Writing is like building. Before beginning to build a house, the workers usually have a plan before them and have prepared enough material before he writes the first sentence of his composition. After we have written a topic sentence or a thesis

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Writing is like building. Before beginning to
build a house, the workers usually have a plan
before them and have prepared enough material
before he writes the first sentence of his
composition. After we have written a topic
sentence or a thesis statement, we should look at
the list of facts again, eliminate those
unnecessary or unimportant ones, rearrange them
in a logical order, and write an outline. Now
lets look at the example on page 145.
Organize the composition
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Suppose the topic assigned is The School
Library.

• A large number of useful books
• All kinds of dictionaries and reference books
• The reading-rooms spacious and quiet
• Newspapers and magazine
• The librarians patient and helpful
• Closed on Sundays and holidays
• A little crowded in the evening
• Students leave books on chairs to reserve seats
• Very few newspapers from abroad
• Students are not allowed to take schoolbags into
  the First Reading-Room
• Seniors would not be able to write their
  graduation papers without using the library
• Teachers go to the library frequently

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Among the possible theses are

• 1) The library is a nice place to work in.
• 2) The library plays a very important part in a
  students life.
• 3) The work of the library needs improvement.

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Once the thesis is formulated, certain facts on
the list will become more important than others,
while a few may seem irrelevant. After those
suitable items are picked out, an outline like
the following one may be prepared
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Topic The School Library

• Thesis The Library plays a very important part
  in a students life.
• Outline
• I. A student has to borrow books from the
  library.
• A. He needs reference books for his elective
  courses.
• B. He may want to read novels, stories and plays.
• II. He read newspaper and magazines in the
  library.
• A. Many new magazines are on display in the First
  Reading-Room.
• B. There are newspapers from all provinces.
• C. Back numbers may be borrowed at the counter.
• III. He needs the library all the more in his
  junior and senior years.
• A. The library provides him with books for his
  research.
• B. He would not be able to write his graduation
  paper without using the library.

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A. Types of outlines

• Thesis (controlling idea)
• I. Introduction
• II. Main idea
• A. Sub-idea
• B. Sub-idea
• 1. Supporting detail
• 2. Supporting detail
• a. Fact 1
• b. Fact 2
• III. Main idea
• A. Sub-idea
• B. Sub-idea
• 1. Supporting detail
• 2. Supporting detail
• 3. Supporting detail
• C. Sub-idea
• IV. Conclusion

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There are two commonly used types of outlines

• The topic outline and the sentence outline.
• 1) A topic outline
• A topic outline is brief and clear, and it gives
  an instant overview of the entire paper.
• All entries in a topic outline consist of nouns
  and their modifiers, or their equivalents, that
  is, gerund phraes or infinitive phrases.

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A Topic Outline

• Thesis Foreign trade is beneficial to and
  indispensable for all nations.
• I. Introduction the foundation of foreign trade
• II. The necessity of visible trade
• A. Lack of certain commodities
• B. Insufficiency of particular items
• C. Comparative advantage in certain items
• D. Latest innovations and different styles of
  commodities
• E. The importance of a favorable balance of trade

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• III. The necessity of invisible tradeexchange of
  services between nations
• A. Transportation
• B. Insurance
• C. Tourism
• D. Technology
• IV. Conclusion the purpose of foreign trade and
  the importance of the balance of payments

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2) A sentence outline

• A sentence outline is provides a more detailed
  plan of the paper. The advantage of a sentence
  outline is that you can use them directly. The
  disadvantage is if you use them, the sentence
  structures are the same and will be boring.

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A sentence outline

• Thesis Foreign trade is beneficial to and
  indispensable for all nations.
• I. Introduction the utilization of different
  economic resources and the development of
  different skills form the foundation of foreign
  trade.
• II. Trade in commodities (visible trade) is
  necessary between nations.
• A. No nation has all the commodities it needs.
• B. A nation may not have enough of certain
  commodities.
• C. A nation may sell certain commodities at a
  profit.
• D. Latest innovations and different styles of
  commodities may make foreign trade necessary.
• E. All nations strive to maintain a favorable
  balance of trade so as to be assured of the means
  to buy necessary goods.

