Creating outlines for long essays is done in much the same ways as for short essays; the difference lies not in the number of points, but rather in the depth of each point. When writing long papers, think of each section as a small essay on its own. This will suggest what sub-points should be included to best support the thesis of each section. The process can be repeated indefinitely until the desired length or level of detail is achieved.  

Breakdown 

The Five-Paragraph Essay 

• A basic, five-paragraph essay format is an excellent place to begin an outline, even for a long essay. 

• Imagine a long paper scaled down to the level of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. 

• For this illustration, these body paragraphs are called “Level One” 

The First Level 

• After determining the overall arrangement of the essay, focus on the first topic “paragraph.” 

• Imagine that this section will be its own independent essay. 

• Consider how it will be introduced, what the thesis of this section will be, and what mapping scheme would be appropriate. 

• Develop an outline of this sub-essay in the same way as the overview. 

• Think of these body sections as “Level Two.” Continue this process with each of the three body sections.  

The Next Level 

• Once each body section has been given a full essay outline, repeat the process for each of them, this time focusing on the “Level Two” body paragraphs.  

• This process can be repeated, with each level adding depth and length to the overall essay. 

The Final Level 

• At the bottom of this exercise are the individual paragraphs. 

• Like the levels above them, each paragraph will include: 

• A self-contained claim supported with evidence 

• An explanation of the evidence 

• A brief conclusion