs improvement (1.00)  Needs improvement (0.50) 
Non-Existent (0)  Non-Existent (0)  Non-Existent (0)