essay skeleton outline

The Writer’s Guide to Skeleton Outlines

When I first heard the term “skeleton outline,” I assumed that it must be some kind of tool for horror writers.

I kid, of course. When you think about it, though, freelance writing can be kind of horrifying, especially when you’re attacking a new topic or trying to figure out how to please a new client. But that’s where skeleton outlines come in and, ironically, help to alleviate some of the horrors.

What is a skeleton outline?

Just like a skeleton defines the basic shape of a body and provides something for the muscles, tendons, and such to attach to, a skeleton outline marks out the structure of a piece of writing. It can be used in fiction writing, article writing or a copywriting project as a tool to help plan and draft work.

If you’re new to skeleton outlines, the name will tell you most of what you need to know!

Why use a skeleton outline?  

A skeleton outline has one primary purpose: to help you write more efficiently.

Think of it as a GPS for your writing. If you don’t enter a destination and at least take a cursory glance at the route you plan to take, you probably won’t end up on the most efficient route. You’ll get there (probably), but it might take longer.

Efficiency matters

The scenic route is fine if you’re going on a camping trip, but you’re a freelance writer. Chances are good that the longer you take to write a particular piece, the less you’ll earn that day. A skeleton outline keeps you on track so you can produce more words without compromising quality.

Remember, it’s not just about writing fast. Anyone can write fast, but the quality of the result can be questionable. Skeleton outlines help you write quickly and well. You hit your deadline and turn in something good enough to get you re-hired.

As freelancers, most of us can’t afford to turn in bad work, nor do we want to because our reputations are on the line.

Why does it work?

Creating a skeleton outline is a time investment, albeit a minor one. For this method, you take a few minutes to write out the points you want to make in your article. The result is a simple document that keeps you on track in several different ways.

1. Freedom to be inspired

Some writers assume that an outline limits your creativity, but more often it’s the opposite. Whenever I write without an outline, I feel bound to whatever sub-topic I’m working on at the moment. 

Let’s say that I’m working on a 1,000-word article about training dogs, and I’m in the middle of a paragraph about positive reinforcement. Suddenly I decide I need to write about the history of behaviorist theory and how it relates to animal training. 

If I try to do anything more than making a note about it, though, I’ll lose track of…  wait, what was I talking about? Oh, that’s right, positive reinforcement. 

2. The bucket effect

The elements of your skeleton outline are like empty buckets, each of which contains blocks of a certain color. If you find that one bucket would work better somewhere else, you can move it, and all the colored blocks with it.

Now imagine that all of your colored blocks are lying on the floor individually. How much longer is it going to take to move all of the blue blocks without leaving any of them behind?

3. Structured research

A skeleton outline helps you to stop flailing about the Internet, looking for statistics that probably relate to your topic. Your skeleton outline provides you with sub-topics that let you be a lot more specific with your search. I’ve found that the more specific I can be with my research, the less likely I am to follow random leads until I can’t remember where I started.

How do you make a skeleton outline?

Now that we’ve covered the “why it works,” let’s move on to “how.”

Fun fact: if you do a Google image search for “skeleton outline,” you’ll mostly find craft templates and coloring pages featuring human bones. (Seriously. Try it. ) Scroll down for a while, though, and you’ll start to see documents that look like a book’s table of contents.

That’s essentially what a skeleton outline is—a table of contents for your piece. It’s not a detailed or necessarily formalized outline like those you may have written in school, complete with sub-topics and full sentences. 

A skeletal outline is really “just the bones,” pun fully intended.

Take a look at the example below (with thanks to AcademicHelp.net ).

You can use this template to create a skeleton outline for almost any piece of copy you’re going to write. You’ll replace the placeholders like First Point, Detail, and Conclusion with specific references to your topic and sub-topics, but the outline won’t get more complex. 

Nor should it. For the commercial writer, a complex outline is counter-productive.

How do you use your skeleton outline?

Once you have your skeleton outline complete, it’s time to flesh it out. 

If you’ve never tried this before, you’ll be amazed at how much quicker you end up with a great finished product.

Step 1: Choose your main points  

Let’s say you’ve been asked to create an article about how to concentrate while you’re writing. Your first step is to choose your main points. You decide on:

• Choosing music to write to
• The Pomodoro Technique for self-accountability
• Handling inevitable distractions

If you’re happy with your three main points, or however many you decide to use, you’re ready to move on to details. 

Step 2: Find your details

There’s an awkward experience that many writers are familiar with. You’ve chosen a topic and backed it up with three or four supporting details, each of which flows into the next one. You’ve started to research one of the details and found out that actually the rest of your article comes out of that supporting point instead, so you have to go back and start over.

I’ve been there. It’s terrible.

On the other hand, if I’m using an outline and one of my main points won’t work, I can replace it as necessary without having to re-write much content or throw out all of my research.

Step 3: Write

If you’ve been diligent in your approach to the first two steps, this last one will be a breeze. Your research is done, the piece is structured; now all you have to do is translate the information into sentences and paragraphs.

You can do this. You’re a writer.

Is it possible to write without a skeleton outline? Of course. The shorter the piece, the easier it is to write off the cuff. Use an outline, though, and you’ll almost certainly create better work in less time. 

That’s the freelance Holy Grail right there.

Ellie is a full-time freelance writer with a background in playwriting, theater, and dance. She especially loves writing articles that help creatives and freelancers manage their time, talent, and money.

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• Knowledge Base
• 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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Table of contents

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!

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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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Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 27, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/essay-outline/

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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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Research Paper: A step-by-step guide: 3. Thesis Statement & Outline

• 1. Getting Started
• 2. Topic Ideas
• 3. Thesis Statement & Outline
• 4. Appropriate Sources
• 5. Search Techniques
• 6. Taking Notes & Documenting Sources
• 7. Evaluating Sources
• 8. Citations & Plagiarism
• 9. Writing Your Research Paper

About Thesis Statements

Qualities of a thesis statement.

Thesis statements:

• state the subject matter and main ideas of a paper.
• appear in the first paragraph and announces what you will discuss in your paper.
• define the scope and focus of your essay, and tells your reader what to expect.  
• are not a simple factual statement.  It is an assertion that states your claims and that you can prove with evidence.
• should be the product of research and your own critical thinking.
• can be very helpful in constructing an outline for your essay; for each point you make, ask yourself whether it is relevant to the thesis.

Steps you can use to create a thesis statement

1. Start out with the main topic and focus of your essay.

youth gangs + prevention and intervention programs

2. Make a claim or argument in one sentence.  It can be helpful to start with a question which you then turn into an argument

Can prevention and intervention programs stop youth gang activities?  How?  ►►►  "Prevention and intervention programs can stop youth gang activities by giving teens something else to do."

3. Revise the sentence by using specific terms.

"Early prevention programs in schools are the most effective way to prevent youth gang involvement by giving teens good activities that offer a path to success."

4. Further revise the sentence to cover the scope of your essay and make a strong statement.

"Among various prevention and intervention efforts that have been made to deal with the rapid growth of youth gangs, early school-based prevention programs are the most effective way to prevent youth gang involvement, which they do by giving teens meaningful activities that offer pathways to achievement and success."

