Templates › Outline templates
Outline templates for essays and research papers
Plan an essay or research paper before you write it. Choose the outline that matches what your essay has to do: argue, compare, persuade or report research.
Argumentative essay outline template
Claims, evidence, counterargument and conclusion.
Compare and contrast essay outline template
Point-by-point and block versions.
Essay outline template
A basic 5-paragraph essay outline.
Persuasive essay outline template
Position, reasons, objection and call to action.
Research paper outline template
Sentence or topic outline for a research paper.
Which outline does my essay need?
| Your essay does this | Use this outline |
|---|---|
| Proves a position with reasons and evidence | Argumentative essay outline |
| Weighs two subjects against each other | Compare and contrast essay outline |
| Moves the reader to act or agree | Persuasive essay outline |
| Answers a research question with sources | Research paper outline |
| Fits any basic essay | Essay outline |
Alphanumeric, decimal or full-sentence outline?
Alphanumeric uses Roman numerals, capital letters, numbers and lowercase letters. Example: I. Introduction, A. Hook, 1. A surprising statistic. It is the traditional format.
Decimal numbers each level with dots. Example: 1 Introduction, 1.1 Hook, 1.1.1 A surprising statistic. It is common in technical writing.
Full-sentence writes every line as a complete sentence. Example: I. Sleep loss lowers exam scores. It is often asked for in research papers, because the outline can grow into the draft.
If your instructor names a format, use that one.
Write your essay in Writing Studio
Plan your sections, see your headings with word counts as you write, and keep a short brief for each section next to your text. Export to Word when you're done.
The template download stays free. You do not need an account for it.