skeleton outline template essay

How to use a skeleton outline in writing. Including my personal method & template

• Post author By Vasyl Kafidov
• Post date October 12, 2020
• Categories In tips , writing
• 3 Comments on How to use a skeleton outline in writing. Including my personal method & template

Content writing is a creative process, first of all. But it doesn’t mean that it cannot benefit from a little structure and systematic approach. I feel like a lot of bloggers underestimate the benefits of skeleton outlines in their everyday work.

Why? Well, it is hard to say for everyone, but I think a lot of them do not like skeleton outline writing since their college years.

Working on an outline might seem too academic and boring at first sight. But, it is still an excellent way to write faster, more efficiently, and provide better content for readers.

If you want to know how to implement a skeletal outline in your blogging, let’s start with the basics. 

What is a skeleton outline?

To put it simply, a skeleton outline is a breakdown of the future post. It is a lot like a plan of what you are going to write with a specific structure. 

A great example of a skeleton outline is a table of content of any academic publication or non-fiction book. The table of content, in this case, is very particular and describes what each part of the text is about. 

An outline helps a writer to achieve several goals, starting with breaking down the big task into smaller parts. I always create a skeleton blog outline before writing a post or article because it helps me to be a better writer.  

And the best part is that it can be used for any writing type, whether it is an article, press release, essay, or blog post. The difference lies only in the structure of each of them. 

In their blog posts that cover the same topic as you are reading now, Coschedule has created a blog post outline template . You will find an outline or, as it is also called, a skeleton or skeletal outline on the picture below.

I do not want to repeat others or tell you only some theoretical information about how important an outline can be when we talk about crafting a blog post after you have already come up with a topic idea and will move forward to my personal thoughts and experience.

For me, a blog outline serves as a guide on what I’m going to cover and in what order. It is also a perfect way to get rid of writer’s block and fear of a blank page. Like with a blog content writing plan , with a skeletal outline, you’ll never have to stare at the blank screen, thinking about what to write next because you have a plan. 

Why skeleton outlines are important?

There are several quite crucial benefits of starting with an outline.

• It helps to write faster. When you have a plan, you know exactly what research you need to do and what type of information to look for. It works as a compass. It also helps to figure out the lengths, breakdown, and general idea of the piece. And you can work from section to section, not necessarily in the correct order. 
• An outline adds up a logical structure. Logical flow is extremely valuable for good writing. And readers appreciate it, as it is much easier to follow something consequential. An outline gives perspective and helps to reorganize your ideas in the most powerful way. 
• It helps to break down a task into smaller steps. It helps to stay motivated and inspired. Huge tasks are stressful and it is much easier to work on one part at a time.  
• A skeleton outline makes your writing efficient. The more you use it, the easier and faster it gets to create a skeleton outline. Texts always follow approximately the same structure. In a couple of times, you’ll know exactly where to start. 
• It helps to build stronger argumentation. Always start with the strongest points and deliver them one by one.  

My method of using skeleton outlines for blogging

Now, let’s get to practice. I’ll guide you through my process of creating a skeleton outline with the example of my blog post on humor. 

Start with a title. Titles are important, every writer knows that. Ensure that it is specific, works for your blog, includes keywords, and is not too long. 

In my case, the title is “Usage of humor for your business. Funny but serious”. It is catchy, SEO-friendly, and shows the reader what the subject of the post is.  

After reading the article, you can look at the final “ Usage of humor for your business. Funny but serious ” article that was written using the method I’m showing in the article.

Research the subject and analyze what is extensively covered and what is missed. Consider what points you want to address based on your experience and knowledge. 

Your personal experience is king , do not be afraid to mention several points from your personal stories or your friends’ experience in your initial blog outline draft. That WILL BE useful, believe me, even if you’ll decide to remove some of them in your final skeleton.

Write down the main points of the article. It is time to brainstorm ideas. Write them down without particular order. Think about what you want to cover and what takeaways will be there for the audience. Put them one by one.

For example, my ideas for the post were:

• Why the humor is used in marketing;
• How often do businesses use humor;
• What are the benefits; 
• What are the risks; 
• Which techniques can a blogger use to create humorous content; 
• Can a brand be serious while using humor in a marketing campaign;
• Importance of humor in communication and everyday life
• Examples of successful use of humor in business; 
• Examples of fails; 
• Types of humor techniques; 
• Practical advice on how to be funnier in your writing. 

Combine them into larger sections. Now it is time to rearrange them in a logical order and in large groups. Some of the ideas are smaller; others are going to take a full section.

Define the bigger and most important points and add smaller aspects to them. Hubspot has clearly explained how to make larger outline sections in detail, so do not hesitate to have a look. Ready to get a sample of the skeleton outline?

My personal blog outline template:  

• Importance of humor in communication and everyday life;
• Why it is used in marketing
• Statistics;
• List of benefits;
• Risks of Incorporating Humorous Strategy in Business;
• Usage of humor in your business blog and How to Do it;
• General tips on the usage of humor;
• Techniques to Make Your Blog Funnier;
• Example of successful usage;
• Examples of fails;
• Can a brand be serious while using humor in a marketing campaign?
• Summary 

Go through the outline and make changes. Maybe replace some points or add marks like “find statistic data” or “link to research”.

If there is no urgency, I would also suggest you leave the outline for a blog post for one day. Take a nap or spend your time with friends and then recheck your outline with fresh thoughts. This will help you to gain some new ideas before you have started writing.

Include the links to the sources you are going to use for each section. It will surely help you once you’ll start drafting your blog post. You can also add keywords to the subtitles.

In my opinion, it will help you from the beginning, but sometimes it doesn’t make sense because of the high chances that you’ll rewrite headings and subheadings during the writing process. Therefore, this trick is up to you 😉

Okay, let’s go! Now you are ready to start writing, following your astonishing outline skeleton.

Skeleton outline is extremely helpful in any type of writing. Even when you make a writing sample , you can use an outline before writing the final draft.

It organizes thoughts and ideas, helps to write faster, and creates a logical flow.

At the same time, it helps to overcome writer’s block as you always have a plan on what to cover next. 

If you have some personal methods that might be useful for my readers, kindly share them in the comments. I’ll be glad to find some new and unusual ways.

Vasyl Kafidoff is a founder and mastermind of KAFIDOFF.COM . He has a strong interest in education, modern technology, marketing, and business management. If Vasy is not working, you can find him somewhere in the world attending a Rock Concert with his mates.

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How to Use Skeleton Outlines to Write Faster

A fellow writer mentioned client projects sometimes took longer than they hoped, so they wanted to learn to write faster in order to avoid this. While there are plenty of ways you can increase your writing speed, one tip I gave them was to use "skeleton outlines."

I worked through the beginning stages of of a skeleton outline while they watched to show how quick the process could be. Today I'd like to share the resulting example so you, too, can give this technique a try.

