3 Common Outline Templates for Organizing Your Ideas

Whether you're writing an article, an essay, or preparing a presentation, having a clear outline can significantly improve the flow and structure of your work. Here are three common sample outline templates that can help you organize your thoughts effectively.

Outline 1: Classic Outline Structure

Title: Your Title Goes Here

1. Write Introduction Heading Here
   1. Choose subheading (if needed)
   2. Choose subheading (if needed)
2. Write Body Heading Here
   1. Write subheading
      1. Include Level 3 subheading (if needed)
      2. Include Level 3 subheading (if needed)
   2. Write subheading
      1. Include Level 3 subheading (if needed)
      2. Include Level 3 subheading (if needed)
   3. Write subheading
      1. Include Level 3 subheading (if needed)
      2. Include Level 3 subheading (if needed)
3. Write Conclusion Heading Here
   1. Choose subheading (if needed)
   2. Choose subheading (if needed)

Outline 2: Numbered Outline Format

This numbered format is ideal for documents that require a structured approach with clear divisions between sections. It's particularly useful for reports, project planning, or any kind of hierarchical presentation.

Title: Your Title Goes Here

1. Write Introduction Heading Here
   1. Choose subheading (if needed)
   2. Choose subheading (if needed)
2. Write Body Heading Here
   1. Write subheading
      1. Include Level 3 subheading (if needed)
      2. Include Level 3 subheading (if needed)
   2. Write subheading
      1. Include Level 3 subheading (if needed)
      2. Include Level 3 subheading (if needed)
   3. Write subheading
      1. Include Level 3 subheading (if needed)
      2. Include Level 3 subheading (if needed)
3. Write Conclusion Heading Here
   1. Choose subheading (if needed)
   2. Choose subheading (if needed)

Outline 3: Full Sentence Outline Format

The full sentence outline format is most commonly used for more formal or academic writing. It requires each section to be a complete sentence, helping writers fully conceptualize their points before they start drafting.

Title: Your Title Goes Here

1. Introductory sentence
   1. Full sentence outline should be in sentence format
   2. It means each section of the outline is a complete sentence
2. Full sentence outline should be organized the following way
   1. You need to write only one sentence per line
      1. You need to make sure you use complete sentences
      2. You may write topic sentences from your paper here
   2. We will try to list the reason why you may be asked to prepare a full sentence outline
      1. It allows you to see how your essay would look like
      2. It helps you organize your ideas
      3. It presents your material in a logical form
3. Concluding sentence
   1. This type of outline is often used when preparing an essay or a speech
   2. Full sentence outline may be a separate type of assignment like research paper or report.

Using one of these three outline templates will streamline your writing process and keep your content organized. The Classic Outline Structure offers flexibility, the Numbered Outline Format gives a methodical approach, and the Full Sentence Outline provides detailed planning. Choose the template that best fits your project and start organizing your ideas efficiently.