Sample Essay Outlines

Here are some sample outlines for different essay types. The first is one of two outlines for a compare/contrast essay:

Sample Essay Outline I: Compare/contrast #1: "A" as compared to "B"

I. Introduction explaining what you will be doing

A. Define A

B. Define B

C. Define any other terms you are using

II. Explain/Discuss A

A. Define/justify/reference Aspect 1

1. Example 1

2. Example 2

B. Define/justify/reference Aspect 2

1. Example 3

2. Example 4

III. Explain/Discuss B

A. Define/justify/reference Aspect 1

1. Example 5

2. Example 6

B. Define/justify/reference Aspect 2

1. Example 7

2. Example 8

IV. Conclusion: Comparison (what you have shown)

A. Aspect 1 A / B

B. Aspect 2 A / B

Here, your task is to compare A to B. In the introduction, you must define both A and B and explain to the reader that you are comparing them. Let's brainstorm and use apples for A and oranges for B. So this essay is a comparison of apples and oranges.

This outline shows that there are two aspects of A and B that will be compared: aspect 1 and aspect 2. You will use the same aspects for each of the items compared. Brainstorming again, let’s say, for example, the skin of the fruit and the meat of the fruit. There will be 2 examples for each aspect for both A and B, making for 8 examples all told.

In the first paragraph of the body (beginning with Roman numeral II) we will explain or discuss apples: why we chose them, what is important about them: we might say that they are delicious, that they grow all over the country, that there are many different types of apples.

The second paragraph of the body would identify aspect 1 (the skin of the fruit) and explain why this has been chosen as a characteristic of comparison (for example, perhaps because all fruit have skins).

Then two examples of this aspect will be given:

For example, apple skin is red or green or yellow and apple skin is thin.

The next paragraph would identify aspect 2 (the meat of the fruit) and also justify why this has been selected as a means of comparison (for example, perhaps because this is the part humans seek to eat).

Our two examples might be the juiciness of the fruit and the crisp texture of the fruit.

After identifying your aspects and giving your examples, you then move to B, the second item of comparison (oranges).

Once again, you would introduce oranges and explain why you have chosen them or why it is important to compare them with apples. For example, you might say that oranges grow in hot, humid climates and that the juice is a favorite of Americans for breakfast.

The next paragraph would discuss aspect 1 of B (the skin of the orange) and provide two examples that relate to or illustrate what you are saying. For example, the skin of the orange is orange in color and the skin of an orange is thick.

Next, aspect 2 of oranges (the meat of the orange) will be discussed, with two examples provided (perhaps that the meat is sectioned and that each section contains much juice as well as meat).