Let's take a look at what skeleton outlines are, then we'll explore how they can help you get through writing projects faster.

What Are Skeleton Outlines?

A skeleton outline is a high-level breakdown of your content. In other words, it's the "bare bones" framework you'll use as a guide to later write the "meat" of your work.

For instance, think about a nonfiction book's table of contents.

The TOC might list the book's sections, chapter titles, and then it might even include major sub-sections or topics covered in each chapter. This works similarly to a skeleton outline for a new writing project in that it breaks down the content into smaller parts.

Skeleton outlines can be used for any kind of writing. For example, I use skeleton outlines for press releases, white papers, blog posts, case studies, video scripts, podcast episodes, web copy, and even fiction.

With fiction, The Snowflake Method would be another similar approach in that you start small and build outward as you flesh out your writing.

How Can Skeleton Outlines Help You Write Faster?

Skeleton outlines give you an overview of what you'll write before you draft the content itself. This can make the writing process faster in several ways.

For example:

• You'll know exactly what research you need to conduct, so you don't waste time gathering unnecessary information.
• You can shuffle ideas around before you fully commit, therefore minimizing rewrites for the sake of maintaining your content's flow.
• When you have a skeleton outline breaking things down into smaller bits, you don't have to write in a linear fashion. For example, you can hop around between sections or tackle the easiest sections first to give you a motivational boost.

Once you have the initial skeleton outline, you can start fleshing out the rest of your content.

For me, that involves several passes where I build up each section in layers. While that sounds slow, those passes are quick to get through -- a minute or two for the first, and up to maybe five minutes for the last before I turn that into a full draft. For you, it might mean going from skeleton outline to full draft in one shot, using your outline as a simple road map.

Fleshing Out a Skeleton Outline

Let's look at an example of a skeleton outline for a blog post, and then see how I might flesh things out in a second pass.

In this first example, you'll see the only actual content would be the post title and sub-headings. In this first pass, you're simply deciding what you want the content structure to look like.

After that, I put in placeholder text for body copy, intros, transitions, and lists to give me that skeletal structure -- a frame I can flesh out.

Here's what a bare-bones skeleton outline might look like:

How to Write Fast - Skeleton Outline

Why you might want to write faster, 5 tips for faster writing.

Closing / Call to Action

In this next example you'll see a fleshed out version of the same post's outline.

You'll notice some notes, or points I'd want to make in the post, were added in the first sub-section.

I also listed the five tips I'd want to cover both as a short-form list for the "scanners" reading the blog, and then I transferred those tips to the sub-headings below where each can be covered in more detail.

In this case, I went a step further by adding notes under those tip sub-headings (well, I did one of them for the sake of the example, but normally I would do the same for all). You could do that in this step or in another pass-through depending on what's more efficient for you.

How to Write Fast - Fleshed Out Outline

• More billable hours
• More time off
• Less of a chance to procrastinate
• Faster turn-around, therefore happier clients and a competitive advantage
• Timers / Pomodoros
• Voice-to-Text
• Outlining / fleshing out from a skeleton outline
• Self-imposed deadlines
• Batching projects / tasks

Use a Timer & the Pomodoro Technique

Benefits of using timers -- makes it a challenge, lets you improve over your own "best," helps you determine average time spent on certain project types, as a result improving productivity

Introduce the Pomodoro Technique (every 4 Pomodoros = a longer break).

• 25 minutes working
• 5 minute break
• 15 minute break

Section closing / transition

Try Voice-to-Text Applications

Outline your writing projects, set (and enforce) self-imposed deadlines, batch your projects & tasks.

From the example above, you could move into your first full draft. Or you might choose to add another pass-through if it's a research-heavy (or media-heavy) post.

In that case, after you've noted the key points you want to make, you can find supporting data, charts, illustrations, or whatever else you might need before fleshing out the writing itself any further.

That's all there is to it.

Skeleton outlines are a simple tool, and they should help you write faster by making sure you never feel "stuck" in the first place.

What's great about skeleton outlines is they never leave you staring at a blank page wondering what comes next. In other words, you know what topics you're covering. You know what points you want to make before you write, and you know where you want to make them. You know how everything ties together. And, as a result, skeleton outlines can help you drastically improve your writing speed.

This post was originally published on November 16, 2016 and has since been updated.

Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern is a professional blogger, freelance business writer , consultant, and indie author. She runs numerous websites & blogs including All Freelance Writing, Freelance Writing Pros , NakedPR , and Kiss My Biz .

Jenn has 25 years' experience as a professional writer and editor and over 20 years' experience in marketing and PR (working heavily in digital PR, online marketing, social media, SEO, new media, and thought leadership publication). She also has 19 years' professional blogging and web publishing experience (including web development) and around 18 years of experience as an indie author / publisher.

Jenn also writes fiction under multiple pen names and is an Active member of the Horror Writers Association.

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11 thoughts on “How to Use Skeleton Outlines to Write Faster”

This idea for a skeleton outline is a great one; my current WIP is taking much longer than expected largerly due to research issues. I wasn’t quite sure what I needed to research at the outset and then as the story developed, I realized that some of what I originally thought I needed to research wasn’t enough, and I had to go back and do more research. My challenge–and it’s one I’m going to have to work on if I want to avoid such delays again–is that I tend to be a pantser. Given that manner of writing, the idea of a skeleton outline would be a bit of a challenge since I couldn’t write the entire story framework down. But the name of the game at the end of the day is time management, which this outline can help with. So again, I may need to revisit my tendency to be a pantser if it’s going to keep delaying me. Thanks for posting. Jay

Thanks for sharing your story Jay. I’m assuming you’re thinking in terms of fiction. In that case, something like The Snowflake Method might be an easier way to start — one sentence story summary, then expand to a paragraph, then to a page, then to 4 pages, then to a scene list from that. A benefit for pantsers is that you still get the whole story out pretty freely. It’s just in a shorter form.

I adapt it a little bit. The one paragraph story summary is often easier for me to start with. Then I do a longer version — anywhere from 1-4 pages. Then comes the scene list, and I try to describe each scene fairly well. You could go through scene-by-scene in pantser mode, simply writing the story in shorter form. Then go back and flesh out each scene with better description, improved dialogue, and the research you’ve done where necessary. Basically it lets you write out the full story in a way without worrying about the research yet.

Very cool idea. Outlines have always mystified me somewhat. I’ve never been sure what they should look like or what information I should have in them. This gives me a good idea. I’ll have to try it for my next blog post! Thanks!

I hope it helps you Emily. 🙂

Good tip, Jenn. Most of my outlines are like that and I’ve always found it very helpful.

Sometimes you just need that quick blitz phase to get the creative juices flowing. 🙂

I use this sort of outline for producing most output – except I learned this as ‘mind-mapping’ and use third-party software to draw idea headings and connection lines. It’s a very similar concept though – write your outline, go through and add details, move elements around into a logical order – and in this case print out the end result as one long document for final polishing of i’s and t’s.

