Continuing with the theme that organization is the foundation to creating a well-developed finished product, it is now time to organize all your notes and information into an outline.

• Begin with your thesis statement.
• Next decide what are your key ideas.
• Use these main points as headings and the supporting points become subheadings.
• All of the information you’ve gathered should fit logically somewhere in your outline.
• If something doesn’t fit, examine it closely. Should you eliminate it or adapt your thesis statement to incorporate it?
• Be prepared to do more research. Are there gaps in your outline? Do you need to go back to your sources for more information?

Outlines can be very formal lists or they can be more graphically diagrammed. Use the form with which you are most comfortable!

More on Developing an Outline (from Purdue University Online Writing Lab)