Write a draft of your thesis statement if you don't have one already. Your thesis will define your paper, and therefore your outline. If you are writing about future nuclear power plants, your research might focus on construction and engineering data, while a paper on the problems with waste disposal might include environmental and health impacts.
Outline your introduction. Label your introduction with a Roman numeral one (I).Your introduction should include the context for your paper (for example the history of your topic or the current events that are being impacted by your topic), your thesis statement and a summary of your research methods. Each subheading should be labeled with a capital letter (A, B, C).
Outline your conclusion. Label your conclusion Roman numeral five (V). It may seem counter-intuitive to outline the conclusion before the introduction, but this is important to ensure that your introduction and conclusion are in agreement. Your conclusion should include: a restatement of your thesis and direct the reader to further reading or research. For a paper on nuclear power, this may include the future direction of any programs or initiatives that you discussed regarding such topics as clean up, safety or plant expansion. Your subheadings should be labeled with capital letters, starting over from A.
Develop your evidence. Label the first section of the body of your report Roman numeral two (II). This section should discuss the evidence that proves your thesis statement. For example, if your paper is about nuclear power literature, include a subheading for each major book, news story or other source that contributes to your overall conclusion. Or, if your paper is about nuclear waste clean up techniques, you would include a subheading for each technique, including burying underground, burying under the ocean, and ejecting into space. Subheadings are labeled with capital letters (A, B, C) and the level below that uses Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
Develop your position. Label the second section of the body of your paper Roman numeral three (III). This section should establish your position or the findings of your research. In the case of nuclear power, this might include the importance of finding new waste management techniques, or the improved safety standards at newer plants. Follow the same numbering for subheadings as in the previous sections.
Include a discussion of opposing viewpoints. Label the third section of the body of your paper Roman numeral four (IV). This section should acknowledge any opposition to your thesis. This shows that your research has been thorough and also gives you the opportunity to refute alternative theories. Follow the same numbering for subheadings as in the previous sections.