As a matter of interest the software I use is FreePlane (- no personal interest here, and the app is free.) 🙂

Thanks Stuart. 🙂 This is a bit different from mind mapping in that you work in a more linear way, but that’s certainly another good option for people who aren’t fans of outlines!

I’m writing a chapter for a book, and was asked for a skeleton by a certain date. I didn’t actually know what was meant by a skeleton in this context, so your article has been very helpful. Thanks.

I’ve been writing like this for years now, great tip. Apps like Checkvist and Dynalist in combination with, say Scrivener, can be game-changers.

I find very similar ideas to use skeleton outline for blog post and to use essay outline when you need to write an essay. In both cases, you decide what the structure will be: you build the framework of the future post/essay, and then you build “meat” around that framework. I am very glad that I learned about skeleton outline here and essay outline at Studybay’s blog. Now I can combine this knowledge for my future works. And you are right, if you know how to use it correctly, skeleton outlines are a simple tool.

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• Departments
• For Students
• For Faculty
• Book Appointment

• Flow and Cohesion
• Reverse Outline

Paper Skeleton

• Creating a Research Space
• Personal Statements
• Literature Reviews

What Is a Skeleton?

A skeleton is the assemblage of a given paper’s first and last sentences of each paragraph.

Why Should I Use a Skeleton?

A skeleton can be used to address a bunch of different elements of a paper: precision of topic and concluding sentences, transitions, arrangement, repetition -- you name it. Mostly, it forces us to think of these sentences as joints to a skeleton, or moves being made in papers, and whether those moves are effective and accurate.

How Do I Perform a Skeleton?

First, copy and paste (or copy if working with a paper draft) the first and last sentences of each paragraph into a different document. Then, read them in the order they’re written and consider the moves these sentences are trying to make.

Example (the Following Skeleton Represents About One-Third of a Complete Draft):

P1​: Topic: Jean Rhys' Good Morning, Midnight confines the reader to Sasha's declining mental state for the whole of the novel, robbing them of varied perspectives and enveloping them in her traumatic isolation. Conclusion: In doing so, Sasha creates a world within the world, one that exists behind the curtain of her mind, to remove herself from the pain of the present. P2: T: Terrance Hawkes argues that it is human nature to create worlds – stories, myths, and the like – to deal with the immediate world creatively, rather than directly. C: Deep within this well, Sasha finds herself mute during moments where she might defend herself, or dignify her actions.   P3: T: Ewa Ziarek's writing in Female Bodies, Violence, and Form, help inform Sasha's silence as having resulted from (and be Rhys' response to) sexism and the abasement of females during the time of publication. C: However, Sasha's outward silence that is ventilated in her mind reveals a great deal about the nature of her isolation and her means of maintaining it. P4: T; Sasha's most telling method of isolation is what Ziarek refers to as 'petrified female tongue' (174), a silence that arises when a voice is needed most. C*: This is the present the novel takes place in. P5:  ​ T: Stuck in the now but desperately escaping to the safe place inside her head (which proves not much better), Sasha often reflects on the past to anesthetize the pain of the present. C: Sasha doesn't feel a connection with men like Mr. Blank but rather perceives herself as a damaged commodity, albeit one with a small measure of dignity   *You’ll notice that this structure can and probably should be changed. Often we open and conclude in 1-2 sentences, and so paragraph 4’s last sentence is actually only half of the conclusion. 

To What End?

Many observations may be made from the above skeleton, given a reading of the entire paper. Since it’s an old paper of my own, I see now that front-loading Hawkes and Ziarek into the paper might not be the most effective use of those readings. Moreover, I can see now the transition between such readings (P2C and P3T) is pretty loose.

[ Activity written by Luke Useted, May 2015. Image by Flickr user,  Shaun Dunmall  and used under Creative Commons license]

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Skeleton Outline – How To Use It In Writing?

If you do anything just to put off your writing, you might be stuck in a vicious cycle of procrastination.

This time, instead of simply powering through the writer’s block, you can try to alter your approach. Finding out about the skeleton outline method gave me a fresh attack plan for every piece of writing I needed to do. Instead of staring at a blank page for hours, not knowing where to start, I know exactly what points I need to get across in which paragraph. Ultimately, skeleton outlining has made my writing more efficient , less stressful, and easier to manage. And the best thing is – it’s so simple you’ll wonder how come the idea never crossed your mind!

What is a Skeleton Outline and Why Should Writers Care?

A skeleton outline is a framework you build to make content creation smoother. It’s the bare bones of your article/book/essay – ready for you to add meat and skin on top. Let’s translate that into the terminology of digitally written documents. With skeleton outlining, you want to build the heading structure and write down the main ideas to include under each heading. In a way, creating this type of outline helps you break down your project into manageable chunks . The idea behind skeleton outlining is to organize your writing before you type a single word. Planning this way results in a concise piece of writing . You build your writing up in layers, never losing sight of the big picture. This type of planning works for any kind of writing, whether you’re in charge of creating a white paper , a blog post, a podcast episode, or a fiction book.

Skeleton Outline – How it Helps in Writing:

1. don’t lose track.

Did you ever get halfway through your blog post only to realize you can’t remember the other points you wanted to make? If this sounds like you, chances are that the quality of your writing will rise significantly as soon as you integrate skeleton outlining into your routine. Setting up an outline skeleton with short notes in advance will let you focus on what you’re writing right now and know exactly what you need to write later on. That way, you’ll cover all the details without losing track of the big picture. Content and essay writers who need to reach a particular word count will love working with a skeleton outline – you can pre-calculate how long each heading needs to be to reach your target length!

2. Take It Step By Step

When you have your outline nailed down, it doesn’t matter if you write from top to bottom or from the middle out. Filling out part by part will make the whole writing process faster and help you beat procrastination. Work in little bits and tackle the easier sections first for a motivation and productivity boost !

3. Reorganize Easily

A skeleton outline makes it easy to reorganize the text you wrote if you decide to change the structure later on. Minimal editing is required! Programs like MS Word and Scrivener let you move headings (and the text under each) by simply dragging and dropping. That’s far easier than cutting, scrolling, and then pasting each paragraph separately!

How to Create a Skeleton Outline and Write Faster

So, what exactly does a skeleton outline look like? Well, it depends on the kind of writing you do. Here, I’ll share my process, which is tailored for blogging . Here’s what this article’s skeleton looks like:

Step 1 – Create a Heading Structure

This heading structure is the first thing that I created for this article, right after doing my research. This article is rather simple – it includes four H2 headings and six H3 subheadings. In some cases, the skeleton may get pretty intricate, going as far as including H4 subheadings. I wasn’t sure whether to put the “How to” or the “How it helps” section first, so I dragged them around a bit and settled for this structure in the end. In essence, your headings should cover the basic concepts, and subheadings are reserved for details and specifics.

