Research Process: Organize Your Information

Creating an outline before writing a paper or planning a presentation id an important, but often overlooked step. A good outline makes the job of effectively presenting information easier, because your outline serves as a map for your writing. With a good map, you know where you're ideas are going and are less likely to get stuck.

There are many different kinds of outlines; and some learners prefer one over another. One of the most common and useful types for a research paper is the alphanumeric outline. Ideas are organized in a hierarchy from broad to more detailed, and given an order that makes sense. NoodleTools makes outlining easy and helps you organize and use information you've gathered most effectively.

See these resources for more help with outlining: