Briefly reading chapter 10 of Badke I see some good examples and approaches to coming up with an outline for my research paper. As he mentioned throughout the readings about research paper, the first and foremost important approach is to have a good research paper question. Having found a good research topic and question I still had some issues writing an outline as i kept adding much more than was necessary. I have to summarize and narrow what I write and keep reminding myself to elaborate on this or that but in the actual paper rather than give too much information and material in the outline. The draft is the next step and hopefully its easier since in the draft I can write the paper in its entirety.
Outlines are the skeleton of the paper; they create foundation for the main ideas that you wish to evoke in your research paper. Remember that outlines should not obtain too much information it simply reminds you of what comes next in your essay. As you find yourself writing your draft and even the final version of your paper you will find yourself placing the ‘meat’ on the essay. It is to say that you will have plenty of opportunity to present all the information you have researched in a condensed format. Once haven finished your draft you will find room for improvement, whether it is eliminating extra information or providing more feedback on your commentaries.
I too had several issues creating my outline. I found myself which several ideas and not sure of how to group them into categories and subcategories. Once my outline was completed and I started writing my draft I found it at times difficult to adhere to the outline that I had originally created. It didn’t take me long to realize that i was trying too strictly to stick to the outline rather than letting the paper flow my naturally. Once I let go of the outline, I found it easier to write. I guess I still really haven’t learned how to construct a proper outline, they’ve always seemed easier for me to write once my paper was already completed, though i guess that defeats the purpose of the outline.