Step 2 – Add Details and Research Notes

Now you can refine your structure further deciding where intros, transitions, lists, and other parts of the article will go. This will help you follow a pre-set structure if you need to, but I omit this step to retain structural flexibility. Apart from structural details, you can also add notes from your research to help you cover everything. I usually label research notes with a colored highlight just to be sure I don’t accidentally leave them in the finished article. If that sounds too complex, a program like Scrivener can make keeping track of research simpler for you.

Step 3 – Start Adding Meat

Now, there’s only one thing left to do – write, write, and write! You can fill in your outline in order or jump from part to part. It doesn’t matter because your skeleton outline won’t let you stray far from your main points. Case in point – I wrote this “How to” section first, even though it’s located at the end of the article! Bonus Tip: There is a lot of great outlining software for writers in the market that you can check out. These apps can help you structure your stories and other compositions faster and easier.

It’s not easy to create something great if you don’t know what it’s supposed to look like. Setting up an outline before you start writing will give you the freedom to focus on the details without worrying if your work makes sense when you zoom out. After all, it’s true that preparation is half the battle. Do you create an outline before writing? How do you approach building your content? Next up, you may want to explore a guide on how to create a synthesis essay outline .

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From Bare Bones to Meaty Analysis: How to Skeleton Outline Your Essay

December 15, 2014 By Ariel Salzer Leave a Comment

1. Get with the Times

Note the start time and the time when you should be moving on from outlining your answer to actually writing it. Plan to spend about a quarter to a third of the total allotted time in planning mode—just you, your fact pattern and your scratch paper—no typing.

2. Look to the Call for Help

Immediately read the call of the question first. This will help to orient you toward the question being asked and give you any structural clues your Professor may have left for you.

3. Build an Issue “Skeleton”

Read the fact pattern the first time. Note on your scratch paper any issues you see that you think may be triggered by the facts you have in front of you and the rules you’ve learned over the semester. If you’re not sure about something, write it down anyway, but put a question mark. Underline or highlight any facts that seem important. Leave space between each issue you jot down so you have room to write below each one. Think of this as the “skeleton stage.” You’re laying down the bones of your essay.

4. “Flesh Out” the Skeleton with the Facts

Read the facts for the second time. This time, try highlighting every fact and asking yourself whether it fits into the skeleton you’ve constructed, and if so, where. The goal here is to “find a home” for every fact, if possible. In matching the facts up and writing them under the issues you’ve mapped out on your scratch paper, you’re taking a valuable step toward a more structured, coherent and concise essay. Think of this step as “fleshing out” the skeleton you’ve built. Adding the facts that go with each issue is like wrapping muscle onto the bones.

Whether your Professor throws in facts that don’t matter, e.g. “red herring” facts will depend on her individual exam writing style. For each fact, though, at least ask yourself “does this fact matter?” Challenge yourself to pin each legally significant fact to an element from one of the rules triggered by the issues you’ve spotted and put in your skeleton. Check off each highlighted fact so you can tell at a glance whether you’ve used it yet or not. Note: I’m not saying you should actually spend time writing the full rule out in your skeleton. Hopefully by the time you get to exams, you know the rule in your head well enough to not have to write it down.

5. Write! Write! Write!

Either IRAC or follow an integrated approach. Which style you use will depend on what your individual Professor is looking for. Write based on the structure you’ve come up with. Hopefully, with the comprehensive blueprint you’ve made, you won’t have to stop and think about what to say, you’ll just type quickly and efficiently until you’re finished!

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• You’re Totally Unprepared for a Law School Exam! How to Avoid Disaster

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Advantages of Drafting a Skeleton Essay Structure

Table of Contents

Writing is a complex process. You are in charge of coming up with what you’re about to say and how you’re going to say it. Then you have to be able to convey it in a way that others will get what you’re saying.

That’s no small feat. So, to help you, let me look at writing as a process with several skeleton essay structures . This can help in your ability to communicate clearly.

What Is a Skeleton Essay Structure?

Just like a skeleton gives a body its basic shape and gives muscles, tendons, and other body parts something to connect to, a skeleton essay structure shows how a piece of writing is put together . It can help plan and draft work in fiction writing, article writing, or copywriting.

Think of it as your writing’s GPS. If you don’t enter a location and at least quickly look at the route you want to take, you probably will not arrive on the most efficient road. You’ll probably get there, but it could take longer.

Reasons Why You Should Use a Skeleton Essay Structure

1. having the freedom to be inspired.

Some writers think an outline will stop them from being creative, but that’s usually not the case. When I don’t have a strategy, I feel like I have to stick to the subtopic I’m working on at the time. The structure of your essay’s skeleton keeps you on track and gives you ideas .

2. The Bucket Effect

Your skeleton outline’s parts are like empty buckets, each holding blocks of a different color. If you think one bucket would perform better in another place, you can reposition it and all the colored blocks with it.

3. Research With Structure

With a skeleton outline, you don’t have to go all over the Internet looking for statistics that relate to your topic.

Your skeleton outline gives you sub-topics that help you search in a much more focused way. You should know that the more organized your research is, the fewer reasons to follow random research.

How to Start Writing Your Skeleton Essay Structure

1. start with your main points.

Assume you’ve been requested to write an essay about how to concentrate while writing. The first stage is to decide on your primary points. You make the call.

You’re ready to go on to details if you’re satisfied with your three primary points or however many you decide to employ.

2. Sort Your Details

Many writers are familiar with an awkward experience. You’ve chosen a topic and supported it with three or four specifics, each leading into the next. You started studying one of the specifics and discovered that the rest of your post is based on one supporting point, so you must go back and start over.

3. Start Writing!

If you’ve carefully approached the first two phases, this last one will be a snap. Your research is complete, and the article is organized; all that remains is transforming the information into sentences and paragraphs.

Is it feasible to write without a skeleton essay structure ? Without a doubt. The shorter the piece, the better it is to write on the spur of the moment. However, if you use an outline, you will produce better work in less time.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Teaching Analytical Writing: Essay Skeletons

Posted March 17, 2015 by laurielmorrison & filed under Series on teaching students to write essays , Teaching .

Hi there! I’m back with the third installment of my series on teaching analytical writing. Last time, I explained the TIQA paragraph , which I see as the building block of an analytical essay, and described how I give students a lot of practice writing analytical paragraphs before moving onto essays.

When it’s time to move onto analytical essays, I lay the groundwork in a couple of ways. First, I tell students about the essay topics I plan to give them as we are reading the book they will be writing about. We look out for quotes that relate to those topics together, and I encourage them to look out for additional quotes on their own. That way they’re not starting from scratch when it comes time to find quotes for their essays.

Once we’ve finished the book, I have students choose an essay topic. I can provide scaffolding for students who need it by steering them toward one of the topics we found quotes for during class, while I can encourage other students to branch out to topics we haven’t spent much class time exploring or even to come up with topics on their own.

