Once you have collected your information, you are ready to begin organizing it. When you look back over your notes, you will find that the notes fall into general headings. For example, look back at the three sample note cards on the topic of holography. The first note card is about the invention of holography, the second how holography works, and the third the practical uses of holography. The rest of the notes the writer takes on this subject fall into these three categories. The notes you make for your research report may fall into more than three categories, but there should not be fewer than three. Having fewer than three headings now may mean that your report will not be adequately developed.
The Thesis Sentence
After you have found the main categories that your report will cover, you are ready to write a thesis sentence. This sentence states the topic of your report and indicates the main points you will make about the topic. For example, a thesis sentence for the report on holography outlined on pages 150-151 might be: "To those who do not understand holography, the process seems like magic, but holography is very real and has many practical uses."
This sentence lets the reader know the topic of the report holography and indicates that the report will explain how holography works and what its practical uses are. A thesis sentence has two functions. First, it helps the writer to decide which details belong in the report and which are irrelevant. Second, it tells the reader what to expect from the report.
Kinds of Outlines
One way to organize your notes is to make an informal outline, which is a grouping of information under general headings. The information may or may not be written in sentence form. On the next page, for example, is an informal topic outline for the topic of holography:
General Information
Dr. Dennis Gabor and other scientists invented
Three-dimensional photographs called holograms
Process that makes them called holography How Holography Works
Regular light used with ordinary camera for two-dimensional pictures
Laser light split and beamed against film for three-dimensional pictures
Practical Uses of Holography
Three-dimensional X-rays
Holograms of objects on other planets Future Uses of Holography
Holographic television
Holographic movies
Holographic students
Another kind of outline you may use with a factual report is a formal outline, which also divides topics into major headings and items of information that develop the major heading. With a formal outline, however, you use Roman numerals (I, II III) and capital letters (A, B, C) to show major headings and subheadings. The following is a formal outline for the topics of holography.
I. General information
A. Dr. Dennis Gabor and other scientists invented
B. Three-dimensional photographs called holograms
C. Process that makes three-dimensional photographs called holography
II. How holography works
A. Regular light used with ordinary camera for two dimensional pictures
B. Laser light used with holography for three-dimensional pictures
1. Laser light first split
2. Split light beamed against film
III. Practical uses of holography
A. Three-dimensional X-rays
B. Holograms of objects on other planets
IV. Future uses of holography
A. Holographic television
B. Holographic movies
C. Holographic students
This outline is called a topic outline because it does not use complete sentences. Notice that the capital letter A for the first subheading comes directly beneath the first word of the major heading. When you divide the subheadings, use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) to show these divisions. The numeral 1 appears directly beneath the first word of the subheading:
B. Laser light used with holography for three-dimensional pictures
1. Laser light first split
2. Split light beamed against film
If you want to make even more divisions, you show these with small letters:
I. Major heading
A. Subheading
• Subheading
• Subheading
a. Subheading
b. Subheading
B. Subheading
II. Major heading
