0.5 Formal outline

A formal outline is important to begin to develop the body of your medical Master’s Thesis paper. The formal outline is made up of a list of topics and sub-topics. This list presents your main ideas in a logical sequence. It also shows relationships and connection of the topics and sub-topics to the thesis statement. When you begin writing an essay, use the following formal outline as a guide:

I. INTRODUCTION:

1. It should include your thesis statement.

II. ETIOLOGY:

1. Causes
2. Symptoms
3. Affected patient population
4. Frequency/incidence rates
5. Mortality rates or chances of survival
6. Risks Factors
7. Effects of lack of medical intervention

III. PREVENTION:

1. Lifestyle Changes
   1. Diet
   2. Physical activity
   3. Supplements
2. Early diagnosis
3. Risks factors
4. Cost-effect of managed care
5. Full function capacity or ability of the patient
6. Improvement in the patient’s quality of life

IV. DIAGNOSIS:

1. Screening tests
2. Confirmatory tests
3. New laboratory tests
4. Current tests
5. Accuracy&reliability of the lab tests
6. Cost-effectiveness of the lab tests

V. TREATMENTS:

1. Current treatments
2. New treatments
3. Clinical trials
4. Efficacy of the therapy
5. Therapeutic effect
6. Risks Factors or side effects
7. Chances of full recovery or survival

VI. MANAGEMENT:

1. Patient medical care or rehabilitation
   1. Out-patient
   2. In-patient
   3. Hospice
2. Prognosis
   1. Risks Factors
   2. Full or partial recovery
   3. Remission rates or chances of survival
3. Cost of medical intervention

VII. CONCLUSION:

1. Reconfirm or reword your thesis
2. Summarize your main points
3. Using your own opinion and words, explain why you have come to this particular conclusion