essay header outline

How to Write an Essay Outline with MLA and APA Styles

Got a great essay idea, but feel like sorting out your thoughts is as tough as untying knotted headphones from your backpack? No worries! We've all felt that way.

Whether you're staring down a blank page or drowning in a sea of scattered thoughts, we've got your back. In this article, we're going to break down the writing process of an essay outline into simple, easy-to-follow steps. Plus, we'll cover specific formatting guidelines for both MLA and APA styles, making sure your essay looks polished and professional.

What Is an Outline?

Let's start from the basics. An essay outline helps you arrange your thoughts and plan your essay before you begin writing. It can be your strategy guide to beat writer's block. Instead of wandering around in your paragraphs, hoping everything falls into place, an outline gives your essay format a clear path.

Here's how it works: You write down your main ideas, arguments, and supporting details in a logical order. This keeps you focused and ensures your essay flows smoothly from start to finish. It also makes writing much easier.

Now, you might wonder, 'Why do I need essay outlines? Can't I just write and see where it goes?' Well, you could, but it's risky. Without a format plan, you might stray off-topic, get lost in unrelated ideas, or end up with a confusing mess that confuses your readers.

So, whether you're writing a persuasive essay, a personal story, or an APA or MLA research paper, a good outline is essential. It saves time and frustration and helps you create a well-organized and clear essay that gets your message across.

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How to Write an Essay Outline in 4 Simple Steps

Now, before you start outlining, let our coursework writing service give you some extra help to begin. Just follow these four steps to create an outline format that makes the rest of your writing easy. These steps break down the process into simple parts, making it easier for you to understand and follow along.

Set Your Goal Clearly

When setting your goal, ask yourself: What do I want to achieve with this essay? Is it to convince the reader of a certain viewpoint, educate them on a topic, or perhaps entertain them with a captivating story? Clarifying your goal helps you stay focused throughout the writing process and ensures that every part of your essay works towards achieving that goal.

It's also important to consider your audience and what you aim for them to grasp from reading your essay. For example, if you're working on the Divine Comedy summary , think about whether your audience is familiar with the text or if they're approaching it for the first time. Consider their interests—are they more interested in literary analysis, historical context, or thematic exploration? Additionally, be mindful of any potential biases they might have based on their background or prior knowledge.

Remove Unnecessary Details

In this step, it's time to prioritize and trim down your ideas. Take a close look at all the points you've brainstormed and ask yourself: Which ones are absolutely crucial for supporting my main argument or thesis statement? Anything that doesn't directly contribute to your goal should be cut. This streamlines your essay, keeping it focused and concise. Remember, clarity is key. Readers shouldn't have to sift through irrelevant information to understand your main points. So, be ruthless in eliminating anything that doesn't serve your purpose.

List the Main Ideas for Each Paragraph

Here, you're breaking down your essay format into manageable chunks. For each paragraph, identify the main idea or point you want to convey. These main ideas serve as the backbone of your essay, guiding the flow of your argument and ensuring that each paragraph contributes meaningfully to the overall narrative.

Consider how each point relates to your thesis statement and supports your overall goal. By clearly listing the main points of each paragraph in your essay outline, you'll create a roadmap for your writing that makes it easier for both you and your readers to follow along.

Organize Your Outline with a Simple Template

Now that you have identified your main ideas, it's time to put everything together in a structured format. Use a simple template by our business essay writing services to organize your outline in a way that flows logically from start to finish.

Begin with an introduction to set the stage and grab the reader's attention. Then, outline your body paragraphs to present your arguments or ideas in a clear and organized manner. Each paragraph should focus on one main point, supported by evidence or examples. Finally, conclude your format with a summary that wraps everything up neatly and reinforces your main thesis.

By organizing your format in this way, you'll create a roadmap for your essay that makes it easier to write and ensures that your ideas are presented cohesively.

MLA Outline Format

The MLA format essay outline serves as the skeleton upon which your ideas will flesh out into a cohesive narrative. Here's a breakdown of the key components and formatting rules to keep in mind:

• Paper Specifications : Your MLA paper should be standard letter size (8.5x11 inches), with one-inch margins around the entire page. The running head, if included, should be within the margin. This ensures uniformity and readability across different platforms.
• Indentation and Spacing : Start each sentence with an indentation that's half an inch from the left margin. Maintaining double spacing throughout your MLA outline enhances readability and leaves ample space for annotations and revisions. The recommended font size is 12-point, though 11-point or 11.5-point is acceptable. Consistency is key here.
• Securing Your Outline : While it might seem trivial, ensuring your MLA outline is securely fastened in the upper left corner—be it with a stapler, paper clip, or binder clip—helps maintain professionalism and organization.
• Title and Thesis Statement : Center the title of your MLA paper at the top of the outline. Directly below, write your thesis statement, setting it apart by capitalizing the first letter of each word and ending with a colon. This establishes the overarching argument or main point of your essay.
• Headings and Subheadings : Use a hierarchical system for headings and subheadings to denote the structure of your MLA essay. Major sections are indicated with Roman numerals (I, II, III), while subcategories are marked with uppercase letters (A, B, C). Further subdivisions follow a pattern of Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3) and lowercase letters (a, b, c), each ending with a period for clarity.

