Ask yourself what aspect of business leaders do you want to concentrate on. Do you want to focus on local business leaders or what they do? Do you want to focus on a specific industry a business leader is in or what kinds of qualities that she has? Focus on what your main topic and thesis will be.
Choose your topic in relation to business leaders, and begin outlining how you're going to present it in the introduction. Place your thesis (which is an argument or idea you want to express throughout the entire paper) at the top of the outline or in the introduction. Create the first section by naming the main heading the introduction. How you label your sub-sections is your choice. You can either use numbers for the main heading and letters for sub-headings, or Roman numerals. In the second line under the heading, create a sub-section labeled topic or thesis. Write down your main idea, and how you're going to present it in your paper. Underneath the topic, use bullet points, letters, or numbers to list the main parts of your introductory paragraph. Give each sub-section in the outline its own paragraph in the paper if there is more than one sub-section in the introduction. Each point should have a brief explanation of what you're going to discuss. Introductions are usually about what the thesis will prove or discuss.
For example, if you're writing about business leaders in your local city, then you should list each leader's name and the significance each leader has. You can also list one quick accomplishment. Keep it brief, and leave the main writing for your paper.
I. Introduction
A. Topic or Thesis
1. list of main ideas
2. idea
3. idea
Create a new section for the body of your paper. These sections in the outline will allow you to develop and organize detailed ideas that will support your thesis. Label this section as the body, and write down what aspect of the topic you are going to focus on in the sub-heading. You can have more than one sub-section for the body of the outline. In each sub-section, you should include the main points of each paragraph, and give a one to three-sentence description of what you're discussing. Make sure you use bullet points, letters or numbers for each of the main ideas, and label the explanations as well.
For instance, if the topic is about business leaders and their communities, or types of leaders, then you should devote one sub-section to each business or type of business leader you are discussing. List their main attributes and how they impact their community. Be sure to state why and how it relates to your topic and thesis.
II. Body
A. Idea
1. supporting fact or reason
2. explanation
3. references
B. Idea
1. supporting fact or reason
2. explanation
3. references
Use research and facts to strengthen your thesis, statements, and the main ideas that you present. Note that it's also a good idea to place where you will include and cite your research in the outline. Knowing where your citations will be makes the writing process much faster. In each section, include where you're going to quote your research; that way, you don't waste time away from writing. Choose what type of style you're using in writing your paper. Research papers usually are written in MLA format.
Continue the same labeling structure for your last section of your outline, and call the main heading your conclusion. Under the conclusion, write what your main closing sentence will be, and briefly state the remaining points that will help conclude the paper. If there is more than one sub-section for the conclusion of your outline, be sure to give each sub-section its own paragraph in the paper. Also, a good conclusion will briefly summarize the main points of the paper.
A good example of a closing sentence is, "In conclusion, business leaders have afforded the community with many advantages." Briefly state the advantages, and list how all of your main ideas support your topic in the outline. This will provide a nice closing to your outline and your paper.
III. Conclusion
A. Concluding sentence
1. summarize main points
2. main point and why
3. possible reference
4. analyze the end result of paper and conclude it