How to Create an Outline for Kids


Now let’s dive into a research paper outline. Unlike a typical essay, a research paper presents a thorough and detailed study on a specific topic. However, it shares the same foundation with an essay in terms of structuring the ideas logically and coherently. The outline for a research paper includes an introduction, a series of topic points that cover various aspects of the main topic, and a conclusion.


We will now delve into a descriptive essay outline example. Descriptive essays aim to create a vivid and detailed description of a person, place, object, or event to paint a picture for the reader. The intention is to immerse the reader in the subject matter fully.

This year we’ve been working on essay writing in one of our co-op classes. A lot. The kids are at different points with their writing skills: a few of them are all about writing out a detailed outline, complete with color coded paragraphs, while a few others need a more visual approach to grasping the concept of outlining.

How to Create an Outline for Kids - Planning Your Writing

Just for fun, I asked Laurianna to help me create a visual outline that would give everyone a little start on writing and completing a five paragraph essay. Their essays and the outline needed to include:

The kids can start with the hamburger essay outline to map out their initial thoughts, and eventually they build a more detailed essay outline like below:

When providing feedback on your child’s essays, ask constructive questions to get them thinking on how to expand their ideas or make connections between points. Having them explain concepts out loud can help your child better translate their thoughts into words on the page. If they make an unsupported claim, gently push them to dig deeper – “why is this true?” or “tell me more about that”. Encourage brainstorming through conversational back-and-forth.

The hamburger essay outline is just a simple pencil/pen sketch that we had fun coloring in, but it has been a help to several of our kids and the kids in co-op – and we wanted to share it with you all as well!


Home · A 5-Step Writing Strategy for Kids · Essay-Outline-Structure.

Outlining is a crucial step in the essay writing process that many children try to skip. Creating an outline prevents kids from becoming overwhelmed as they write. Before your child starts a draft, have them write down their thesis and 3-5 main points that support it. This provides organized structure for their essay and gives them a reference to consult as they write so they stay focused. Require your child to always create at least a basic outline before writing first drafts.

Essay Writing: Lesson for Kids

Before you dive into essay writing, make sure your child has a good grasp on the basic elements of writing. Make sure they know the importance of things such as proper spelling and the rules of grammar. Remember to teach them these concepts at an age-appropriate level; you don’t need to deliver a huge lecture. Be patient and correct them when they make a mistake and explain what the proper way to do things is. These fundamentals are the basic building blocks that you’ll be building their essay skills on. Additionally, consider exploring to understand various approaches and techniques used in writing.

A Simple Outline for Kids Writing Personal Narratives

“Explaining an abstract concept such as a thesis to child can be challenging, but it’s a necessary understanding if they are to write an essay. Give them clear direction and simple examples to help explain what a thesis is and why it’s so important to an essay. Provide some prompts to get them started or give them some examples of what a good thesis statement is,” writes Carolyn Kirsch, educator at . Try and emphasize that the thesis is the core of an essay, everything else is built out from it.

The Ultimate Essay Writing Guide for Kids

Topic choice is often the hardest part of essay writing for kids. Brainstorm engaging topics together that are appropriate for the assignment. Kids may need help narrowing broad subjects down. If your child is stuck choosing, provide structured topic options for them to select from. When possible, encourage your child to write about something they’re interested in – this intrinsic motivation will make the essay writing process more enjoyable for them.

Updated Kids Essay Outline form WITH Writing Process Checklist….

Your outline is a master plan for your essay and will include all the important elements. A lot of children aren’t comfortable expressing their thoughts in writing, and an outline is a great way to encourage them and show them the logical context of their essay. Show them the basic structure, including the introduction, main body, and conclusion. Explain to them that the main body is where they will make their arguments and the conclusion should be a thoughtful summary of their main points.