Reverse Outlining

Editing Technique: Reverse Outlining

What is reverse outlining?

Reverse Outlining is an editing technique where writers make an outline from an existing draft of their paper. Similarly to a regular outline, a reverse outline helps a writer organize their ideas and evidence in relation to their thesis or main idea. However, unlike a regular outline, a reverse outline is done after a writer completes a draft and helps a writer evaluate how well the paragraphs are organized individually and in relation to each other and the thesis.

When should I use a reverse outline?

  • When you have a complete or almost-complete draft of your paper
  • When you are concerned about the structure or organization of your paper
  • When you are trying to see if your paper logically proves your thesis
  • When you feel your paragraphs are messy or unfocused
  • When you want to make sure each of your points is supported by evidence

Making a Reverse Outline

Basic Method:
  1. Begin with a complete or near-complete draft
  2. Highlight or copy your thesis statement from your introduction.
  3. For each body paragraph, write one sentence that answers the question, “What is my reader supposed to take away from this paragraph?” or “What is my main point in this paragraph?”
  4. Use your sentences to evaluate your paper as a whole and make sure your individual paragraphs are focused (see “Evaluation and Editing” below).
  5. Make any edits that you identified during your evaluation.
Optional Variations:

There are many ways to make your reverse outline depending on your learning style, the paper you’re editing, and personal preference. Here are some suggestions:

  • Write each sentence alongside the relevant paragraph in your draft, using the “Comment” function in Microsoft Word or Google Docs (“Review” “New Comment”). Use the “Reply” feature to answer your evaluation questions.
    • This allows you to see your reverse outline directly alongside your paragraphs so that you can compare them.
  • Open a clean document specifically for your reverse outline. Put your thesis at the top and then put your sentences in a bulleted list.
    • This is especially useful for a longer paper because it collects your sentences in a visually smaller area, and you can use scaffolded bullet points to show sections and sub-points.
  • Write each of your sentences on an index card and lay the cards out on a table or other surface.
    •  This method allows you to easily experiment with different orders and arrangements, and is especially helpful if you are having trouble figuring out how to organize your ideas.

Using a Reverse Outline: Evaluation and Editing 

Questions for evaluating the paper as a whole:
  1. Does each paragraph contribute to developing my thesis or main idea?
  2. Do my points build on each other in a logical way? i.e. Is it clear how one idea connects to the next idea?
  3. Does my reader receive any necessary background information, definitions, or introductions before discussing complex ideas?
  4. Is there any missing information?
  5. Does your paper fulfill all elements of your essay assignment?
Steps for editing the paper as a whole:
  1. Use the highlight function in different colors to regroup information
  2. Open a clean document and copy/paste portions of your paper to rearrange your paragraphs or experiment with a different organizational plan
    1. Consider using temporary headings to regroup your information.
    2. Don’t worry about making it into paragraphs yet; just get it moved to the right section.
  3. Make a note of any missing information and jot it down where you think it needs to go
Questions for evaluating individual paragraphs:
  1. Does each paragraph have a topic sentence that clearly communicates what you are talking about and what point you are making?
  2. Does each sentence in your paragraph relate to the topic sentence/point of the paragraph? You may need to remove sentences that do not fit. 
  3. If your paper requires evidence, do you have evidence in each paragraph that directly supports the point you are making? Do you discuss why the evidence relates to your point?
  4. Conversely, do you have evidence in your paragraph that seems less relevant or supportive of a different point? You might need to remove or move the less relevant pieces of evidence to a new or different paragraph.
Steps for editing individual paragraphs:
  1. Edit any topic sentences that don’t clearly communicate your point. You might even use the keywords or phrases that you used in your reverse outline sentence in your revised topic sentence.
  2. Highlight the portions of the paragraph that fit the topic sentence in one color, and the portions of the paragraph that don’t fit in another color.
    1. Move the parts that don’t fit, either to a section where they fit better or to a “holding” section.
    2. Make sure the evidence you have left is introduced, discussed, and cited.
    3. If you have too much evidence in a paragraph or if your paragraph is more than one double-spaced page, consider whether your evidence is repetitive or whether you can make this into multiple paragraphs.

Sources:

https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/reverseoutlines/

https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/

Resource created by: Laura S.