Why do some instructors require an outline for every essay?
An outline is a great way to sketch out your ideas before you begin writing the paragraphs of an essay. Think of writing as a carpentry project. First, you want to make sure you have all the materials you will need. If you are building a wooden chair, the materials might be the two short legs for the front, two long legs for the back, the seat, and the slats across the back. The materials for an essay are your ideas; do some form of prewriting – listing, brainstorming, mapping, or freewriting, for example – to collect these. The next step in a carpentry project is to read the directions to find out what should go where. If things are not put together in a logical order, the chair may not stand up. An outline provides the “directions” for your essay. It ensures that your final product will be well constructed.
