Make a list of the points you want to make in your essay or the areas that you plan to research. This helps you to focus your essay. Use this list to create your outline. You can do an essay on gun laws that compares the gun laws of different countries or an essay that covers the history of gun control laws in the United States.
Develop your thesis. This is the main argument of your essay. Write your thesis as a complete sentence in the Introduction section of your outline. A thesis sentence might be "Gun laws in the United States are less strict than they are in many other countries."
Pick three or more main points to make about your thesis. List these as the three or more sections of the body of your essay. You can discuss the history of guns in American culture, gun laws in Europe or the current debate about guns in America.
Provide information to support each of your three main points. This can be a quote from a book or website to support the assertion you are making. It can also include your opinion about a point.
State your conclusion. This is a summary of your three main points and a restatement of your conclusion. You can add a new piece of information or thinking in your conclusion to strengthen your overall argument.
List your citations. These are the sources you are quoting as support in your essay.