5. Keep your thesis statement flexible and revise it as needed. In the process of researching and writing, you may find new information or refine your understanding of the topic.

You can view this short video for more tips on how to write a clear thesis statement.

An outline is the skeleton of your essay, in which you list the arguments and subtopics in a logical order. A good outline is an important element in writing a good paper. An outline helps to target your research areas, keep you within the scope without going off-track, and it can also help to keep your argument in good order when writing the essay.  Once your outline is in good shape, it is much easier to write your paper; you've already done most of the thinking, so you just need to fill in the outline with a paragraph for each point.

To write an outline: The most common way to write an outline is the list format.  List all the major topics and subtopics with the key points that support them. Put similar topics and points together and arrange them in a logical order.    Include an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. 

A list outline should arrange the main points or arguments in a hierarchical structure indicated by Roman numerals for main ideas (I, II, III...), capital letters for subtopics (A, B, C...), Arabic numerals for details (1,2,3...), and lower-case letters for fine details if needed (a,b,c...). This helps keep things organized.  

Here is a shortened example of an outline:

Introduction: background and thesis statement

I. First topic

1. Supporting evidence 2. Supporting evidence

II. Second Topic

III. Third Topic

I. Summarize the main points of your paper II. Restate your thesis in different words III. Make a strong final statement

You can see examples of a few different kinds of outlines and get more help at the Purdue OWL .

• << Previous: 2. Topic Ideas
• Next: 4. Appropriate Sources >>
• Last Updated: Apr 18, 2023 12:12 PM
• URL: https://butte.libguides.com/ResearchPaper

Skeleton Outline – How To Use It In Writing?

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?

Skeleton outline – how it helps in writing:, 1. don’t lose track, 2. take it step by step, 3. reorganize easily, 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

Step 2 – add details and research notes, 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.

Rafal Reyzer

Hey there, welcome to my blog! I'm a full-time entrepreneur building two companies, a digital marketer, and a content creator with 10+ years of experience. I started RafalReyzer.com to provide you with great tools and strategies you can use to become a proficient digital marketer and achieve freedom through online creativity. My site is a one-stop shop for digital marketers, and content enthusiasts who want to be independent, earn more money, and create beautiful things. Explore my journey here , and don't miss out on my AI Marketing Mastery online course.

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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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• Don’t Panic! Last Minute Tips for Final Exams
• Can You Fake It Till You Make It With Law School Final Exams?
• Rely on Systems, Not Willpower
• You’re Totally Unprepared for a Law School Exam! How to Avoid Disaster

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About Ariel Salzer

Ariel Salzer is a tutor and mentor tutor for Law School Toolbox and Bar Exam Toolbox. Ariel has taught everything from conjunctions to calculus on four different continents. A primary and secondary school educator in the U.S. and abroad before law school, Ariel has always had penchant for teaching and editing. As a student at the University of San Francisco School of Law, Ariel tutored Torts and led 1L workshops on time management, exam preparation, legal writing, and outlining. As the chief Technical Editor on the Executive Board of the USF Law Review, Ariel was in charge of ensuring the accuracy of thousands of legal citations, and has become a Bluebook expert. She also served as a Case Counsel for the USF Moot Court program, and received CALI awards for high-scoring two classes, including Legal Research and Writing. After practicing law as a product liability litigator in California for a number of years, Ariel found her way back to teaching and now enjoys helping students find success in their law school classes and on the bar exam.

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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

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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Why You Should Write a Skeleton Draft

by Lewis / October 27, 2020 / NaNoWriMo , Outlining

Halloween is only a few days away, and I have skeletons on my mind.

No, I don’t mean spooky skeletons—though my neighbor’s Halloween decorations do make those hard to ignore. Instead, I’m thinking about skeleton drafts, and how they can make planning and writing a novel so much easier.

You see, I’m taking on the NaNoWriMo challenge come November, and one of the main writing tools I plan to use is a skeleton draft. But what exactly are skeleton drafts, and—more importantly —should you write a skeleton draft of your own?

Finding Ways to Create Momentum

• 1 Finding Ways to Create Momentum
• 2 What is a Skeleton Draft?
• 3.1 The Pre-Written Draft:
• 3.2 The In-the-Moment Draft:
• 3.3 A Hybrid Approach:
• 4 Should You Write a Skeleton Draft?

Worst of all, once you fall behind, catching back up gets much harder.

You see, once you miss a few of your writing goals, your brain will begin creating mental barriers that make it harder to write. This is actually a major element of procrastination. The more negative feelings like stress and anxiety you feel towards a certain task, the more your brain will fight to avoid that task—even if it’s something you genuinely want to do.

So, how do you maintain your momentum? Well, I wrote an article about six ways to overcome procrastination earlier this month, and one of the key things that linked those tips was the importance of finding your creative flow:

“In positive psychology, a flow state, also known colloquially as being in the zone, is the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity.”

Essentially, this flow state is the mental zone you reach after breaking past your mental barriers and tapping into your creativity. Best of all, it makes it much easier to maintain your momentum as you write—because you’re “in the zone,” you’re truly enjoying what you’re doing.

However, the big drawback of creative flow is that it’s something you need to tap into at the beginning of every writing session. So, how do you do that consistently throughout all of NaNoWriMo ? Well, the answer is with a skeleton draft!

What is a Skeleton Draft?

Sometimes called a draft zero or a skeleton outline, skeleton drafts are basically a shorthand version of your first draft that you write scene by scene. While there are no hard and fast rules, most skeleton drafts cover these things:

• Major characters
• The conflict of the scene
• A basic setting
• The outcome of the scene

This short synopsis allows you to quickly work through the main events of your scenes before diving into your actual first draft. More importantly, this synopsis isn’t meant to be pretty—instead, skeleton drafts are a place for freewriting, without concern for grammar or prose.

It’s this freewriting that makes skeleton drafts such an awesome tool.

You see, like I mentioned previously, the fastest way to lose your writing momentum is to overthink your story and get overwhelmed. We need a low stakes way to get ourselves writing without the pressure of perfectionism, and skeleton drafts provide exactly that. Through your skeleton draft, you get the chance to mentally map your story without ever having to put “real” words on the page. Likewise, you’ll have a better idea of where your story is going, meaning you can jump into writing and find your creative flow more easily.

Really, even if you’re a die-hard pantser, skeleton drafts are simply too useful to ignore—and they also mesh with a whole variety of writing styles!

Specifically, there are three types of skeleton drafts you should consider…

Three Ways to Write a Skeleton Draft

The pre-written draft:.

First up, let’s talk about “pre-written” drafts.

This is the more outlining-centric version of a skeleton draft, so much so that a pre-written draft often acts as a final step in the outlining process. With these skeleton drafts, you write a short synopsis for every scene in your novel, and then use that synopsis as a reference point when you begin writing your first draft. This allows you to really dive into the details of your story and into specific storytelling techniques such as scene structure, making it a great option for people who already like to create in-depth outlines.

