An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph, giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold.

How to Write an Essay Outline

1. Introduction. Here you’ll mention the topic of your essay and its thesis.
2. Body paragraphs. There will be a minimum three paragraphs in your essay’s body, so make sure to include each one in the outline.
3. Conclusion. Wrap up your essay here.

Your outline will include only the main and supporting ideas of your essay. This means that you will want to include your thesis, the topic sentences from your supporting paragraphs, and any details that are important. Let’s explain a few terms. Thesis- The thesis is the idea that you are trying to prove.

An outline involves three parts: 1) introduction, 2) supporting facts, 3) conclusion. Developing your outline is like building a house– without a solid foundation or BIG idea, the walls will cave in. Your introduction needs to be connected to your personal BIG idea that best explains the essay topic.

What is a Good College Essay Outline Template?

1. Introduction. Attention grabber. Foreshadow body main points. Thesis Statement.
2. Body Paragraph #1. Topic Sentence. Evidence.
3. Body Paragraph #2. Topic Sentence. Evidence.
4. Body Paragraph #3. Topic Sentence. Evidence.
5. Conclusion. Restate Thesis Statement. Rehash body points. Close.

Here are 5 places to find great college essay topics your own life experience:

1. Memorable meals. Everyone eats!
2. Outdoor activities. The first time I ever advised a student on their college application essay, I worked with a quiet student, a guy who disappeared into the back of his classes.
3. Challenges.
4. Failure.
5. Commitment.

What should you not write in a college essay?

• Never rehash your academic and extracurricular accomplishments.
• Never write about a “topic”
• Never start with a preamble.
• Never end with a “happily ever after” conclusion.
• Never pontificate.
• Never retreat into your thoughts.
• Never hold back.
• Never give TMI.

If you can truly get your point across well beneath the word limit, it’s probably fine. Brevity is not necessarily a bad thing in writing just so long as you are clear, cogent, and communicate what you want to. However, most college essays have pretty tight word limits anyways.

Usually one to two admissions officers read an essay. Some colleges do not look at essays. Some colleges will choose only to look at your GPA, Course Rigor and SAT/ACT scores. If you GPA and Test Scores are high enough, they may not feel that and essay is necessary.

Every college essay needs a title because it’s a piece of creative writing, but by no means does it have to be something you spend days stressing out about. In most cases, we suggest writing your essay before you lock in a title.

A title isn’t important enough for you to be stressing out over. Write your essay, edit your drafts, revise, and keep going until your essay is complete and you are 100% satisfied. After that you can see how much space you have left and consider adding a title.

The title must bear the theme of the text: choose a title that summarizes the essay. Capitalize all words with certain exceptions: Capitalize the first letter of every word in the title, but do not capitalize pronouns, articles, prepositions, and conjunctions.

Your Name, Professor’s Name, Class Name, and Date should double-spaced on the first page of your paper in the upper left-hand corner, with a 1-inch margin from the top and left sides.

Insert a header or footer on each page (except the title page). It should contain: your name (last name, first name/s)

The only punctuation mark needed for a title would be a question mark at the end—if the title is a question. It is always considered perfectly acceptable to use questions as titles for any piece of writing—a poem, a novel, an essay, a short story, or any other literary piece.