Citations
Research paper outline: template and example
A research paper outline is a plan that lists your thesis, the main point of each section, and the evidence and sources for each point, in the order you will write them. Most outlines use Roman numerals for sections, capital letters for main points and numbers for supporting details.
An outline is the bridge between a pile of research notes and a first draft. It makes you decide what your argument is, which points support it and in what order, before you spend hours on paragraphs that may not fit. It also shows where your research is thin while there is still time to find more. This page gives a fill-in template, a full worked example and the formatting rules teachers usually expect.
What goes in a research paper outline?
- A working title and your thesis statement, written out in full.
- An introduction section: hook, background and thesis.
- Body sections, each built around one main point that supports the thesis.
- Under each point, the evidence you will use (facts, data, quotations or examples) with a short source note such as (Rivera 45).
- A section that answers a counterargument, if the paper argues a position.
- A conclusion section that restates the thesis in new words and explains why it matters.
- Optionally, a list of sources at the end in your citation style.
Topic outline vs. sentence outline
A topic outline uses short phrases, such as "Cost of later start times." It is quick to write and easy to rearrange. A sentence outline writes every point as a full sentence, such as "Moving start times later costs districts money for extra buses." It takes longer, but each point turns into a topic sentence almost word for word, and it shows whether each point is really a claim. Many instructors require sentence outlines for research papers. Whichever you choose, stay consistent at each level.
Outline format: numbering and levels
| Level | Symbol | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roman numerals: I, II, III | Major sections | II. Gardens improve access to fresh food |
| 2 | Capital letters: A, B, C | Main points within a section | A. Harvest amounts in city plots |
| 3 | Arabic numerals: 1, 2, 3 | Supporting evidence | 1. Average yield per plot (Mensah 61) |
| 4 | Lowercase letters: a, b, c | Smaller details | a. Tomatoes and greens produced the most |
Indent each level farther than the one above it. The traditional rule is that every level needs at least two items: if there is an A, there should be a B, and if there is a 1, there should be a 2. A lone subpoint usually belongs in the line above it. Some instructors prefer a decimal outline (1, 1.1, 1.1.1), which works the same way with numbers only.
Research paper outline template
Title: [Working title]
I. Introduction
A. Hook: [a striking fact, question or brief scene]
B. Background: [what the reader needs to know about the topic]
C. Thesis: [your main claim and the reasons that support it]
II. First main point: [topic sentence for this section]
A. Evidence: [fact, data or quotation] ([source])
B. Evidence: [fact, data or quotation] ([source])
C. Analysis: [how this evidence supports the thesis]
III. Second main point: [topic sentence]
A. Evidence: [fact, data or quotation] ([source])
B. Evidence: [fact, data or quotation] ([source])
C. Analysis: [how this evidence supports the thesis]
IV. Third main point: [topic sentence]
A. Evidence: [fact, data or quotation] ([source])
B. Analysis: [how this evidence supports the thesis]
V. Counterargument and response
A. Opposing view: [the strongest objection] ([source])
B. Response: [why your thesis still holds]
VI. Conclusion
A. Restate the thesis in new words
B. Sum up the main points
C. Final thought: [why it matters or what should happen next]
Works Cited or References
Research paper outline example
Here is a sentence outline for an argumentative paper about community gardens. The sources in parentheses are invented for this example; in your outline, they point to real sources from your own research so you can cite them quickly when you draft.
Title: More Than Tomatoes: Why Cities Should Fund Community Gardens
I. Introduction
A. Hook: A vacant lot that held only weeds five years ago now feeds forty families every summer.
B. Background: Many cities allow gardens on empty land but give them little money, so most depend on volunteers and short leases.
C. Thesis: Cities should fund community gardens with long-term leases and paid coordinators, because gardens improve access to fresh food, strengthen ties between neighbors and cost less than most public green spaces.
II. Community gardens improve access to fresh food.
A. A single city plot can supply a large share of a household's summer vegetables (Mensah 61).
B. Many gardens sit in neighborhoods with few grocery stores (Okafor).
C. Analysis: fresh food close to home matters most where stores are far away.
III. Gardens strengthen ties between neighbors.
A. Gardeners in one survey knew more neighbors by name after a single season (Lindqvist and Haddad 52).
B. Shared work days and harvest meals bring different age groups together (Cho 41).
C. Analysis: these ties last beyond the growing season.
IV. Gardens are a low-cost form of public green space.
A. A garden costs a fraction of a small park to build and maintain (Annual Report 14).
B. Volunteers handle most daily work, but gardens with paid coordinators keep more volunteers (Lindqvist and Haddad 60).
V. Counterargument: the land could be used for housing.
A. Some residents argue that empty lots should become homes, not gardens (Okafor).
B. Response: gardens can use lots not yet planned for building, and new housing can include garden space.
VI. Conclusion
A. Steady, modest funding turns gardens from fragile projects into lasting neighborhood resources.
B. A city that funds gardens invests in food, friendships and green space at the same time.
How to write a research paper outline, step by step
- Start with your thesis. Write it at the top in one or two sentences. If you cannot, you need more reading or a narrower topic.
- Sort your notes into groups. Each group of related evidence is a possible main point.
- Choose your main points. Keep the three to five that best support the thesis, and set the rest aside.
- Put the points in a logical order: by importance, by time, from cause to effect, or from simple to complex.
- List the evidence under each point with a short source note, so you can cite it later without searching again.
- Add a counterargument section if the paper argues a position.
- Check the balance. If one section has six pieces of evidence and another has one, research more or merge sections.
- Turn each Roman numeral line into a topic sentence and start drafting.
MLA and APA outline formatting
Neither the MLA nor the APA manual sets an official outline format, so your instructor's directions come first. Most teachers expect the same basics as the paper: the same font, one-inch margins and your usual heading, such as the MLA heading. Some want the outline double-spaced like the paper; others accept single spacing for a long outline. Many ask for the thesis statement at the top, above section I. If you include source notes, write them the way your style cites in the text: (Rivera 45) for MLA, (Rivera, 2019) for APA.
How detailed should an outline be?
That depends on the assignment. A short outline lists only the sections and main points and may fit on one page. A detailed outline includes the evidence, key quotations and source notes for every paragraph. It takes longer, but drafting from it is much faster, and your teacher can spot problems early. If your outline starts to grow into full paragraphs, you are drafting inside it, which is fine: move those paragraphs into your draft.
Common outline mistakes
- No thesis at the top, so the points do not add up to an argument.
- Main points that are topics, not claims: "Food" instead of "Gardens improve access to fresh food."
- A single subpoint, such as an A with no B.
- Evidence with no source note, which means hunting for it again later.
- Mixing phrases and full sentences at the same level.
- Points in random order. You should be able to say why point II comes before point III.
- No counterargument in an argumentative paper.
Check yourself
1. In a traditional outline, what marks the major sections?
Answer: Roman numerals. Roman numerals mark sections, capital letters mark main points, and Arabic numerals mark supporting details.
2. What should appear at the top of a research paper outline?
Answer: Your thesis statement. Every section of the outline should support the thesis, so it goes first.
3. A section has point A but no point B. What does the traditional rule suggest?
Answer: Add a second point or fold A into the line above. Each level should have at least two items; a lone subpoint usually belongs in the point above it.
4. What is the main advantage of a sentence outline?
Answer: Its points become topic sentences and show whether each is a real claim. Writing full sentences forces you to state each point as a claim you can turn straight into a topic sentence.
Pick an answer to start.