I chose to format my outline by using the general typed out format of an outline. I find that this format works best for me as it is organized in a sequential format from start to finish. This kind of outline is how I’ve always outlined so I thought it was the best format for me to use. When I was outlining for my paper, I realized that I needed to move things around to make my topic make sense for myself, and more importantly, my reader. I realized that my paper needed to be formatted with a literary review at the beginning before beginning my argument. In particular, I realized I needed to give enough background information about Second Wave Feminism and its exploration of a “Woman’s Destiny” inside the home. This is such a fundamental part of my argument about Elena Vanishing and if I don’t provide that information at the beginning of my paper, my audience will be lost. At first, I thought that I could use this background evidence throughout my paper, but after working on the outline and going over information in class, I learned that I needed to put this background evidence at the beginning to make sure that my argument stood by itself without being overshadowed by the voices of other authors.
Something I realized that was missing my outline was that the argument didn’t seem to be leading to a good finish. I started to realize that I needed something to tell why it is so important that Elena has been trapped in her body by the voice of the patriarchy. I started thinking about this as I was working on my outline and knew I needed to add more at the end of my paper to show how Elena’s entrapment has caused her to not fulfill a “Woman’s Destiny”. From there, I was able to add onto the outline to explain how when a woman does not let herself be confined in a home by a man, she will not be allowed to have her own home or be a mother by herself. I feel that adding this on to my argument begins my paper to a good point that shows “why” it was important to know that the patriarchy trapped her in her body.
What was easy about the outline process was putting evidence in the outline and making claims based on them. However, it was difficult to find out how to organize the outline logically. As I explained above, realizing that I needed a larger section of literary review caused me to need to move evidence and ideas around until the outline logically made sense. Also, it was difficult to think about what was missing. As soon as I was finished the outline the first time, I was left questioning “but what was the point?” The outline helped organize my thoughts to allow me to really think about what I needed to add onto my argument but organizing it took me a lot of time.
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