New Trier Research Guide

Topic Outline

• Type the thesis at the top of the outline.
• Follow parallel form (e.g., every entry is a noun or single type of phrase).
• Keep subdivisions equal in importance (e.g., all Roman numerals equal paragraphs; A's, B's, and C's under a Roman numeral are major points within that single paragraph, etc.).
• Divide entries into at least two subdivisions as needed.

• Table of Contents
• Topic Selection
• Exploratory Reading
• Research Question
• Preliminary Thesis
• Working Bibliography
  • Sample Bibliography
• Note-taking
  • Direct Quotation
  • Paraphrase
• Organizing Notes
• Outline
  • Topic Outline
  • Sample Topic (.pdf)
  • Sentence Outline
  • Sample Sentence (.pdf)
  • Good Outline (.pdf)
• First Draft
  • Quote Format (.pdf)
• Revision
  • Manuscript Form
  • Sample Final Draft (.pdf)
• Final Draft Submisstion