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A Reverse Outline can help you see your draft from a new perspective by focusing only on the main points and moves of each paragraph.
First, take a look at your thesis and the relationship between your thesis and body paragraph sentences. Ask yourself:
Second, take a look at your body paragraph sentences and how they relate to one another. Ask yourself:
As you revise, consider your answers to the questions above. How can your answers help you when revising your draft? If the sentences that you have highlighted in your skeletal outline do not work toward your overall thesis, then revise the portions of the essay that do not seem to follow.
The following example is for a paper exploring the concept of how humans learn to trust technology; the research involves analyzing several television commercials for Apple computers and products.
Note: This example was modified from a Reverse Outlining handout at The Writing Center @ The University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Humans learn to trust technology by appealing to our individuality.