APA Outline Format

Understanding the structure of the APA outline format is key to organizing your ideas effectively. Here's a closer look at the various formats:

Basic APA Format :

• Roman numerals denote main headings.
• Capital letters signify first-level subheadings.
• Arabic numerals (1-9) are used within those subheadings.
• Lowercase letters are utilized beneath Arabic numeral subheadings.
• Arabic numerals within parentheses further delineate sub-points.

The full sentence outline mirrors this structure, replacing sentence fragments with complete sentences at each level.

APA Decimal Outline :

• This APA format is simpler, breaking headings into paragraphs and numbering them with Arabic numerals.
• Each heading is numbered sequentially, starting with 1.0.
• Paragraphs within headings are indicated by a decimal followed by a sequential number (e.g., 1.1, 1.2).
• Points or sentences within paragraphs are further delineated by additional decimals (e.g., 1.1.1, 1.1.2).

For instance, under the first heading, the first paragraph's first sentence would be numbered 1.1.1, with subsequent sentences following suit.

Outline Examples

Below are the sample outlines for both formatting styles. You'll notice that the MLA outline has a more narrative style, while the APA outline follows a structured format with distinct headings and subheadings.

In MLA, main sections are marked with Roman numerals and subsections with capital letters, whereas APA uses numbers and letters for different heading levels. Additionally, APA includes sections for methods and results, which are typical in scientific research papers, while MLA format typically omits these sections.

Meanwhile, if you're tempted to pay someone to write my paper , remember we're here to whip up stellar samples in any format you desire!

MLA Outline Example

Apa outline example, final recap.

That's all there is to it! We hope you now have a solid grasp of APA and MLA format outlines. Despite their apparent similarities, there are some notable differences between the two. Now that you're armed with this knowledge, go ahead and tackle your outline assignments like a pro!

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How to Write Essay Titles and Headers

The deadline for your latest writing assignment is mere minutes away. You’re rushing to get the final details together and suddenly realize you’ve forgotten a title. You quickly throw something random on top of the page and submit it to your teacher.

You’re not satisfied with your title, but you vow to do better next time. And you will!

You’ve learned from your mistake: essay titles are not a last-minute detail. They’re an integral part of any piece of written work and should be planned out earlier on in the writing process.

Titles lead to your reader’s first impression of your essay, and the headings help organize your thoughts and make the essay easier to read. Let’s take a look at how you can turn your titles from an afterthought into a well-thought-out writing element.

How Do You Write a Great Title?

People DO judge a book by its cover, and they will judge your essay by its title. So writing a strong title is an important part of starting your writing off on the right foot.

Your essay title has two main functions:

• Inform your reader
• Spark your reader’s interest

Additionally, keep in mind these three pointers:

Be clear and concise

Vague titles do not inform the reader. Provide a specific description of what your focus will be. Your audience wants to know precisely what they will be reading.

Bad Example: Oceans

Good Example: Disappearing Ocean Life in the Pacific Rim

Offer an exciting tidbit or interesting fact

If your title is boring, readers will not want to keep reading. Offer them something that will get attention.

Bad Example: How Consumers are Wrongly Spending Money

Good Example: The Seven Million Dollar Mistake

Everyone may be writing a college admissions essay, but don’t title yours: My College Admissions Essay . No matter what the prompt, make your title something that stands out from the stack.

Bad Example: My Research Project

Good Example: Relocating the Human Race to Mars

How Do You Create a Great Header?

Essay headers are often overlooked by writers, but they can really help your readers as they journey through your essay. While the title may get the reader hooked, the headers keep them moving smoothly through your paper. They enhance readability and help explain what is most relevant in the essay.

Each essay header should answer these two questions:

• What will I learn?
• What is the focus?

When readers approach a new section of your essay, they will have a better reading experience if they have a small preview of what’s to come.

Writing a useful header should be relatively easy. Read through your paragraphs and see what the main idea of is. From here, make a list of sub-topics that are discussed in each section. The best way to do this is to pull from the main points you listed out in your outline (which you, of course, remembered to do!).