Here’s an example of a pre-written skeleton draft, based on the opening scene of How to Train Your Dragon. You can watch the scene in question here:

Synopsis: It’s nighttime in Berk when Hiccup opens his front door to a dragon attack. The village jumps awake and begins fighting back, but Hiccup is pushed aside. Stoic finds him and demands he goes inside, and Hiccup retreats to the forge. He wants to fight the dragons and eventually sneaks away when a Nightfury shows up. He manages to shoot the dragon down with one of his inventions, but in doing so accidentally gets cornered by another dragon. Stoic saves him, and Hiccup knows he’s in big trouble. Scene Structure: Goal – Hiccup wants to fight the dragons and prove himself. Conflict – Stoic yells at him to hide inside, but eventually he sneaks away. Outcome – He manages to shoot down a Nightfury, but no one believes him and he gets in trouble for sneaking off. Reaction – Frustration, Hiccup wishes everyone would believe him. Reflection – Hiccup knows he shot the dragon, he just needs to prove it. Decision – As soon as he can sneak away, he’ll go find the downed Nightfury.

As you can see, this summary leaves out a lot of smaller details, but it still gives you a good idea of the main events of this scene. The section on scene structure then further expands on this idea, ensuring each beat of the scene is happening in the right place.

To use this skeleton draft, you’ll first write a synopsis for every scene in your novel.

Then, when you’re ready to start your first draft, you’ll go back and reference this skeleton draft before you begin writing. This gives you a chance to reorient yourself in your story, and specifically to refresh yourself on the six stages of your scenes.

Overall, this style of skeleton draft is pretty in-depth, though it should still be brief. This type of skeleton draft is a perfect fit for writers who already like to dig deep into outlining and story structure, and who would rather work through all the kinks in their story early on, rather than saving them for the editing phase!

The In-the-Moment Draft:

Next up, we have the in-the-moment draft—and as strange as it may seem, this is actually the style of draft I plan to use this November.

However, before we get into that, let me explain how this type of skeleton draft works.

Much like the pre-written draft aligned with outlining, the in-the-moment draft is purpose-built for pantsers. With this method, you’ll write a short summary for each scene as you go, allowing you time to freewrite your story before writing your “real” first draft. This gets your creative brain moving much like the pre-written draft, but doesn’t come with the same level of detail.

Here’s an example of an in-the-moment skeleton draft, based on the same opening scene of How to Train Your Dragon we used before . Again, you can watch the scene in question here:

Synopsis: It’s nighttime, and Hiccup wakes up to a dragon attack. He ventures outside, but is caught by Stoic and eventually gets sent to the forge. He’s frustrated and jealous of the other teenagers who get to protect Berk. When a Nightfury arrives, he sees his chance! He sneaks away and shoots down the dragon with one of his inventions. But he wasn’t paying attention in the process. He gets caught by a dragon and ends up needing Stoic to save him. Stoic is livid, and Hiccup is pretty ashamed too. However, he knows he shot the dragon, he just wishes everyone would believe him.

As you can see, this skeleton draft is much more stream of consciousness, though it still covers a lot of the same components as the previous method. We know the basic trajectory of the scene, but overall, this skeleton draft is pretty messy—and that’s ok! Rather than worrying about polish or prose, this is just here to get our creative brain working.

A Hybrid Approach:

Well, lately I’ve been struggling to tap into my creative writing zone.

As you probably know, the world has been crazy this year, and I won’t hide it—the stress has really been getting to me. Whenever I sit down to write, my brain simply refuses to work, and it’s a major struggle to get anywhere close to entering my writing zone.

Because of this, the in-the-moment draft seemed like the best fit for my situation. This gives me a low stakes way to start writing, meaning I can overcome those mental barriers and find my flow by the time I start my “real draft.” Of course, I won’t be giving up on my outlines entirely, which is where the hybrid approach comes in!

Basically, I’ll be creating a skeleton draft for each scene as I write to give myself some freewriting time. However, I’ll also have a robust outline waiting in the wings, complete with all the details I need about my characters, plot, and conflict. This way, I can reference that outline when I start each scene’s skeleton draft, but let my creativity take hold for the skeleton draft itself. While this method may not be ideal for everyone, for my situation, this seemed like the best of both worlds. 🙂

Should You Write a Skeleton Draft?

Overall, the most important question of this article is this:

Should you write a skeleton draft of your own?

Personally, I’d answer that question with a resounding yes. After all, you can’t perfect your novel without starting somewhere, no matter how “bare bones” your first attempt may seem!

Ultimately, whether you use a pre-written skeleton draft or an in-the-moment one, skeleton drafting is a great tool to keep in your writing arsenal. Not only can it help you develop a mental map of your story before you begin writing, but it can also help you find your creative flow and get in the writing zone. Best of all, it works no matter what type of writer you are:

For Pantsers: Simply base your in-the-moment skeleton draft on the previous scene you wrote, while keeping your story’s overall conflict in mind. For Plotters: Use your pre-written skeleton draft as an extension of your outline, and as a way to further expand on your scenes ahead of time. For Plantsers: Pick the best of both worlds and mix and match these two systems in a hybrid draft!

In the end, I plan to turn skeleton drafting into a regular prewriting ritual, even long after NaNoWriMo ends. I hope you’ll join me and give this writing method a try, as well as share your own NaNoWriMo tips down in the comments. November is almost here, and I hope you’re just as excited as I am!

What are your prewriting rituals? Let me know in the comments!

Thoughts on why you should write a skeleton draft.

I love this! This is exactly how I write my novels ( : Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for this comprehensive, succinct and helpful article.

You’re very welcome Janet! 🙂

I love how detailed this is! Writing a skeleton draft will really help me with my next book! Thanks for sharing!

I’m glad I could help Amanda! 🙂

This is great information, I love the format and it also helps as a “brain dump”. Thanks for sharing this, I look forward to exploring more of your works.

Enjoyed this post- thanks for sharing your insights! I’m picking up an old draft for this NaNo, so some work is already done, but I’m missing several foundational scenes and the plot is limping sadly. I like that you included the motivations along with the scene action elements in your outlines, so I will try incorporating that too.

Thanks again Lewis, always helpful posts. I’m sorry to hear you’re stressed and struggling to get into the zone, it must be disheartening, but don’t give up! If anyone can wriggle their way out of a writing tight-spot, I reckon it’d be you 🙂

I have been skeleton drafting without realising there was a word for it, but it’s nice to know that its a technique that successful writers use, and I’ll keep it up.

88k into my first draft now and still really motivated!

That’s amazing Vanessa! And thank you for your kind words. 🙂 I sure hope so!

I’m a strict plotter, but with life the way it is I’m super stressed and overwhelmed and NaNo may be where I make my cuts. This could help, but how does it work it you have most of a plot settled and some random scenes in detail? If I’m reading this right, it’s planning your plot out in fuller detail, but that wouldn’t get you anywhere near the 50k goal. How would you suggest someone in my shoes go about it? If I can figure how to hit 50k (life allowing) and do this, it might be the one thing that saves NaNo for me.

Hey Jennifer,

In your situation, you might prefer the hybrid skeleton draft. When you sit down to write a new scene, simply review your outline and write a short synopsis of that scene first (this is your skeleton draft). Then you’ll go ahead and write like normal, using your synopsis to guide you. Repeat for the next scene, and the next! This will give you a chance to get your creative brain working, and hopefully help you avoid writer’s block along the way. 🙂

I’ve been doing this for a while now without knowing what to call it. “Outline” didn’t quite capture the paragraph-level detail I was creating for my scenes, and “storyboard” made me feel like I should be drawing pictures 😛 “Pre-written skeleton draft” makes a lot more sense … and of course is fitting for the season!

