Writing an outline can be a very useful step between the research process and the actual writing of your paper. An outline will help you develop a better overall view of your research topic and will make it much easier to understand how the parts (subtopics) of your paper relate to each other and fit together.
A working outline is especially helpful because it helps you keep track of:
- different aspects or subtopics of your subject,
- the sources you use, and
- your own changing views as your knowledge and understanding of your subject develops.
1