Remember the following details about writing a header:

Be simple, but informative

You don’t want to give away all of your ideas here, but you need to give some guiding information.

Bad Example: Eating Too Many Fatty Foods Can Increase Your Cholesterol Levels

Good Example: How Your Diet Affects Your Health

Be consistent throughout your essay.

Choose a pattern and stick with it throughout the entirety of the assignment. If you start off by having a heading for each paragraph, keep it that way until the end. Also, make sure the format remains the same. If your first heading is in the form of a question, all of the rest should be as well.

Bad Example: Beaches, What is Up With Littering?, I Want to Clean Up the Planet

Good Example: Neglected Beaches, Effects of Litter, Motivated Activists

Just like when you are writing a title, there are generic headings you can lean on to get it done quick and easy. But don’t use these. Your conclusion shouldn’t have the header, "Conclusion." Come up with something unique for each part of your essay to keep your reader from feeling fatigued as they read on.

Bad Example: Conclusion

Good Example: Will the Pandas Survive?

Be organized and helpful

Your essay should be scannable. This means that if someone needs information fast, they can find it without having to read every word of your piece.

Although titles and headers are often neglected, they are very important to your pieces of writing. They grab your reader’s attention from the start and keep them focused throughout the rest of your essay. Taking the time to craft great titles and headers can advance your writing to the next level.

Don’t overlook the title and section headers when putting together your next writing assignment. Follow these pointers for keeping your writing organized and effective.

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He's dropping little clues: The troubling message we are missing from Trump's MAGA rallies

Trump's revenge plot remains hidden in plain sight, by chauncey devega.

During a rally last Saturday in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, the last such event before his criminal trial began on Monday in Manhattan, Donald Trump displayed his authoritarian and fascist behavior and beliefs to the extreme. He continued to preach his Big Lie about the 2020 election being “stolen” from him, claimed he is being “persecuted” and tried to intimidate the judges, prosecutors, and other members of law enforcement working to hold him accountable for his actions. Trump, a master propagandist, used the classic tactic of projection, accusing President Biden of being a “demented tyrant” and the real enemy of democracy who would destroy the country if re-elected.

“This election is a choice between the Biden-fascist state or the American republic," he told his MAGA crowd. 

During his Saturday speech, Trump also continued to amplify antisemitic conspiracy theories about George Soros and again compared himself to the legendary gangster and murderer Al Capone. His ego demanded that he say something about Iran’s retaliatory attack on Israel , falsely claiming that Iran would never dare to do such a thing if he were president. In January 2020, the Iranians launched a missile attack against a U.S. base in Iraq. Donald Trump was still president of the United States at the time.  

During his Saturday speech, Trump also had a moment of raw honesty and candor, sharing how, “I love women more than I love anything. I love women.” That is true if one understands Trump’s definition of love to mean the dozens of women he has been credibly accused of sexually harassing and sexually assaulting. E. Jean Carroll would most certainly have something to say about Trump’s “love.” Stormy Daniels will also have much to say about the ex-president’s special “love” during his election interference trial in Manhattan.

Trump told his thousands of followers gathered before him that he wants the power to determine when presidential elections (and presumably other elections) take place. Trump is literally reading a page from the dictator’s playbook. At the end of his speech in Pennsylvania, Trump, channeling Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, reached a crescendo by threatening those Americans —  a group he has previously targeted as “vermin” and “traitors” — who are poisoning the “blood” of the nation:

[T]ogether we are taking on some of the most menacing forces and vicious opponents our people have ever seen. They are vicious and they are horrible. But no matter how hateful and corrupt the communists and criminals we’re fighting against may be, you must never forget this nation does not belong to them. This nation belongs to you. This is your home. This is your heritage. And our American liberty is your God-given right. Your God-given right. From Harrisburg to Pittsburgh, from Easton to Bethlehem, and from Johnstown to Allentown, we stand on the shoulders of American legends, who poured out their blood, sweat and tears, for our rights and for our freedoms. And it’s been a very rough period of time. I’ll tell you what, for this country. It’s never had. I don’t think our country has ever been so low, but we’re going to change it. We’re going to get numbers like nobody’s ever seen. I think we’re going to swamp them. And this isn’t drain the swamp. This is we’re going to swamp them. We’re also going to drain the swamp. It’s a double swamp.

Predictably, the American mainstream news media did not cover Trump’s Schnecksville political speech and rally in great detail. Instead, such journals of record as the New York Times , The Washington Post , Reuters , The Associated Press , and NPR summarized Trump’s speech and the events of that day in a manner that, for the most part, literally whitewashes the abnormal, the aberrant, and the inherent dangerousness of what the corrupt ex-president and the larger antidemocracy movement represent to the country and the world.

