Keyword Outline: When we want to write about another person's words or ideas, using a Key Word Outline can help us from slipping into plagiarism. In other words, it helps us make the writing our own. Here is an example:

Original sentence from a magazine article:

Williamsburg Academy is the leader in the industry of online high school education, and they hope to have charter school relationships in all fifty states one day so that all student can have this great educational opportunity.

Notice, the 7 key words that are highlighted. These words represent the most meaning in the sentence.

Then, you transfer these words to an outline:

W.A., leader, industry, online, school, charter, fifty states, opportunity

Next, use only these words to rewrite your own sentence, and you are more likely to make it your own language. Watch this:

Williamsburg Academy is definitely a leader in the industry of online schools, and they want to open charter schools in all of the fifty states to give as many students as possible the opportunity to have this great education.

Power-packed Words: Power-packed Words are the words in the paragraph and/or essay that represent the most meaning of the entire essay. They are the words that "carry" the message. With these words, you get the most bang for your buck. These are the "key words" of the paragraph that you use to write a Topic or Clincher sentence, or they can be the "key words" of the essay that you use to write your Thesis or Final Clincher statement.

Keyword Outline - Background Information

Research for Background Information: The Introductory Paragraph of your essay requires background information on your topic. However, you may not repeat information that is already in the body of your essay. Find some new and interesting information.

Research - Using a good Internet search engine, search for history and/or trivia on your topic that would set an interesting stage for your essay. Look for information on the author that seems relevant to your essay, or look for information about the characters you are writing about. You can also use statistics, laws, studies, or even a chronological history that explains your topic on a timeline. This background information must have a clear connection to your essay.

Background Information from Research
[Place the copied 7-9 sentences you research here]

Putting Research in Your Words - Next, highlight 4-5 keywords from each of the background information sentences you copied above. You will use these keywords to write about this research in your Intro Paragraph. Put the highlighted words into the Keyword Outline lines below:

Keyword Outline: Transfer the keywords you highlighted to the lines below.
[Insert 4-5 keywords from sentence #1 here]
[Insert 4-5 keywords from sentence #2 here]
[Insert 4-5 keywords from sentence #3 here]
[Insert 4-5 keywords from sentence #4 here]
[Insert 4-5 keywords from sentence #5 here]
[Insert 4-5 keywords from sentence #6 here]
[Insert 4-5 keywords from sentence #7 here]
[Insert 4-5 keywords from sentence #8 here]
[Insert 4-5 keywords from sentence #9 here]

Background Information - Now using the keywords you’ve chosen and as many other words you need, create new sentences about the background information you researched. These sentences are now in your own words and voice!
[Insert your sentences here]

Bibliography Entry - List a full bibliography entry for your background research here. If you need help writing a Bibliography, look at the Wikipages in Canvas for this class and find the link, “Bibliography.”
[Insert the citation for your source here]