Lets Put Together Some Structures

   Gotta love reading for English class.  This time, it was another chapter in out book, focusing today on the topics of outlines, structures, and how to put together an argument for a paper.  Think about it, even the action of thinking about it is outlining something, and so structuring a paper, you have to delineate what you're going to write about.
    When you make an outline, that's the real start of your paper.  In that outline, you make note of every point you make, or want to make anyways.  The outline itself is the very structure of your future paper, because in the way that it is laid out.  In my head, Im able to make an outline as i go along, which makes writing extremely easy to do.  I almost never make a formal outline unless it is required of me, but because of my skill in formulating one as I go, I usually am able to write a fully functioning paper.
    From that outline your argument takes shape.  Researching a point, and your own ideas on a topic are two good ways of producing an argument.  If you tie together your own words with the facts form reading up on something, your argument can be clear, concise, and can have your own flavorful spin to it while remaining true to its idea.
    A major part of writing an argument into a paper is the use of quotes and citations, sources.  Using that actual words form a source provides a first-hand basis for  fact and argument that you're making.  By providing these things, you prove that you're not the first person to have had this idea, or, you're not the first person to explore this topic in some manner.  Quotations are an integral part of forming an argument, and therefore an outline.
    Just use common sense.  We've all written papers before, we've had to make outlines and argue our points.  Keep up the good work, and I'll give you a cookie.