Next, each student creates an essay skeleton . The essay skeleton includes their thesis statement , their  topic sentences , and the quotes they will use in their body paragraphs. (For eighth grade I require that at least one of the body paragraphs includes a second quote and follows the TIQATIQA format. For seventh graders I don’t require a double TIQA paragraph, but some students choose to write them.)

The essay skeleton provides the core of the essay that students will be writing. It isn’t too difficult for me to give prompt feedback to each student on a thesis statement, topic sentences, and quotes, and I find that it’s worth it to look at these elements of their essays before they move forward with drafting. The bottom line is, it’s impossible to write a successful essay without a decent thesis or with quotes that don’t match up with the thesis.

So how do you teach students to write a good thesis statement ? Here is my explanation of  thesis statements , adapted from a handout I made for seventh graders writing essays about Howard Fast’s novel April Morning.  If students are struggling to grasp thesis statements, it can work well to create some faulty thesis statements, model the process of fixing one, and then have students work together to fix another.

Interested in tips for explaining topic sentences ? Here’s my explanation of  topic sentences , using the same example thesis from the  April Morning  thesis resource. It can work well to have the class practice breaking down a model thesis into effective topic sentences before students try to write their own.

Once students have their essay skeletons, they draft their body paragraphs, using the TIQA format, and then after that, we move on to introductions and conclusions. Next time I’ll explain my reasoning for leaving the introduction and conclusion until the end, and I’ll share handouts I use for those two parts of the essay.

7 Responses to “Teaching Analytical Writing: Essay Skeletons”

Wow. That’s excellent, Laurie. Have your students given you any feedback on ways the essay skeleton (great idea) or the TIQATIQA format in general helped them formulate their arguments? This is such a good way to help them to not be afraid of analytical writing.

Thanks so much! Most of them prefer creative writing assignments regardless of my attempts to make analytical writing accessible. 🙂 But several of them have mentioned that essays feel more manageable in chunks, and they definitely have some satisfying aha moments when they get what makes a good thesis and how to analyze a quote well. I’ve heard from a few of them who continue to start by coming up with the thesis, quotes, and topic sentences once they get to high school because they find the process helpful, and that makes me feel like it’s working pretty well.

Good. They’ll be ready for the research papers they will have to write!

Laurie, I love the way you’re teaching this to your students. Not an easy task at all. You sound like such a wonderful teacher!

Thanks so much, Sharon! I know you know a lot about teaching, so I especially appreciate that comment coming from you!

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One strategy for writing a paper is to make an outline in which you break down your paper into sections and subsections.

Before writing an outline, it’s important to have an argument, thesis, or hypothesis around which you build your outline. This main idea may change over the course of writing; however, it’s important to have something around which to focus your outline as you go.

• For example, in the Introduction section, you might add in subsections detailing: a) historically important research/experiments in this field, b) current scholarship to date, c) a gap in the current scholarship, d) how your work will add to this conversation…
• After you write your outline, you might need to move things around, do more research, or omit some of the points.
• Remember, an outline is just an organizational tool and not a set in stone plan. Writing is a process, and often our papers change as we write them. If you don’t find outlining helpful, don’t worry! Keep working on developing your own writing practice.

Further reading:

• 5 Steps to Outlining an Essay
• George Mason University Writing Centre's Outlining Guide

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• How to write an essay outline | Guidelines & examples

How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples

Published on August 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph , giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold.

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Organizing your material, presentation of the outline, examples of essay outlines, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay outlines.

At the stage where you’re writing an essay outline, your ideas are probably still not fully formed. You should know your topic  and have already done some preliminary research to find relevant sources , but now you need to shape your ideas into a structured argument.

Creating categories

Look over any information, quotes and ideas you’ve noted down from your research and consider the central point you want to make in the essay—this will be the basis of your thesis statement . Once you have an idea of your overall argument, you can begin to organize your material in a way that serves that argument.

Try to arrange your material into categories related to different aspects of your argument. If you’re writing about a literary text, you might group your ideas into themes; in a history essay, it might be several key trends or turning points from the period you’re discussing.

Three main themes or subjects is a common structure for essays. Depending on the length of the essay, you could split the themes into three body paragraphs, or three longer sections with several paragraphs covering each theme.

As you create the outline, look critically at your categories and points: Are any of them irrelevant or redundant? Make sure every topic you cover is clearly related to your thesis statement.

Order of information

When you have your material organized into several categories, consider what order they should appear in.

Your essay will always begin and end with an introduction and conclusion , but the organization of the body is up to you.

Consider these questions to order your material:

• Is there an obvious starting point for your argument?
• Is there one subject that provides an easy transition into another?
• Do some points need to be set up by discussing other points first?

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Within each paragraph, you’ll discuss a single idea related to your overall topic or argument, using several points of evidence or analysis to do so.

In your outline, you present these points as a few short numbered sentences or phrases.They can be split into sub-points when more detail is needed.

The template below shows how you might structure an outline for a five-paragraph essay.

• Thesis statement
• First piece of evidence
• Second piece of evidence
• Summary/synthesis
• Importance of topic
• Strong closing statement

You can choose whether to write your outline in full sentences or short phrases. Be consistent in your choice; don’t randomly write some points as full sentences and others as short phrases.

Examples of outlines for different types of essays are presented below: an argumentative, expository, and literary analysis essay.

Argumentative essay outline

This outline is for a short argumentative essay evaluating the internet’s impact on education. It uses short phrases to summarize each point.

Its body is split into three paragraphs, each presenting arguments about a different aspect of the internet’s effects on education.

• Importance of the internet
• Concerns about internet use
• Thesis statement: Internet use a net positive
• Data exploring this effect
• Analysis indicating it is overstated
• Students’ reading levels over time
• Why this data is questionable
• Video media
• Interactive media
• Speed and simplicity of online research
• Questions about reliability (transitioning into next topic)
• Evidence indicating its ubiquity
• Claims that it discourages engagement with academic writing
• Evidence that Wikipedia warns students not to cite it
• Argument that it introduces students to citation
• Summary of key points
• Value of digital education for students
• Need for optimism to embrace advantages of the internet

Expository essay outline

This is the outline for an expository essay describing how the invention of the printing press affected life and politics in Europe.

The paragraphs are still summarized in short phrases here, but individual points are described with full sentences.

• Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages.
• Provide background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press.
• Present the thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
• Discuss the very high levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe.
• Describe how literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites.
• Indicate how this discouraged political and religious change.
• Describe the invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg.
• Show the implications of the new technology for book production.
• Describe the rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible.
• Link to the Reformation.
• Discuss the trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention.
• Describe Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation.
• Sketch out the large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics.
• Summarize the history described.
• Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period.

Literary analysis essay outline

The literary analysis essay outlined below discusses the role of theater in Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park .

The body of the essay is divided into three different themes, each of which is explored through examples from the book.

