Types of Essay Outlines

Just like there are different types of essay writing, there are different types of outlines available for it too. The types of the essays depend on the purpose they are being written for. Now, we will highlight a few types of essays in this section that are commonly preferred in academic writing.

1. Informative Essay Outline

Just List the Facts

The informative essay outline is a form of writing that only lists down the facts. It is also called as expository essay that presents balanced analysis of a topic. In this type of essay, the writer uses an informational tone and explains the entire topic, using the statistics, facts, and figures along with examples.

This type involves a variety of essays such as cause and effect essay. Also, such kinds of informative essays explain the process or come up with ‘how to’ approach. In these essays, writers are likely to use a third person tone and not involve their own feelings and emotions.

2. Narrative Essay Outline

Tell a Story

As the name of the essay implies, it is the type of essay that elaborates a story of a real life experience. Readers may think that writing it in the form of story, but in real, it involves a lot of narrative challenges. Writers find this kind of approach difficult and often end up writing about themselves as they find it easy to narrate their own story. In order to involve the reader, writer should come up with a vivid approach.

The main thing all writers should keep in mind while writing this form of essay is to use the first person tone. Using I, we, us, etc. will engage readers in the essay and they will feel like they are a part of the story. Additionally, a well-written and drafted narrative essay will also end up concluding with a personal statement.

3. Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

Evaluate the Objects

Compare and contrast essay outlines two subjects such as places, people, events, and objects that are vastly and closely related. This type of essay compares and contrasts, determining the differences and similarities as well. While readers may think that the comparison is simple, if you see it from a writer’s perspective, this kind of essay requires a lot of research and effort. Additionally, this kind of essay likely argues on a point with supported facts, which is not an easy task.

A comparative essay is often written to state something that is unknown, determine if one thing is superior to another thing, or to clear up misunderstandings. It is also written by writers to lead to a new way of seeing, doing, and understanding something in general. We have a number of compare and contrast essay outline templates, you can simply download them and save it on your desktop for practice.

4. Argumentative Essay Outline

Support Research with Citations

As the name implies, an argumentative essay outline is used to persuade someone to think the way you do supporting your argument with credible citations. When you try to form an essay out of different elements, it may become difficult to organize; argumentative essay outlines can help you look at those elements closely. This is the type of essay where a writer has to carefully investigate on a topic, generate and evaluating by collecting evidence.

After they have assessed everything, they can then establish on the topic in a concise manner. This type of essay has to involve a lot of research in order to get factual and correct information. Also, they are very lengthy when they are written. Writers can collect information from empirical studies. They cannot just write anything without proper reference, they need to cite credible sources.

5. Persuasive Essay Outline

Convince the Reader

Persuasive essays have the core aim to convince the readers to accept writer’s point of view. This type of essay also presents facts and figures citing it with credible sources so that the reader is convinced. Additionally, writers also give sound reasoning and expert opinions. In addition to this, the writers has a lot of pressure as they have to present argument of all sides and then logically present their own, trying to persuade the reader about their point of view. Persuasive essay outline helps writer to communicate clearly and make readers understand why their point of view is correct.