Thanks. I’m new at all of this, so your post helped me expand my simple organizational approach. I recently started using Dabble and have been using scene cards to keep me orientated. Trying to keep it concise I started with categories for:

Setting: Plot Point: Main Character: Supporting Character(s): Minor Character(s):

with a sentence for each. Including your categories really helps me focus on the big picture and keep the essential details in mind as I write.

Perfect timing because I was starting to get overwhelmed.

I’m glad I could help William!

Another great post Lewis. I think this will be my strategy for NaNoWriMo.

That’s great to hear Rory! 🙂

This is a really good suggestion because having a starting point is always better than a blank page. Ive been planning to participate in NaNo this year but have really struggled with planning my story so this method could be perfect for me to still accomplish something but without the pressure. Thank you for the suggestion.

You’re very welcome Holly! I definitely recommend checking out a few of my other posts on outlining if you’re struggling to plan your novel. This one in particular should be a good starting place: https://thenovelsmithy.com/outline-for-nanowrimo/

Let me know if there’s any way I can help, and good luck this November! 🙂

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How to Create a Skeleton Outline to Write Your Book Faster

Want to write your book faster and more efficiently?

Unleash your inner writing speed demon with the power of a skeleton outline! 

You’ll be amazed at how this simple tool can transform your writing process, helping you crank out pages faster than ever before. 

By creating a solid structure for your book before diving into the details, you’ll avoid the dreaded writer’s block and stay focused on your story. 

Get ready to supercharge your writing efficiency and finish your book in record time.

What Is a Skeleton Outline?

1. brainstorm your big ideas, 2. identify your book’s purpose and target audience, 3. determine your story structure, 4. create a chapter outline, 5. flesh out your character arcs, 6. identify key themes and symbols, 7. revise and refine your outline, skeleton outline example, why is a skeleton outline important when writing a book, can you use a skeleton outline for other writing projects, 1. flexibility is key, 2. say goodbye to writer’s block, 3. collaboration made easy, 4. embrace the iterative process, 5. mix and match with other techniques, final thoughts.

You’ve got a brilliant idea for a book, but the thought of writing it feels overwhelming. That’s where a skeleton outline comes in.

It’s like a roadmap for your story, breaking it down into manageable chunks. 

You start by jotting down the key plot points, character arcs, and themes you want to explore.

Then, you organize these elements into a logical sequence, creating a bare-bones structure for your book. 

It’s not about writing every detail—just the essential framework. With a skeleton outline in hand, you’ll have a clear direction and can write with confidence, knowing that you won’t get lost along the way.

How to Create a Skeleton Outline for Your Books

Creating a skeleton outline is easier than you might think. By breaking down the process into simple steps, you’ll have a roadmap for your book in no time.

Here are some thoughts on crafting a skeleton outline with questions to ask yourself to help you know what to include.

Brainstorming is all about unleashing your creativity and getting your ideas out of your head and onto paper (or screen). Set aside some dedicated time to sit down and think about your book. Consider the following questions to help guide your brainstorming session:

• Who are your main characters? What makes them unique, and how do they develop throughout the story?
• What are the major plot points or events that will drive your narrative forward?
• Are there any subplots or secondary storylines you want to include?
• What themes or messages do you want to explore in your book?

As you brainstorm, don’t worry about perfecting your ideas or putting them in any particular order. The goal is simply to generate a wealth of material that you can later refine and organize. Feel free to use whatever brainstorming method works best for you, whether it’s mind mapping, freewriting, or jotting down bullet points.

Once you have a collection of ideas, it’s time to take a step back and consider the bigger picture. Every great book has a purpose—a reason for existing beyond just entertaining the reader. Ask yourself:

• What do I want my readers to take away from this book? Is there a particular message or lesson I want to impart?
• Who is my ideal reader? What are their interests, needs, and preferences?
• How do I want my readers to feel as they journey through the pages of my book?

Gaining clarity on your book’s purpose and target audience will help you make strategic decisions as you outline and write your story. You’ll be able to focus on the elements that matter most to your readers and ensure that every scene and character serves a meaningful role in your narrative.

Now that you have a clear idea of your book’s purpose and a wealth of ideas to work with, it’s time to start putting the pieces together. This is where you’ll decide on the overall structure of your story. Will you follow the classic three-act structure or perhaps a more unconventional approach like non-linear storytelling?

Consider the key milestones your characters will face and how they will grow and change throughout the story. Think about the major plot points that will keep your readers engaged and drive the narrative forward. Some common story structures to consider include:

The Hero’s Journey: A timeless structure that follows a protagonist’s adventure, challenges, and ultimate transformation.

The Three-Act Structure: A classic approach that divides your story into setup, confrontation, and resolution.

The Seven-Point Story Structure: A more detailed framework that includes key turning points like the inciting incident, midpoint, and climax.

Choose the structure that best fits your story and resonates with your target audience. Don’t be afraid to mix and match elements from different structures to create a unique framework that works for your book.

With your story structure in place, it’s time to start filling in the details to create a chapter-by-chapter outline of your book. For each chapter, jot down the key events, character developments, and emotional beats that will take place.

Consider the following questions as you outline each chapter:

• What is the main goal or purpose of this chapter? How does it advance the overall story?
• Which characters will be featured, and how will they interact with one another?
• What obstacles or conflicts will arise, and how will they be resolved (or left unresolved for future chapters)?
• Are there any key revelations, twists, or turning points that need to happen in this chapter?

As you outline each chapter, consider the pacing of your story. Vary the intensity and emotional impact of each chapter to keep your readers engaged. Think about ending each chapter with a cliffhanger or a compelling question to encourage readers to keep turning the pages.

Remember, your chapter outline doesn’t need to be set in stone. As you write, you may find that certain chapters need to be combined, split, or rearranged. The beauty of a skeleton outline is that it provides a flexible roadmap that can evolve along with your story.

A compelling story is nothing without well-developed characters. As you refine your skeleton outline, take some time to delve deeper into your characters’ journeys. Consider how each character will grow, change, and overcome challenges throughout the course of your book.

For each major character, ask yourself:

• What is their backstory, and how does it influence their behavior and decisions?
• What are their strengths, weaknesses, and internal conflicts?
• How will they evolve over the course of the story, and what lessons will they learn?
• What relationships will they form with other characters, and how will those relationships impact their journey?

As you flesh out your character arcs, look for opportunities to create tension, conflict, and emotional resonance. Consider how each character’s journey intersects with and influences the overall plot of your book. By crafting multi-dimensional characters with clear motivations and growth, you’ll create a story that readers can’t help but become invested in.

Themes and symbols are the glue that holds your story together and gives it deeper meaning. As you refine your skeleton outline, take some time to identify the key themes and symbols that will recur throughout your book.

Consider the following questions:

• What universal truths or human experiences do I want to explore through my story?
• Are there any recurring motifs, images, or objects that hold symbolic significance?
• How can I weave these themes and symbols into the fabric of my story in a way that feels natural and organic?

