As we’ve done already, I want a detailed two page outline that explains in depth what you’d like to explore in this research project.  It can be very specific in how you plan to use the information in your project, but it can be rougher than that where you essentially just sort out the major ideas that could appear in your project.  Here are possible options to consider:

WRITE A YES-NO OUTLINE

This might work quite well for you, but depends on your question. If you have a "should" question you want to write about, like "should we allow concealed carry on college campuses," then you might write a list of reasons for both sides of the argument, then include credible sources that support both sides. This type of outline would work really well for a podcast with two guests who have different points of view. It would also work for a web article the explores the different sides of a complex issue where you want to explore a topic in depth without taking a stand.

EXPLORE A QUESTION OUTLINE 

In this outline, you’ll want to first get us hooked in some way, explain what gave rise to the question, and why it’s worth considering.  You’ll then want to take us through possible answers to the question and the benefits and challenges to those challenges.  So, if you were going to ask "What’s better, year-round or traditional schooling?" you might start by talking about the trends toward year-round especially in the face of low-academic performance.  Then, you might lay out the case that people make for year-round schooling, maybe a paragraph for each argument. Then, you might have your next section present the case against year-round schooling.  The last section might look for alternatives that somehow improve performance, but don’t go that same route.

MAKE AN ARGUMENT OUTLINE 

If you do this outline, then it wouldn’t have to be terribly different.  You’ll still want to first get us hooked in some way, explain why the idea’s worth considering, but then you’ll want to have a thesis that presents your point of view.  You’ll then want to take us through the reasons for your argument, counterarguments that are made and your responses to those arguments. 

So, if you were going to argue that year-round schooling is better, you still might start by talking about low-academic performance and the impact that will have..  Then, you would lay out the case for year-round schooling, having a detailed section for each argument. Then, you’d want to have paragraphs where you address the critics concerns in a way that presents accurately what the concerns are, but also leaves readers satisfied that you are still right.

WEBSITE OUTLINE

For a web article, a radio podcast, or a video, you can assume your audience takes in the information in a linear manner. That is, you control what information they get first, second, third and so on. For a website, though, this is not the case. Readers of a website most often start at the home page, but beyond that, they might visit the different pages in a totally different order. For someone creating a website then, you have to consider that each page really needs to stand alone.  

MAKE IT MESSY

Please plan to include quotes and links to articles in your outline. This will make it longer, but mostly it will help you when you go to write.

AIM FOR TWO PAGES WITH LOTS OF DETAIL