• Describe the theatricality of Austen’s works
• Outline the role theater plays in Mansfield Park
• Introduce the research question : How does Austen use theater to express the characters’ morality in Mansfield Park ?
• Discuss Austen’s depiction of the performance at the end of the first volume
• Discuss how Sir Bertram reacts to the acting scheme
• Introduce Austen’s use of stage direction–like details during dialogue
• Explore how these are deployed to show the characters’ self-absorption
• Discuss Austen’s description of Maria and Julia’s relationship as polite but affectionless
• Compare Mrs. Norris’s self-conceit as charitable despite her idleness
• Summarize the three themes: The acting scheme, stage directions, and the performance of morals
• Answer the research question
• Indicate areas for further study

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
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You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

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If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved April 1, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/essay-outline/

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Skeleton Outline – A Copywriter’s Guide

Skeleton outlines (or skeleton drafts) are an important tool for beginner and pro freelancers. Despite their spooky name, they are easy to use and improve your writing speed, efficiency, and structure.

What is a Skeleton Outline?

The key to understanding skeleton outlines lies in the name. It helps you construct the skeleton of your post or article.

Just as your skeleton serves as a frame for your muscles and skin, a skeleton outline creates an outline framework for your copy. It defines the important areas you want to cover and breaks your copy into its most important parts.

Because of its simplicity, a skeleton outline can be used for any type of writing. It’ll have a different look depending on the type of writing, but it will help facilitate your process in every case.

Why Does it Work?

Skeleton outlines are simple, but they can have a massive impact on your writing process. They can also be useful tools for clients to include in briefs to their freelance copywriters too.

Freedom to Be Inspired

It may seem counterintuitive, but outlining your project ahead of time can create more room for inspiration while writing. When you have a general plan for each section of your copy, new ideas are focused around important content instead of the copy as a whole. This makes your creative impulses more effective and useful.

Content Structure

In the same way, planning the structure of your copy with a skeleton outline allows you to be more flexible with it during the writing process. You can switch parts around and reorganize them as you’re writing without worrying about losing something important. This minimizes time spent rewriting later and improves your copy’s flow.

Key Points From Your Research

You can spend just as much time researching a topic as you do writing about it. When you begin writing without a plan, that often means you won’t end up using half of the research you find. 

Using a skeleton outline informs and focuses your research. You’ll know the key research points you’re looking for and reduce the time it takes to find them.

Helps You Write Faster and More Efficiently

Time is one of the most important considerations in the world of freelance writing. Being able to write quickly and efficiently increases the number of projects you can take on.

It takes some time to build a skeleton outline, but you make up for it with improved writing speed. Skeleton drafts also improve your writing efficiency and reduce the time you’ll spend rewriting.

Writing Momentum

Every writer knows what it feels like to be “in the zone”. Starting can be slow, but once you’ve been writing for a while you build up momentum and have improved productivity.

Skeleton drafting helps you maintain your writing momentum. Instead of stopping every few minutes to think about the next topic you want to address, it’ll be clearly laid out by the outline.

Fleshing Out a Skeleton Outline

How do you go about creating a skeleton outline? We’ll use a blog post on the best font type as an example.

Choose Your Main Points

The bones of your skeleton outline are going to be the main points you want to discuss or examine in your copy. These should be broad ideas/topics that can be broken down into more specific points.

For our font post, it might look something like this:

The Best Font – Skeleton Outline

Why Does Font Matter? – Reason 1 – Reason 2 – etc.

The Best Font – 5 Points 1. Point 2. Point 3. Point 4. Point 5. Point

Worst Fonts – Font 1 – Font 2 – Font 3

Once you have the bare-bones of your outline down, it’s time to flesh it out. Go back through your outline to nail down what minor points will best support your copy. Feel free to alter the larger points as necessary if you find something isn’t working anymore.

With specifics now to flesh it out, our skeleton draft might look like this:

Comic Sans, the Best Font – Skeleton Outline

Why Does Font Matter? – First impression of your copy – Affects the impression of your brand – Changes in word weight

4 Ways Comic Sans Improves Writing 1. Fun and Fresh Support Para 2. Easy to Read Support Para 3. Stands Out Support Para 4. Distinguished Support Para (Removed Point 5)

The Worst Fonts – Arial – Calibri – Times New Roman

Add Facts (You Want to Include)

After you have the main points of your copy and specific supporting points, it’s time to research.

Remember, you don’t have to include everything. Consider what your copy is aimed towards and use facts supporting that goal or conclusion.

Skeleton outlines can be one of your best tools for increasing your productivity and writing speed. They are a simple tool, but sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones.

I’ve provided an example of a skeleton outline above, but don’t feel like you have to follow the same format. Experiment with different methods of skeleton drafting in order to find what works best for you.

I’m Already an Experienced Writer. Will Skeleton Drafting Help Me?

Preparation can never hurt your chances of producing quality content and copy. Even if you have years of experience writing without an outline, skeleton drafting will make it easier to plan out your projects and get into the zone while writing.

Related posts:

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• Direct Mail – Trash or Treasure?
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Research Paper Outline with Key Sentence Skeleton (+Paper Template)

A well-crafted research paper outline can make the process of wiring a journal paper smooth and efficient. The problem is that it is difficult to compose a realistic paper outline before starting to actually write the paper itself. Sure, the main headings in a typical scientific paper are largely the same, but to experience any real productivity benefits from a paper outline, you will need more than just top-level headings.

In this article, I will show you how to efficiently kick-start the research paper writing process in two steps:

• Use a key sentence skeleton to describe the main message of your research paper.
• Create a thorough research paper outline using the key sentences that you just developed.

Together the research paper outline and the key sentence skeleton will serve as a blueprint for the process of writing the full research paper. Following this writing process should make writing more efficient and the finished paper – clearer.

Whenever I start to work on a new research paper, I open my writing template that includes the research paper outline and the key sentence skeleton. The template will also help with automated formatting.

What exactly is a Research Paper Outline?

Picture yourself planning a cross-country road trip with your friends. What’s the first thing you do? You look at a map, right? Well, a research paper outline is your trusty map for writing a full research paper. A well written research paper outline will keep you on track and help you avoid getting lost.

The benefits of creating a research paper outline:

• The research paper outline will ensure that you know what to write in which section thus making the research paper writing process more efficient.
• A thorough paper outline will shave off some of those those tedious re-writes because your initial plan will enable you to write clearer right from the first draft.
• Agreeing on the paper outline among the co-authors (and supervisor) before starting to write will allow you to avoid any unnecessary quarrels and re-writes later on.

What exactly is a Key Sentence Skeleton?

A good research paper should clearly communicate one central message. The paper’s key sentences help in defining this message. You will know that the sentences are complete if you are able to bind them together and use them as a short summary of your paper.