By identifying your key themes and symbols early on, you can ensure that they are consistently developed and reinforced throughout your story. This will give your book a sense of cohesion and depth that resonates with readers long after they’ve finished the final page.

Congrats! You’ve created a comprehensive skeleton outline for your book. But the work doesn’t stop there. Before you dive into writing your first draft, take some time to revise and refine your outline.

Read through your outline with a critical eye, asking yourself:

• Does the pacing feel balanced and engaging?
• Are there any plot holes or inconsistencies that need to be addressed?
• Have I fully developed my characters and their arcs?
• Are my themes and symbols effectively woven throughout the story?

Don’t be afraid to make changes to your outline as needed. A skeleton outline is a living document that can and should evolve as your story takes shape. If something isn’t working, don’t hesitate to revise, rearrange, or even cut elements from your outline.

As you revise, consider seeking feedback from trusted beta readers or writing partners. A fresh perspective can help you identify areas for improvement and spark new ideas to take your story to the next level.

Once you’ve refined your outline to your satisfaction, you’ll have a clear and comprehensive roadmap for your book. With your skeleton outline in hand, you can write with confidence, knowing that you have a solid foundation upon which to build your story. 

Now that you understand the process of creating a skeleton outline let’s take a look at an example to see how it all comes together. Keep in mind that this is just one possible approach, and your own outline may vary based on your story’s unique needs and structure.

Imagine we’re writing a fantasy novel called “The Enchanted Amulet.” Here’s what a skeleton outline might look like:

• Introduce the main character: Lila, a young adventurer
• Set the scene: A magical world filled with danger and mystery
• Inciting incident: Lila discovers an ancient amulet with strange powers
• Lila learns about the amulet’s history and its connection to a long-forgotten evil
• She meets a wise mentor who agrees to train her in magic
• Lila faces challenges and obstacles as she learns to wield the amulet’s power
• She discovers a secret society of amulet guardians and joins their ranks
• Lila uncovers a plot by the villain to steal the amulet and unleash its power
• She confronts the villain but is overpowered, and the amulet is stolen
• Lila must regroup and find a way to stop the villain before it’s too late
• Lila and her allies devise a plan to infiltrate the villain’s stronghold
• They face dangerous traps, powerful minions, and dark magic
• Lila must confront her own doubts and fears as she prepares for the final battle
• Lila and her allies engage in an epic showdown with the villain
• Lila must use all her skills and the power of the amulet to defeat the villain
• In a shocking twist, Lila discovers a hidden truth about her own identity
• With the villain defeated, Lila and her allies must restore balance to the world
• Lila comes to terms with her newfound identity and her role as a guardian
• She looks ahead to new adventures and challenges on the horizon
• The power of friendship and teamwork in overcoming adversity
• The importance of believing in oneself and one’s abilities
• The amulet as a symbol of power, responsibility, and destiny

This is just a high-level example, but it gives you an idea of how a skeleton outline can provide a roadmap for your story while still leaving room for creativity and surprises along the way. Remember, the key is to find a structure and approach that works best for you and your unique story.

A skeleton outline is a crucial tool for any writer embarking on the journey of crafting a book. It serves as a roadmap, guiding you through the twists and turns of your story, ensuring that you stay on track and don’t get lost in the weeds. 

By having a clear structure in place, you can write with confidence, knowing that each scene and chapter is building towards a satisfying conclusion. Plus, a well-crafted outline can save you countless hours of rewrites and revisions down the line.

While we’ve focused on using a skeleton outline for writing a book, this versatile tool can be applied to a wide range of writing projects. Whether you’re crafting a short story, a blog post, or even a research paper, a skeleton outline can help you organize your thoughts, stay focused, and ensure that your writing is structured and cohesive. 

Here are just a few examples of writing projects where a skeleton outline can be incredibly useful:

• Short Stories: Just like with a novel, a skeleton outline can help you map out the key elements of your short story, including the setup, conflict, and resolution.
• Blog Posts: A skeleton outline can help you break down your blog post into clear sections, ensuring that your ideas flow logically and your post is easy to follow.
• Research Papers: By outlining your thesis statement, main arguments, and supporting evidence, a skeleton outline can make the process of writing a research paper much more manageable.
• Screenplays: A skeleton outline is essential for screenwriters, helping them structure their scenes, develop their characters, and ensure that their story is paced effectively.
• Speeches: Whether you’re giving a wedding toast or a corporate presentation, a skeleton outline can help you organize your thoughts, create a clear structure, and deliver your message with impact.

5 More Things to Know About a Skeleton Outline

Now that you have a solid understanding of what a skeleton outline is and how to create one, let’s dive into a few more key points that will help you make the most of this powerful writing tool.

One of the best things about a skeleton outline is its flexibility. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to outlining. Some writers swear by detailed, chapter-by-chapter outlines, while others prefer a more minimalist approach. The key is to find a level of detail that works for you and your unique writing style. Don’t be afraid to experiment and adapt your outline as you go.

There’s nothing worse than staring at a blank page, feeling stuck and uninspired. But with a skeleton outline in hand, you’ll always have a clear direction to follow. When writer’s block strikes, simply refer back to your outline and pick up where you left off. Having a roadmap in place can help you stay motivated and focused, even on days when the words aren’t flowing as easily.

If you’re collaborating with other writers or working with an editor, a skeleton outline can be a game-changer. By clearly laying out the structure and key elements of your project, you can ensure that everyone is on the same page from the start. Plus, having an outline makes it easier to divide up tasks, set deadlines, and track progress along the way.

Creating a skeleton outline isn’t a one-and-done deal. As you dive into the writing process, you may find that certain elements of your story or project need to be adjusted. That’s totally normal! Think of your outline as a living document that can evolve and change as your writing does. Don’t be afraid to revise and refine your outline as you go—it’s all part of the creative process.

A skeleton outline is just one tool in your writing toolbox. To create an even more efficient and effective writing process, try combining your outline with other techniques like freewriting or the Pomodoro Method . For example, you might use your outline to identify a specific scene or section to focus on, then use the Pomodoro Method to work on it in short, focused bursts. By mixing and matching different strategies, you can find a writing workflow that feels natural and productive for you.

A skeleton outline is a simple yet effective way to bring structure and clarity to your writing process. By breaking down your project into manageable chunks, you’ll work more efficiently, overcome obstacles, and ultimately create a more cohesive and compelling final product. 

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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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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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• TemplateLab

Essay Outline Templates

37 outstanding essay outline templates (argumentative, narrative, persuasive).

Writing an essay can seem like an overwhelming task, and planning beforehand is essential to success. An essay outline will help you to structure and organize your essay so that it flows coherently. Essay outlines work for all kinds of essays and will save you time and stress.

There are various different ways to structure an essay, and using an essay outline template allows you to decide on the best structure for your essay. Whether you want a balanced argument, or if you’re trying to persuade someone of your idea, then there will be an essay outline that works for you.

