Business English for Success

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Outlines

Chances are you have learned the basic principles of outlining in English writing
courses: an outline is a framework that organizes main ideas and subordinate ideas in a
hierarchical series of roman numerals and alphabetical letters. The right column of
Table 11.2 "Outline 1" presents a generic outline in a classical style. In the left column,
the three main structural elements of an informative document are tied to the outline.
Your task is to fill in the right column outline with the actual ideas and points you are
making in your writing project. Feel free to adapt and tailor it to your needs, depending
on the specifics of your report, letter, or other document.

Table 11.2 Outline 1

Introduction Main Idea

Body

I. Main idea:

Point 1

Subpoint 1

A.1 specific

information 1

A.2 specific

information 2

Body

II. Main idea:

Point 2

Subpoint 1

B.1 specific

information 1

B.2 specific

information 2

III. Main idea:

Point 3

Subpoint 1

C.1 specific

information 1

C.2 specific
information 2
Conclusion Summary: Main
points 1– 3