For each section of the research paper, I will provide you with a key sentence skeleton that holds filler words and square brackets which you can replace with your own text. Written well, the key sentences will hold the most essential information about your research.

The key sentences are a great way to kick off the writing process since you will no longer be staring at a blank screen. After finalizing the sentences, your next task will be to add more detail and evidence to substantiate them. 

The key sentences help with another thing: they will force you to think about the message your want to convey with your research paper. This will allow you to further refine the research paper outline by including subheadings.

Research paper structure

The title of your research paper is the first thing readers encounter. They will use the title to decide whether they want to invest the time in reading your paper. Think of the title as the ultimate summary of your research paper. Spend enough time to come up with a clear, intriguing title that convinces that your research paper is worth reading.

To come up with a good title for your article, first create a list of keywords and short phrases that:

▪ Describe the problem you will address,

▪ Summarize the main idea of your research,

▪ Demonstrate the impact that your paper has.

Now, try mixing up different combinations of these words to come up with a title of no more than 10 words. Try to prepare a list of at least five potential titles ranging from descriptive to snappy and exciting. Then you can ask your peers to help you choose the winner.

Key questions to consider for the Title of a research paper:

• Does my title clearly and concisely reflects the focus of my research (bonus points for communicating the result of your research)?
• Is my title too generic? Can I be more specific and descriptive?
• What keywords in the title would help readers and search engines to find my paper easily?

The abstract is like the executive summary of your research paper – a concise overview that gives readers a taste of what’s to come. It helps people who are shopping for research papers decide whether your study aligns with their interests and warrants spending their time to read the entire paper.

To make sure the abstract accurately reflects the paper content, write it after completing your research paper.

Key questions to consider for an Abstract of a research paper:

• How can I concisely summarize the main objectives, methods, results, and conclusions of my study?
• What is the word limit for the abstract? (Typically it varies between around 150 and 500 words.)
• Is my language clear and straightforward and have I avoided jargon and abbreviations as much as possible?
• Is the main focus of the abstract on the significance and potential implications of my findings?

Key sentences for Abstract

[Briefly introduce the field in a language accessible to scientists from any field]. However, [state the problem/research gap/what is unknown]. Here we [investigated/explored/analyzed] [research topic] through [brief main research methods]. Our findings [reveal/demonstrate/show] that [key findings or discoveries, defined quantitatively when possible]. These results [can advance/be used for/provide insights into] [the problem you identified earlier].

Introduction

The introduction is one of the most challenging sections of the research paper to write. It should leave no doubt in the mind of the reader that what you are doing is important and that this work could push scientific knowledge forward. To demonstrate this convincingly, you will need to have a good understanding of the state-of-the-art in your field. Try to zoom out to see the bigger picture in order to demonstrate the potential impacts of your work.

Start the introduction with a brief context, followed by the motivation for the study. Next, explain the research gap you are going to bridge and what approach you will take to do it. You can also present the structure of the research paper.

Key questions to consider for the Introduction of a research paper:

• What background information is necessary to provide context for my study?
• Why is the topic significant and what is its potential impact?
• What is the main research problem or question that I address in my paper?
• How did I address this problem with my research?

Key sentences for Introduction

• In the [your field/area/topic], [provide context to the main concepts in the field for people unfamiliar with the topic]. Understanding [your subject matter] can lead to [mention potential applications/impact of the findings], thus benefiting [specific stakeholders/fields/groups]. However, despite [previous studies or knowledge in the field], there remains [mention specific limitation/challenge/research gap in the existing understanding]. To address this gap, we [studied/investigated/calculated/assessed/modeled/developed] [your specific research topic].

The objective statement defines the specific goals of your study, allowing the readers to understand what they can expect from your paper. Make it short and sweet: no long sentences or winding explanations. Just clearly state the main objective of the study, followed by sub-objectives if any.

Key questions to consider for Objective statement of a research paper:

• Can I list my research objective(s) as a concise statement (preferably one sentence)?
• Does the objective accurately present the question that is answered in the paper? (Do this after you have finished the paper.)
• Can I narrow down to one or two main objectives? (Many objectives might make your paper less focused and memorable.)

Key sentences for Objective

The main objective of this research is to [determine/assess/design/evaluate/explore/examine/model/apply/calculate] [describe the specific aim or purpose of the research].

In the methods section, describe your research design and methodology in enough details that would allow the readers to reproduce the study. This means that if you are using a novel method, you will have to describe it thoroughly. If, on the other hand, you applied a standardized method, or used an approach from another paper, it will be enough to briefly describe it and add a reference to the detailed original source.

Key questions to consider for Methods section of a research paper:

• Why did I select this research design to reach my study’s objectives over other possible approaches?
• Which data collection methods and instruments did I use for my research?
• What details are necessary to reproduce my results?
• What statistical or analytical techniques will I use to analyze my data?
• How did I address ethical considerations in my research (if any)?
• Can I create a methodology flowchart or a table that summarizes the steps taken?

Key sentences for Methods

To achieve the objective, we selected the [research design/method/approach/compound] because it [justify your motivation for choosing this over other approaches]. The selected approach included [describe specific steps/data collection methods/participants/subjects/experimental setup/population/surveys]. Data analyses were conducted using [specific techniques/approaches].

In most cases, it makes sense to combine the Results and Discussion sections because for most readers the results alone without an explanation will be meaningless. Here, however, I want to show you the distinction between these to sections and provide a unique key sentence for each, so I present these sections to you separately.

Organize and present your results in a sequence that makes it easy for the reader to follow the evolution of your logic. This is rarely the same chronological sequence in which you did the actual research.

In almost any research paper, you will be presenting the collected data or explaining certain scientific concepts. Most usually this is done using data charts or scientific visualizations. Creating these figures is a great place to start writing your results section. This will force you to think about the results and the ways you can best communicate them with your readers.

I wrote separate article that will show you tools you can use for creating data charts and another article that compares the different tools for scientific visualizations.

Once you have created the data charts, tables, and/or visualizations, describe what you see in them. Seek to answer the question: What have I found?  Your statements should progress in a logical sequence and be backed by the visual information. Since, at this point, you are simply explaining what everyone should be able to see for themselves, you can use a declarative tone: The figure X demonstrates that…

Key questions to consider for Results section of a research paper:

• What data visualizations or scientific illustrations will best convey my results?
• In what sequence should I organize my results to make them easy to follow?
• Can I use quantitative descriptions (how many percent/ Newtons, etc.) instead of adjectives (high, little, poor)?

Key sentences for Results

The [figure/table/result] demonstrates that [describe key results shown in the table/chart/graphic/visualization].

The discussion rather than the results are the heart of any research paper. To demonstrate why your results are worthy of publishing you must now answer the all-important So what? question . How well you do so will ultimately define the success of your paper.

In the discussion you interpret the results and show their significance; you make sense of the results by showing relationships, patterns, correlations; you show how your research aligns (or doesn’t) with previous research and the scientific theory. In other words, you guide your readers through the maze of the results to present the explanation that links your results back to the objective of the paper.