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay Outline Templates
• 2 What is an Essay Outline Template?
• 3 Essay Outline Examples
• 4 What Different Types of Essay Outline Templates Are Available?
• 5 Why are Essay Outlines important?
• 6 How Do You Structure an Outline for an Essay?
• 7 Essay Outline Samples
• 8 What is the Format of a Five-Paragraph Essay Outline? 
• 9 How to Write an Effective Essay Outline
• 10 Free Essay Outlines
• 11 Create an Effective Outline Using an Essay Outline Template

You can download and print one of our free essay outline templates to help you plan the perfect essay.

What is an Essay Outline Template?

An essay outline template is essentially the essay plan. It provides students with a clear structure before they write their essay, including all of the main points that are necessary for their writing.

Planning an essay outline beforehand makes the process of essay writing a lot less daunting, providing students with a guideline to follow whilst writing their essays in detail. In the world of academic writing , an essay outline serves as a tool to organize and structure thoughts before delving into the actual writing process. Many students underestimate the significance of creating an essay outline, often resulting in disorganized and incomprehensible essays.

Essay Outline Examples

What Different Types of Essay Outline Templates Are Available?

Essay outlines can be used for any college essay, research papers, a contrast essay, speech writing, or an expository essay. There are a range of essay outline templates to use, and they vary depending on the style of essay you are writing. These include:

• Argumentative essay outline
• Narrative essay outline
• Contrast essay outline
• Literary analysis essay outline
• Persuasive essay outline
• Expository essay outline
• College essay outline
• Descriptive essay outline
• Reflective essay outline

Depending on the purpose of your essay, there will be a different structure to suit your writing and your writing process. For example, an argumentative essay outline may follow a more traditional five-paragraph essay outline, while a literary analysis essay may follow a more detailed essay outline template.

Why are Essay Outlines important?

Of course, you can write an essay without planning. However, it will likely read as unstructured and lacking in coherence. Essays that follow an essay outline template present as more well-researched, clearer, and with a thoughtful structure throughout.

• Planning makes perfect If you are writing to argue a point or explore a range of viewpoints, essay outlines are crucial to prepare before you begin writing in detail. Writing should not be an immediate, quick process; the best essays are drafted, re-drafted, edited, and finalized. If you use an essay outline, this will be reflected in the quality of your work. As a teacher, it is clear to me when students have not taken the time to plan their work. Their writing seems messy and rushed. Essay outlines provide structure and balance to any long piece of writing.
• Save time during the writing process Planning is the hard part of essay writing. During the planning process, you will be brainstorming your ideas and cultivating your overall viewpoint or argument. This means that when you come to write the essay, those ideas are already there. All you need to do is formulate them into sentences and paragraphs. An essay outline makes the process of writing the essay itself so much simpler. With the essay outline template, you will have the bulk of your ideas and the structure of your essay there to follow. It will save you time when it comes to writing the essay out in full.

How Do You Structure an Outline for an Essay?

Depending on the assignment, essays can follow a range of structures, and there are many different ways to structure an essay outline.

Before you begin to structure your essay outline, there are a few things to consider:

• Check your assignment guidelines . Your teacher or professor may have specified a certain number of words or pages for the essay, which can affect how you structure it.
• Consider the purpose of the essay. Is it to argue, is it a persuasive essay, or is it to reflect upon something? This will greatly help you to form and structure your essay, as you may need to compare and contrast ideas throughout your writing.
• Who is your audience? If this essay is purely for academic purposes, then your essay may follow a more traditional structure. However, if your essay is for a speech or a college application, then the structure may be more unconventional and include more of your own thoughts and experiences.

While there may be variations in essay outline structures depending on the specific requirements of the assignment, some general guidelines can be followed. You should edit and adjust your essay structure depending on the tone, audience, and purpose of your essay.

Typically, an effective essay outline comprises three primary sections: the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. Each of these sections serves a unique purpose and contributes to the overall coherence of the essay.

• Introduction The introduction section of an essay outline introduces the topic and provides relevant background information to engage the reader. It also includes the thesis statement, which presents the main argument or claim of the essay. To structure the introduction in the outline effectively, writers can utilize a hook to grab the reader’s attention, provide context, and end with a strong thesis statement.
• Body Paragraphs The body paragraphs section of the essay outline supports the thesis statement with relevant evidence and arguments. The number of body paragraphs may vary depending on the required length of the essay. However, it is common to have three body paragraphs, each focused on a specific supporting point. In the outline, writers can include subpoints, evidence, and examples for each body paragraph to ensure a coherent and logical flow of ideas.
• Conclusion The conclusion section of the essay outline summarises the main points discussed in the body paragraphs and restates the thesis statement. The conclusion should not be an afterthought in the essay writing process. This part of the essay helps to tie all of your ideas together and is reflective of a well-structured essay. It is crucial to end the essay on a strong note, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. To structure the conclusion in the outline, writers can briefly restate the thesis, review the main points, and provide a final thought or call to action.

Essay Outline Samples

What is the Format of a Five-Paragraph Essay Outline? 

A five-paragraph essay outline is a common essay structure used for academic essays. It is particularly useful for shorter essays or beginners who are just starting to develop their writing skills. Many high school students or first-year college students benefit from following this structure.

The format consists of five paragraphs, as the name suggests – an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

• Introduction In the introduction of a five-paragraph essay outline, writers should begin with an attention-grabbing hook to capture the reader’s interest. This can be achieved through a relevant anecdote, a rhetorical question, or a shocking statistic. This helps to immediately capture the reader’s attention and begin the essay strong. Next, provide some background information on the topic and end the introduction with a clear thesis statement that encapsulates the main argument of the essay.
• Body Paragraphs The three body paragraphs of a five-paragraph essay outline each focus on a specific supporting point, which aids in the development of the thesis statement. Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. Following the topic sentence, writers should provide evidence, examples, or arguments to support the main point. It is essential to ensure a logical flow between paragraphs and maintain coherence throughout the essay. This can be done through the use of connectives at the start of each body paragraph, such as ‘Firstly,’ ‘Secondly,’ and ‘Furthermore.’
• Conclusion The conclusion of a five-paragraph essay outline restates the thesis statement and summarizes the main points discussed in the body paragraphs. However, it is vital to avoid introducing new information in the conclusion. Instead, writers should provide a thought-provoking final statement or reinforce the significance of the essay topic.

How to Write an Effective Essay Outline

Each writer will have their own unique approach to essay writing, but preparing an essay outline does not require you to reinvent the wheel. You can follow these simple steps to craft an effective, useful, solid outline.