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• III. Exchange of services between nations
  (invisible trade) is part of foreign trade.
• A. Nations vie in providing transportation for
  foreign trade.
• B. Prudent exporters purchase insurance for their
  cargoes.
• C. Tourism brings a nation huge profits.
• D. Technology is also exported and imported.
• IV. Conclusion the purpose of foreign trade is
  to earn money for necessary imports and it is
  important to keep the balance of payments.

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3) Rules for writing outlines

• (1) Avoid single subdivisions.
• If there is a major point marked I, there must
  be at least another marked II if there is an
  A, there must be a B, and so on.
• (2) Avoid mixing types.
• A topic outline is written in noun phrases, and a
  sentence outline in sentences. Do not mix these
  two types.
• (3) Use parallel structures for the headings of
  the same rank.
• Make sure subheads of the same rank are of equal
  importance and are related to the heading and
  arranged in logical order.
• (4) Use specific evidence that supports the topic
  sentence
• (5) Make sure the thesis is a complete
  declarative sentence in the affirmative do not
  use a question, a phrase or a dependent clause.

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Everyday Cheating

• Cheating is common in everyday life. For one
  thing, cheating at school is common. Many
  students will borrow a friends homework and copy
  it in their own handwriting. During a test,
  students will use a tiny sheet of answers stored
  in their pockets or sit near a friend to copy
  answers. People also cheat on the job. They take
  home office supplies such as tape, paper, or
  pens. Some people who are not closely supervised
  or who are out on the road may cheat an employer
  by taking dozens of breaks or using work time for
  personal chores. Finally, many people cheat when
  they deal with large businesses. For instance,
  few customers will report an incorrect bill in
  their favor. Visitors in a hotel may take home
  towels, and restaurant patrons may take home
  silverware. For many people, daily cheating is an
  acceptable way to behave.

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Topic sentence Cheating is
common in everyday life

• I. At school
• a. Copying homework
• b. Cheating on tests
• II. At work
• a. Stealing office supplies
• b. Taking breaks and doing errands on company
  time
• III. With large businesses
• a. Not reporting error on bill
• b. Stealing towels and silverware
• IV. Conclusion daily cheating acceptable for
  many people

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Good-Bye Tony

• I have decided not to go out with Tony anymore.
  He said that he would be at my house by 830, but
  he did not arrive until 920. Then he told me
  that it was too late to go to the new Woody Allen
  movie I wanted to see and that we would go to a
  horror classic, The Night of the Living Dead,
  instead. I told him that I didnt like gruesome
  movies, but he said that I could shut my eyes
  during the gory parts. After the movie, rather
  than suggesting a hamburger or a drink, he drove
  right out to a back road near Oakcrest High
  School and started necking with me. What Tony did
  a half hour later angered me most of all. He cut
  his finger on a pin I was wearing and said we had
  to go right home. He was afraid the scratch would
  get infected if he did not put a Band-Aid on it.
  When he dropped me off, I sad Good-bye, Tony,
  in a friendly enough way, but in my head I
  though, Good-bye forever, Tony.

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A sentence outline

• Topic sentence Ive decided not to go out with
  Tony anymore.
• I. Tony arrived late for our date
• II. Tony took me to a chiller movie
• III. Tony didnt take me for a snack afterward
• IV. Tony stopped necking because of a scratch
• V. Conclusion I said in my mind Good-bye
  forever, Tony.

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Exercises

• Write an outline for each of the following
  topics.
• 1. education 2. computers

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Education

• Thesis Compared with the traditional education,
  the quality education is very different.
• I. Traditional education
• A. Paying much attention to the marks
• B. Reading only for exams
• II. Quality education
• A. Developing all-around
• B. Improving ability and practice
• III. Conclusion Advocating the quality education

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3. Computers

• Thesis the importance of computers play an
  important part in our life.
• I. Introduction the foundation and development
  of computers
• II. The advantages of computers
• A. At work
• 1. Looking up the information
• 2. Making work efficient
• B. Education
• 1. Preparing for the lessons
• 2. Managing the studies

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• C. In daily life
• 1. Sending emails
• 2. Giving more news around the world
• 3. Communicating with different people on the
  internet
• III. The disadvantages of computers
• A. Doing Bad harm for our health
• 1. Eyes
• 2. Body disease

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• B. Distracting the youths from their studies
• 1. Playing games
• 2. Chatting
• C. Making people rely on computers
• IV. Conclusion Making good use of computers