II.H. THE WORKING OUTLINE

     A working outline is your first attempt to put your information together in a meaningful way to support the thesis.  Because it is your first attempt, it is primarily a brief major point outline that is meant to be changed as your research and organization progresses.
     After writing the final thesis, underline the key ideas.  Each key idea becomes a major section of the paper.

Example:
The Puritan forefathers left England not only to seek religious freedom but also to develop economic and political freedom.

I.     Puritan forefathers
II.    Religious freedom
III.   Economic freedom
IV.   Political freedom

    Once this outline is constructed it is necessary to look at what you have done and ask yourself some good hard questions:

1. Is what you have listed what you want to write about?
2. Can you find enough research to support what you have listed?
3. Is there a logical relationship among the sections?
4. Does your thesis accurately represent your ideas?

      If the answers to the above questions are "yes," you continue with your research.  If the answers to one or more are "no," you should redirect your research or reshape your thesis to fit your available information.
     For example, perhaps you have more research on the political reasons why the Puritans left England than you do on the economic reasons and you cannot find additional sources on the economics of the period.  It may then be necessary to reformulate your thesis to:
The Puritan forefathers left England not only to seek religious freedom but also to develop political opportunity.

I.     Puritan forefathers
II.    Religious freedom
III.   Political opportunities

     Use your working outline to sort and organize all your note cards.  At this point, you can see which areas of your paper need additional research.  You can also eliminate note cards if they are no longer useful.