• Read and Understand the Assignment Before beginning the outline, thoroughly read and understand the essay assignment, including any specific guidelines or requirements from the instructor. This will help in determining the length, topic, and structure of the essay. Understanding the assignment in detail also enables you to plan how you will carry out your preliminary research for the essay. Adaquete reading and preparation also helps you to establish the purpose of your essay, which will determine which essay outline template will work best for you.
• Brainstorm and Organize Ideas Start with brainstorming ideas related to the topic. Here, you should establish the key points of the essay based on your research. Once ideas are generated, you can organize them into meaningful categories or subtopics. In an argumentative essay outline, for example, you will need to compare and contrast ideas. By placing all the main points into categories in an organized manner, you can create a logical flow within the essay, making it more engaging for the reader.
• Choose an Appropriate Outline Format Decide on the outline format that best suits the specific essay requirements. Depending on the complexity of the topic, your essay may be formatted differently. An expository essay will differ from a research paper, for example, so be clear on which outline will work for you. It is also essential to decide on the number of main points to be included based on the required length of the essay. Sometimes it is best to discuss fewer points in greater detail, particularly for a literary analysis or narrative essay.
• Develop Thesis Statement and Main Arguments Craft a strong and clear thesis statement that encapsulates the main argument or claim of the essay. Then, determine the main arguments or supporting points that will be discussed in the body paragraphs.
• Organize Supporting Points and Supporting Evidence Arrange the main arguments in a logical order, keeping in mind the flow of ideas. Ensure that each supporting point is backed up by sufficient evidence or reasoning to strengthen the overall argument. This will also help you to write a strong conclusion to complete your essay.
• Review and Revise After creating the initial essay outline, review and revise it to ensure coherence, logical flow, and adherence to the assignment requirements. Make necessary adjustments and rearrange the outline if needed. Then, you can start writing your essay by following the outline.

Free Essay Outlines

Create an Effective Outline Using an Essay Outline Template

Creating an essay outline is a crucial step in the writing process that should not be overlooked. Whether it’s an argumentative essay outline, a literary analysis essay outline, or a persuasive essay outline, an essay outline template can help you to structure and organize your points in a thoughtful and clear way.

By structuring an essay outline effectively, using the appropriate format for a five-paragraph essay, and following the steps to write an essay outline, writers can ensure a well-organized, coherent, and compelling essay. Utilizing an essay outline template not only enhances the writing quality but also saves time and effort in the long run.

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Why You Shouldn't Copy Skeleton Templates for the SAT/ACT Essay

SAT Writing , ACT Writing

Creating your own essay skeleton can go a long way towards helping you prepare for the SAT or ACT essay. Having an essay template ready to go before you take the test can reduce feelings of panic, since it allows you to control at least some of the unknowns of a free-response question. It can even be helpful to look at other people’s essay skeletons to get an idea what your own essay template should look like.

But when does using an essay skeleton go from a great idea to a huge mistake? Keep reading to find out.

feature image credit: Skeletons taking a selfie @ Street art @ Walk along the Amstel canal @ Amsterdam by Guilhem Vellut , used under CC BY 2.0 /Cropped from original.

UPDATE: SAT Essay No Longer Offered

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In January 2021, the College Board announced that after June 2021, it would no longer offer the Essay portion of the SAT (except at schools who opt in during School Day Testing). It is now no longer possible to take the SAT Essay, unless your school is one of the small number who choose to offer it during SAT School Day Testing.

While most colleges had already made SAT Essay scores optional, this move by the College Board means no colleges now require the SAT Essay. It will also likely lead to additional college application changes such not looking at essay scores at all for the SAT or ACT, as well as potentially requiring additional writing samples for placement.

What does the end of the SAT Essay mean for your college applications? Check out our article on the College Board's SAT Essay decision for everything you need to know.

What Is An Essay Skeleton?

An essay skeleton, or essay template, is basically an outline for your essay that you prewrite and then memorize for later use/adaptation . Usually, an essay skeleton isn’t just an organizational structure—it also includes writing out entire sentences or even just specific phrases beforehand.

"But how can you do this, and more importantly, what’s the point?" I hear you cry (you sure manage to get out a lot of words in one cry).

Creating an essay template for the current SAT essay is pretty simple, as the SAT prompts tend to fall into one of six categories :

• What should people do?
• Which of two things is better?
• Support or refute counterintuitive statements (Is it possible that [an unlikely thing] is true?)
• Cause and effect (is X the result of Y?)
• Generalize about the state of the world
• Generalize about people

Because the prompts are, at the core, all "yes or no?" questions, you can somewhat customize your introduction and conclusion. Doing this is especially helpful if you tend to choke under pressure or are worried about your English language skills—you can come up with grammatically correct templates beforehand that you can memorize and then use on the actual test (filling in the blanks, depending on the prompt).

Formulating an essay template for the ACT is a little more tricky, as the new ACT essay asks you to read an excerpt, consider three perspectives, come up with your own perspective, and then discuss all the perspectives in the essay using detailed examples and logical reasoning. It’s possible to come up with a useful template, but I’ve not really come across any students using templates in the 200+ ACT essays I’ve graded.

In addition to figuring out your essay organization beforehand, you can look up synonyms for words that get commonly used in essays (like “example” or “shows”) and prewrite sentences that use these words correctly . For example, for the SAT essay, you could pre-write a way to introduce your examples: “One instance that illustrates [x] can be found in [y]" (where [x] is the point you're trying to make and [y] is the place from which you're taking your example).

Finally, on a semi-related note, because you know that you’ll have to use examples to explain your reasoning on the essay, you can also come up with the examples you’ll use beforehand and get good at writing about them. The better you know your examples, the more organized your writing will be on the essay (because you won’t have to waste valuable time trying to think of what exactly happened in The Hunger Games that proves your point). For more on this, see our article on the 6 examples you can use to answer any SAT essay prompt .

So What’s The Issue?

Problems occur when you rely on other people's skeletons, rather than coming up with your own. In theory, there’s nothing wrong with looking at other people’s essay skeletons to help inform your own—in fact, I've even written up a helpful template on this blog for SAT and ACT essays . The issue arises when you move beyond using the organizational aspects of someone else’s skeleton to copying words directly from someone else.

A Spooky Tale of Essay Skeleton Plagiarism

Out of the 600+ SAT essays I’ve graded over the last three months, I’ve seen the same essay skeleton come up 7 times . I know that it’s an essay skeleton because the key phrase repeated from essay to essay (“critics are too dogmatic in their provincial ideology”) was so unusual (and kind of grammatically incorrect) that I commented on it specifically the first time it showed up (to point out vocab misuse...because it just wasn’t good writing) and Googled it the second time it showed up.

It turns out that this phrase is from an SAT prep skeleton (we're not going to name the book or the author), but it also shows up in various essays around the internet that either copied that prep book or copied a College Confidential posting that plagiarized the book, so I don't know where exactly students were seeing this skeleton.

Here's the problem: while the idea of using essay skeletons makes a lot of sense, and even the using of some organizational aspects of another essay skeleton is acceptable, word-for-word copying of sentences is considered plagiarism, and plagiarism is not permitted on the SAT. In fact, it's specifically addressed in the SAT Terms and Conditions .

I sent a message to the CollegeBoard asking about the use of essay skeletons and what, exactly, was considered plagiarism. The language used to describe it in the terms and conditions is pretty vague, and I wanted to know if, for instance, a certain number of words had to appear in a row for something to be considered plagiarism. The response I got back only contained the relevant text from the Terms and Conditions:

“ ETS reserves the right to dismiss test-takers, decline to score any test, and/or cancel any test scores when, in its judgment , as applicable, a testing irregularity occurs, there is an apparent discrepancy in a test-taker's identification, an improper admission to the test center, a test-taker engages in misconduct, or the score is deemed invalid for another reason, including , but not limited to, discrepant handwriting or plagiarism .” [bolding mine]

Basically, if the CollegeBoard thinks you’re plagiarizing, then they can cancel your SAT score . And because the CollegeBoard does not define plagiarism, they basically have the latitude to do one of those “I know it when I see it” standards with things like essay skeletons. Chances are that you won't get marked down for the essay (other than for using vocab incorrectly), but since the template is so common, why risk it? Take an hour to develop your own template . You'll end up with even better results since you crafted it yourself and will be able to use it with more precision.

