How to Write a High School Essay

You’ve been assigned an essay—simple enough, right? Except sometimes, it can feel like your brain is on information overload, making it difficult to organize your thoughts coherently. So, how do you transfer your knowledge and research into an essay that addresses the prompt, all in a timely manner? This is where outlining comes in.

An outline serves as a roadmap, guiding you through the writing process and ensuring that your ideas flow in a logical order. To help you get started, we spoke with the experts at Stride Tutoring to get a rundown on all things outlining, including why it’s important, step-by-step guidance, tips, and examples. Let’s begin!

Why Outlining Matters

It provides clear organization and structure: An outline helps you logically organize all your research and knowledge. You can rearrange the order, determine where information fits best, connect ideas, and plan transitions.

It helps you generate and gather your ideas: Outlining allows you to brainstorm what type of information you’d like to discuss before diving into your writing.

It saves time and improves efficiency: Creating an outline allows you to plan your essay in advance by determining what kind of research you need and identifying any gaps in your content. Knowing this in advance will help you to conduct research efficiently, saving time in the process.

Steps to Create an Outline

Understand the assignment: Read the essay prompt and assignment guidelines. Identify the topic, purpose, and any specific requirements.

Brainstorm and gather ideas: Jot down your ideas, arguments, or key points related to the topic. If needed, do some research to gather supporting evidence and examples.

Organize ideas into main points and subpoints: Identify the main points and subpoints that will form the overall structure of your essay and then group together related ideas within these categories.

Tips for Effective Outline

Use concise and clear phrases or keywords: Outlines should be brief and focused. Use concise phrases or keywords that capture the main ideas of your points and subpoints.

Consider the target audience and purpose of the writing: Who is your audience and what are their expectations when reading your essay? Is your intent to inform, persuade, or entertain? Answering these questions will guide you in determining the appropriate voice for your writing.

Be flexible—outlines can change as you write: Keep in mind that an outline should serve as a flexible tool and may change as you get farther into the writing process. Don’t be afraid to make changes.

Outline Examples for Different Types of Essays

To help you better understand the various types of outlines, Stride Tutoring has provided these examples that you can use as a foundation for your essay.

Narrative Essay Outline
- Introduction
- Background and Setting
- Characters and Descriptions
- Plot and Conflict
- Climax and Resolutions

Persuasive Essay Outline
- Introduction
- Thesis Statement
- Supporting Argument 1
  - Evidence
  - Explanation
- Supporting Argument 2
  - Evidence
  - Explanation
- Counterargument and Rebuttal
- Conclusion

Expository Essay Outline
- Introduction
- Definition or Background Information
- Main Point 1
  - Supporting Evidence
- Main Point 2
  - Supporting Evidence
- Main Point 3
  - Supporting Evidence
- Conclusion

Outlining isn’t just beneficial in high school; it’s a valuable technique for college and your future career, too! Whether you’re crafting an essay, a story, an email, or a presentation, creating an outline helps you organize your thoughts in a clear and logical manner. Use these tips and examples to enhance your outlining skills for your next essay, and if you need extra support, reach out to an expert at Stride Tutoring for feedback on your writing.

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