It is not, by any means, easy to come up with a meaningful discussion. Sometimes you will be confronted by results that do not agree with your initial hypothesis and are difficult to explain. But don’t give up. Just make sure that you put in the time and effort to analyze the results thoroughly.

To help the reader follow the discussion, take advantage of subheadings to group related paragraphs together.

Key questions to consider for Discussion of a research paper:

• What do my results mean?
• Are my claims backed by the results?
• Was the objective of my study achieved?
• How do my results fill the research gaps identified in the literature search?
• How do my findings align with or contradict previous studies or existing theories in the field?
• What are the potential impacts of my findings?
• Could there be an alternative explanation for my results?
• What limitations of my study should I acknowledge?
• Are there any unexpected or surprising results that require further exploration?
• What conclusions can be drawn from my results?

Key sentences for Discussion

The results [suggest/indicate/demonstrate/show/provide insight into/explain] [describe your interpretation of the results]. This finding [aligns with/contrasts with] the [research/theory] by [author] in that [explain the similarities/differences].

The provided result interpretation is [constrained by/limited to] [explain the boundary conditions beyond which your results should not be extrapolated].

Another possible explanation of the results is that [lat out the second most likely explanation], yet we believe this interpretation is less likely because [explain why you don’t believe this is the most likely interpretation].

Our results could be used to [explain the possible impacts/significance of the findings]. Yet further research is necessary to [determine/conclude] if [discuss unanswered questions and future research].

Conclusions tend to be easy to write because, for the most part, they just summarize the findings from the discussion . Either paragraph style or bullet-point style conclusions can be used. I prefer the bullet-point style because it clearly separates the different conclusions and provides an easy-to-digest overview for the casual browser. It also forces me to be more succinct.

In the first few sentences of conclusions, briefly re-state the problem and the methodology. This helps since many readers directly scroll to conclusions before reading any other section.

After the introductory sentences, summarize your findings and provide the main takeaway from your research paper. At the end of the conclusion section, consider including a paragraph reiterating the central message of the paper. You could also note just how your work contributes to filling the knowledge gap you identified in the introduction. In other words, show how the work advances the field from its present state of knowledge.

Key questions to consider for conclusion of a research paper:

• How can I succinctly summarize the main findings of my study?
• Can I make the conclusions standalone (e.g. restate the problem and methodology, avoid abbreviations)?
• Can I use bullet point to make the conclusions more succinct and easily digestible?
• What are the broader implications and potential applications of my research?
• Have I answered the question that was posed in the paper’s objectives?
• Can I explain what gaps in existing knowledge have I filled?
• What are the practical recommendations and impact of my research?

Key sentences for Conclusion

In this paper we [researched/addressed/tackled]. Based on the results reported in this paper, the following conclusions are drawn:

• [describe conclusion No.1]
• [describe conclusion No.2]
• [describe conclusion No.3]

In summary, the results [demonstrate/prove/showcase/explain/highlight] [describe the main takeaway message].

Future research should [determine/answer/include] [describe the unanswered question(s)].

Appendices include supplementary data, charts, graphs, or any information that might interest readers but doesn’t belong in the main body of your paper.

Key question to consider for appendices:

• What detailed data, technical details, or lengthy calculations should I include in the appendicies?
• Can I upload my results into a data repository rather than submitting as an appendix?
• Have I referred to the appendices within the main body of my research paper where appropriate?

To sum it all up

Writing a research paper is not nearly as difficult if you start with a strong paper outline, a key sentence skeleton, and writing prompts. In this article, I provided you with these tools in a single research paper writing template .

As a reminder, here is a research paper writing workflow that will allow you to come up with a solid research paper:

In this article I provided you with a typical research paper outline that includes: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Objective, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, Appendices.

For each paper section, I gave you a key sentence skeleton. Writing these sentences before starting to fully dig into writing each individual section will help you to refine the paper outline and define the main message of your paper.

To help you fully write each research paper section, I provided you with helpful prompts. They will get you thinking about how to better formulate each section. Read this article to see how to write a research paper most efficiently.

Have fun writing your next research paper!

Hey! My name is Martins Zaumanis and I am a materials scientist in Switzerland ( Google Scholar ). As the first person in my family with a PhD, I have first-hand experience of the challenges starting scientists face in academia. With this blog, I want to help young researchers succeed in academia. I call the blog “Peer Recognized”, because peer recognition is what lifts academic careers and pushes science forward.

Besides this blog, I have written the Peer Recognized book series and created the Peer Recognized Academy offering interactive online courses.

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Essay writing template

A useful essay planning template for A-level students to help them to construct an argument in response to any essay question, for coursework or exam conditions. Includes prompts for introductions and conclusions, and a framework for each paragraph.

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Extended Essay Skeleton Outline Template

Note – this is a generic template and may not be suitable for your particular topic

Introduction (usually written last):

You will be able to write an introduction if you can make the following statements/claims about your paper: o Indicate why the topic is interesting, important or worthy of study o Some background information to put your topic in context o Indication of how your topic has been focused to something that is manageable within 4000 words o Clear and precise research question (though not necessarily in question form) o A clear concluding thesis statement and argument (response to the research question)

For your outline, you should be able to: o State your research question (it may change slightly in draft stage):

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________ o Roughly write your thesis statement/argument (it may change slightly)

It is here where you will craft and support your argument. For the EE, you may decide to divide the paper into multiple parts or sections.

Each part should have a clear focus; each paragraph within each part should have a purpose, make a point, and be supported by research.

For your outline you should be able to: o Distinguish the order in which you will make your argument:

Part One:_____________________________________

Part Two: _____________________________________

 Part Three: ____________________________________

Part Four: _____________________________________

Part One will likely be methodology and justification for the approach you’ve taken for your research (ie – sources, data collection etc..)

Part Two/Three/Four will present your case, support it with data/research and will present counter-arguments and shoot them down.

o Within each part, you should be able to state the following (Note: This is a simplistic model for what your final product should be):

Paragraph One: o Argument:

__________________________________________

__________________________________________ o Supporting Research and Source:

Paragraph Two: o Argument:

Paragraph Three: o Argument:

Part Three:

Analysis and Conclusion: Here you will bring together your research, restate what you’ve outlined in your body and systematically present your finding that supports your thesis.

To conclude you should be able to: o Clearly state the conclusion of your work o This conclusion should directly relate to the research question and be substantiated by the evidence presented o Indicate issues, unresolved questions and new questions that have emerged from research

For your outline, you should be able to state: o Key arguments or information that contributes to your research question o Demonstrate how it all ties together to prove your thesis. In other words:

 what is the point of your essay:

______________________________________________________

What key research do you have to support this:

What can you deduce as a result of writing this paper (ie: your insight, discovery, argument):

What kinds of new questions arise from your work/research?

________________________

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