So what is plagiarism? There's the Google definition , which says plagiarism is taking the work or idea(s) of someone else and not crediting them/presenting it as your own work or idea(s). Plagiarism is generally considered ethically wrong, and in many cases (including with the SAT), it can have real world consequences.

You might have read that the writer of the essay template gave permission to reuse the template, and that makes it OK. This is 100% false. Consider this scenario: you're in high school and you're taking AP English. Your brother had the same teacher the year before, and he got As on all his essays. For whatever reason, he gives you permission to reuse his essays in your class. Does that count as plagiarism? 100%. There's no question about it. Your teacher and school don't care whether the writer gave you permission or not. You copied the essay, and that is an ethical lapse that is entirely on you. You'd probably fail the class and/or face whatever other punishment your school has as policy.

What Does This Mean For My SAT/ACT Essay?

Obviously, using the same word, or even the same couple of words in a row, as someone else isn't plagiarism (otherwise there would be lots of controversies over people using the two words “of the” together all the time and not citing their sources). A good general rule to follow is to avoid copying more than four words in a row .

I’ve seen several essays since that begin with the phrase “The presupposition that,” which is fine, because it’s a phrase anyone could come up with to describe an assumption, and is relatively short (3 words). The phrase “these romantic critics are too dogmatic in their provincial ideology,” on the other hand, is problematic because

When it comes to preparing for the SAT or ACT essay, it's much better to rephrase in your own words and create your own skeleton . You can (and even should) look at other people’s skeletons/essays for tips, but you should never copy someone else's work word-for-word without making it clear that it's someone else's work.

What’s Next?

Can’t get enough of those SAT essays? Check out our 15 tips and strategies for writing the SAT essay , as well as a complete list of SAT essay prompts . On the ACT side, we have a corresponding article with tips to raise your ACT essay score , as well as a complete guide to the new ACT Writing Test (for September 2015 and onward).

Want more in-depth essay articles? You’re in luck! We’ve got step-by-step examples of how to write both the SAT and ACT essays, as well as detailed advice for how you can get a perfect 12 on the SAT essay .

Reading articles is all very well and good, but how can you get feedback on your practice essays? One way is through trying out the PrepScholar test prep platform , where intrepid essay graders (like myself) give you custom feedback on each practice essay you complete as part of our program.

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Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel in high school.

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Home > Blog > Essay Outline Creator Guide: Top Tools To Use

Essay Outline Creator Guide: Top Tools To Use

• Smodin Editorial Team
• Updated: September 24, 2024
• All About Content and Writing

Writing an essay can be overwhelming, especially when you’re staring at a blank page. The key to conquering this challenge is to start with an outline . An outline helps you organize your thoughts, making the writing process smoother and less stressful. If you’re unsure how to begin, an essay outline creator can be a lifesaver.

This essay outline creator guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using an essay outline creator. We will also discuss some of the best outline generators on the market to help choose the right tool for your needs! Let’s get started!

What Is an Essay Outline Creator?

If you’re wondering “What is an essay outline creator?” the simple answer is that it is a user-friendly tool that helps you structure your essay before you start writing.

These tools guide you through organizing your main ideas, supporting points, and evidence in a logical order for any valid essay type. This ensures your essay stays focused on the point you want to get across and flows smoothly from one section to the next.

How To Pick an Essay Outline Creator

Students and teachers nowadays use AI tools for essays and other academic purposes. So, if you belong to either of these groups and you’re unsure how to pick an essay outline creator, consider factors like ease of use and features. Look for tools that allow you to generate structured outlines with just a few clicks.

Ensure the tool you choose supports various essay types and is compatible with the valid academic level you’re working on. The best tools are user-friendly, cater to writers at all levels, and will help you earn the essay credits you need.

Best Essay Outline Creators: Our Top 3 Tools To Use

When it comes to crafting a well-organized essay, having the right tools can make all the difference. Let’s explore the best essay outline creators out there.

1. Smodin AI Outline Generator

Smodin offers an AI-powered tool that generates structured outlines in just a few clicks. This free AI outline generator is perfect for writers who struggle with organizing ideas. Smodin’s tool is user-friendly and helps you focus on the main ideas of your essay.

It’s particularly useful for those facing writer’s block. Smodin provides a clear starting point and ensures your essay has a valid essay purpose and structure.

2. EssayAiLab Outline Generator

EssayAiLab (formerly EssayBot) is another popular outline generator that caters to students and writers. It helps you define your essay’s key points and organize them into a coherent structure. This tool is great for creating outlines for various valid essay types, from argumentative to descriptive essays.

With EssayAiLab, you can generate well-structured outlines that align with the valid length and purpose of your essay.

3. MindMup Outline Creator

MindMup is a versatile outline creator that allows you to visually organize your ideas. It’s especially useful for writers who prefer a more visual approach to outlining. MindMup helps you create an outline that’s easy to follow, ensuring your essay covers all the necessary points.

This tool is ideal for academic papers. It can help you develop a valid essay topic that fits your assignment requirements.

How To Use an Essay Outline Creator

Using an essay outline creator can transform the writing process. Here’s a simple step-by-step on how you can use these tools effectively:

• Select the essay outline generator that best suits your needs. Consider factors like the type of essay you’re writing and the valid academic level.
• Input the key points you want to cover in your essay. This step helps you focus your thoughts and ensures you don’t miss any important details.
• The outline generator will arrange your points into a logical structure. This is where you’ll start to see your essay take shape.

The Importance of Structured Outlines

Structured outlines are essential for organizing ideas and ensuring your essay is coherent. A well-structured outline helps you define your essay’s key points. It ensures each section flows logically from one to the next. This makes the writing process more efficient and less stressful.

By using an outline generator, you can create a clear roadmap for your essay. An outline generator makes it easier to stay focused and achieve the best results.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an essay outline.

An essay outline is a plan that organizes your essay’s main ideas and supporting points in a logical order. It helps you structure your essay before writing.

Can I use an outline generator for any type of essay?

Yes, most outline generators support various valid essay types, including argumentative, descriptive, and narrative essays.

Is there a free AI essay outline generator available?

Yes, Smodin offers a free AI outline generator that helps you create structured outlines quickly and easily.

Use Smodin AI and Create an Essay Outline Within Minutes!

Creating a structured outline is the first step to writing a successful essay. With tools like Smodin’s AI-powered outline generator, you can easily generate a clear and logical structure for your essay. Whether you’re tackling research papers or personal essays, using this information can save you time and effort. The tools in our essay outline creator guide will allow you to focus on crafting a compelling and well-organized essay.

Ready to create your essay outline? Start using Smodin’s AI-powered tools today and take your essay writing to the next level. You’ll be able to write your outline within minutes and craft a compelling essay that will impress your teachers! Visit Smodin.io to get started now!