Making an Outline

An outline is a plan you make before writing a text. The purpose of an outline
is to help you organize your ideas and visualize the relations among them.
An outline can include only key words and not many details. This type of outline
is called Macro-outline. For example:
My identity (Janeth)
I.

Introduction: what identity means to me

A. Who I am
B. Where I am from
C. The languages I speak
D. Who I want to become

II.

Who I am
A. Personally
B. Academically and professionally

III.

Where I am from and my identity

A. My country
B. My city
C. Myself

IV.

V.

VI.

The languages I speak and what they mean to me

A. My mother tongue
B. Other languages
1.
English
2.
French
My dreams and fears
A. Personally
B. Professionally
Conclusion: what makes part of my identity

To create your own outline, follow these steps:

1. Identify your topic. Do not simply copy and paste the words from the prompt; put the topic in
your own words to show your individual understanding. Try to stick with a single sentence or
phrase, as this will help make sure you stay on topic.
2. Figure out your main points. What are the main ideas you want to convey or need to convince
your audience? These points usually answer the questions "why or how is the main topic important
and right?" Together with your topic, these points should help you arrive at a working thesis.
3. Arrange your main points in a logical order and list them in the outline. This order can of course
be changed later as you evaluate your outline.
Written Communication. School of Languages. University of Antioquia. Instructor:
Janeth Ortiz, M.A.

4. Create sub-points beneath each major idea. By convention, each time you have a new number
or letter, there need to be at least two points (i.e. if you have an A, you need a B; if you have a 1,
you need a 2; etc.). Though perhaps frustrating at first, it is indeed useful because it forces you to
think hard about each point; if you cant create two points, then reconsider including the first in your
paper, as it may be extraneous information that may detract from your argument.
5. Evaluate your outline. Look over what you have written. Does it make logical sense? Is each
point suitably fleshed out? Is there anything unnecessary?
Note that the standard order of an outline is:
I. Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV, V, etc.)
A. Capital letters (A, B, C, etc.)
1. Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.)
a. Small letters (a, b, c, etc.)
i. Small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.)

Taken and dapted from: http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/outline.html

An outline can also include the main and supporting ideas in your text. This
kind of outline is calle micro-outline. See this example and then read the
complete article.
My Language, My Identity
I.
II.
III.

IV.

Introduction:
A. A language is part of your identity
B. Japanese became part of me
Japanese changed me
A. How the process happened
B. It is hard to explain
What has been difficult and what has been a joy
A. The challenges
1.
My family discouraged me at the beginning
2.
Now it is difficult to share my passion
B. The rewards
1.
I have discovered a new world
2.
Learning Japanese is a joy
3.
I enjoy communicating with people from a totally
different world
Conclusion
A. The advantages and disadvantages of learning Japanese
B. What learning a new language means to me
C. Learning Japanese has made me who I am

Written Communication. School of Languages. University of Antioquia. Instructor:

Janeth Ortiz, M.A.

Written Communication. School of Languages. University of Antioquia. Instructor:

Janeth Ortiz, M.A.

My Language, My Identity
Andy Pandy / December 17, 2015

They say that when you learn a language, that language becomes a
part of your identity. That to speak another language is to know another
world, another perspective. That world inevitably becomes part of you.
And so, after 8 years of studying Japanese, communicating with penpals and pouring over books, websites and pictures late into the
evenings, the language limited though my skill may be has become
very much a part of who I am.

Learning Japanese changed me. That probably sounds strange, but it did. From the time that I began aged 15, studying by
myself over the internet trying to get my head around how to simply say konnichi wa up until luckily getting to learn in
school thanks to a kind headmaster and having my head blown by the Japanese teacher; and up until successfully
completing GCSE and A Level Japanese (and up to now as I write this in the university library listening to Japanese music)
the language has played an important part in my life. I feel Ive come a long way from my 7 year old self that thought Egypt
was just across the English Channel. It is a difficult thing to explain I think even my wife thinks Im mad but it is very much
part of who I am.

It was difficult when I was discouraged right from the start by even by family who thought I was mad and thought it wouldnt
last (sometimes youve just got to prove people wrong). It is difficult now, not being able to share my passion and enjoyment
for the language with people like my wife. It is difficult holding back a part of myself. But it was a joy from the start discovering
a new world. It was a joy to learn, and to discover a little more of myself. And it is a joy now to be able to write or speak to
people not all too different to me, in a completely different part of the world in a completely different language and be able to
understand and be understood!

After learning Japanese for what I suppose is really a short time, I can still say that I feel as though another world has
opened up to me. Its been quite an effort along the way to go such a short distance. Even if many cant always relate to me
and if Im to remain torn between two nations and minds, I would never take back the decision I made to apply myself to
learning Japanese. Maybe it will always be one of those things that are both a gift and a curse. Maybe Ill never get the
opportunity to go to Japan and satisfy that strange longing, but that doesnt mean Ill give up. Language is what I love. It is
part of who we are and something to value, respect, and have fun with!

Its been 8 years since I started learning Japanese.

And those 8 years have made me who I am.

Written Communication. School of Languages. University of Antioquia. Instructor:

Janeth Ortiz, M.A.

Taken and adapted from: https://mygenerationjapan.wordpress.com/2015/12/17/my-language-my-identity/

Written Communication. School of Languages. University of Antioquia. Instructor:

Janeth Ortiz, M.A.

Written Communication. School of Languages. University of Antioquia. Instructor:

Janeth Ortiz, M.A.