A thesis statement is the central message of an essay. This statement needs to accurately reflects the content of your writing. As you develop your writing, you may find a mismatch between the thesis statement and the essay's content. In composing a thesis statement, first make an assertion, a simple statement that covers your topic and your position regarding it. The assertion serves as a focus as you work toward a fully developed thesis.
Outlines often reveal mismatched or missing information, repetitions, or digressions.
A formal outline follows the conventions of content and format that display material in such a way that relationships among ideas are clear and content progression is consistent. Never mix the two styles.