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ELA 3: How to Write an Outline 162 Views


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Description:

It's pretty simple right? Lay the thing out flat and trace the edges...oh wait that's how you draw  an outline. Hm. Well, check out this video if you'd like to learn how to write one instead.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:05

[Dino and Coop singing]

00:14

What is an outline, and why is it important? [Dino pointing at the the question on a blackboard]

00:16

We know why it’s important for a crime scene, but…we’re guessing it’s a little different [Police officer stood next to an outline drawing on the floor]

00:20

when it comes to writing…

00:21

An outline is basically a plan for your writing.

00:24

It helps keep your thoughts and ideas organized in a logical order.

00:27

Unlike…most of your waking hours. [Can of Coke is blended in the boys head]

00:30

First, we start with a title.

00:32

What topic are we going to be writing about?

00:34

For example, if we’re going to be writing about “Whales”, that would be our title.

00:37

If you titled it something like The Winds of Loneliness, it might sound more dramatic…

00:42

…but it’s not all that accurate, and won’t give your readers a good idea of what they’re [Guy reading the book in a library]

00:45

getting into.

00:46

After you’ve got your title nailed down, you list out your main ideas. [Coop pointing to 'main ideas' on a blackboard]

00:49

Main ideas are ordered 1, 2, 3, et cetera, with Roman numerals.

00:53

So…I…I-I…I-I-I, and so on.

00:58

Lot o’ “I”s in there.

01:00

Our main ideas might be something like:

01:02

Whale anatomy.

01:03

Whale habitats.

01:04

Whale Life Cycle.” [The main ideas are written next to the numerals]

01:05

Then, under each main idea, we include details, labeled A, B, C, and so on.

01:10

So under Roman numeral 1.

01:12

Whale Anatomy, we might include details like, “A. Blowhole. [The details are written onto the page]

01:15

B. Flippers.

01:16

C. Fluke.”

01:17

If you want to add even more detailed details, they would be included underneath each letter,

01:22

using lowercase letters or numbers.

01:23

Depends how in-depth you want to get on blowholes.

01:26

Just don’t go too deep.

01:27

You may never be able to find your way out. [Guy falls into a whale's blowhole]

01:29

So yeah…an outline helps us keep our ideas organized, assists with the brainstorming

01:33

process, and gives us something to refer back to while writing.

01:35

I-I-I cheers for outlines! [3 guys dressed in robes pop up with 'I' signs]

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