During his rally on Saturday, Trump continued to manifest what appears to be a diseased mind and how he is mentally decompensating under the extreme pressures of his numerous criminal trials, hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties and legal expenses, and the 2024 election and his crusade to be America’s first dictator. To that point, Trump had repeated difficulties with speech and thinking, where he used the following nonsense words and phrases : “Adlinthin," "Magastine," and "weak nicks," as Raw Story details:

Trump in one instance said that the people of Israel are under attack because the United States has shown "great weak nicks."… In another instance, as Trump was calling Rolling Stone a liberal outlet, he accidentally called it a "magastine."… In a third example, Trump at his rally was talking about immigration when he invented the word "adlinthin," according to onlookers. "Just last week it was reported that an illegal adlinthin— and you just look at this, what's happening"….

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There was another important recent news story that the American mainstream news media largely ignored. Trump recently shared a campaign-propaganda video about the solar eclipse which  The Independent, a British news outlet, described as follows :

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it the moon crossing the sun? No, it’s Donald Trump’s head. Seven years on from the notorious moment where he stared directly at the sun during the last solar eclipse over the US, the former president is jumping on the sungazing bandwagon yet again. On Sunday night, Mr Trump posted a bizarre campaign ad on Truth Social where his own head takes on the role of the moon – blocking out the sun and plunging America into total darkness. The video begins with the words “the most important moment in human history is taking place in 2024” emblazoned over an image of the flaming sun, while dramatic music plays in the backdrop. Images show large crowds gathered to watch the solar event, staring up at the sky wearing protective glasses. The footage moves between the awestruck crowds and the sun where a huge silhouette begins to slowly move across it. But, it’s not the moon causing the rare phenomenon. It’s the outline of Mr. Trump’s head – complete with quaff, bushy eyebrows and long neck. As his head covers the entirety of the sun – creating its own solar eclipse – a phrase flashes across the screen: “We will save America. And make it great again.”

The message of Trump’s “eclipse” video is rather obvious: he is a type of God and prophet or messiah on Earth, an Ozymandias figure of sorts, whose powers are greater than the sun and such fundamental forces as gravity and the movement of the stars and planets. As some of the country’s leading mental health professionals have repeatedly warned, Donald Trump appears to actually believe in such delusions and absurdities. Based on their behavior, the MAGA political cultists also appear to be believe that their Dear Leader has such superpowers.

Donald Trump wants to be worshipped; his followers want to worship him; this should terrify any reasonable and thinking person in the United States who values their freedom and safety, and that of their loved ones and other people they care about.

During this, the first week of Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan, he has been hostile and disrespectful to the court. Trump also appears to be quite tired as he has fallen asleep several times, his mouth open, and his head slouched down.

Is this funny? Those people who are eager to laugh at mock the aspiring dictator have of course found great sport and entertainment in it. As I have repeatedly warned, many people laugh and mock Donald Trump because, at their core, they are actually terrified of him and what he represents.

Some expert observers have focused on Donald Trump’s sleeping in court as evidence that he may have dementia or some other brain disease. I am not qualified to make that assessment.

There is the simplest explanation: Donald Trump is an older man who appears to be overweight and is under a great deal of pressure; This would make Donald Trump very tired – as it would most people, be they younger or older.

But when I look at “Sleepy Trump”, I am more concerned about what is going on in his twisted and evil mind. If there was a thought bubble above Trump’s head, like in a comic book or graphic novel , it would likely show images of revenge and destruction and other malevolence as he does horrible things to the judges, the witnesses, the jurors, the prosecutors, Jack Smith, Merrick Garland, President Biden, E. Jean Carroll, Stormy Daniels, and any and all people who dare to oppose or otherwise do not support him.

Making fun of “Sleepy Trump” makes people feel good. But the far more important story is Donald Trump’s drive to unlimited power and what he and his followers are going to do when and if he escapes the law and becomes the country’s first dictator.

about this topic

• "I wish I had been wrong": Miles Taylor on the dire threat of Trump 2.0
• A dangerous return to denial: Trump's threats against Biden met by familiar media shrug
• "A blueprint for a Trump autocracy": Authoritarianism expert on which global dictators Trump models

Chauncey DeVega is a senior politics writer for Salon. His essays can also be found at  Chaunceydevega.com . He also hosts a weekly podcast,  The Chauncey DeVega Show . Chauncey can be followed on  Twitter  and  Facebook .

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