Outlines provide a means of organising your information in an hierarchical or logical order.
Think of it as the blueprint for writing your assignment. It helps organise your ideas or arguments ready for writing.
Image Source: OpenClipart-Vectors. (2013, October 18). File cabinet [image]. Pixabay.
Source: ExpertVillage Leaf Group. (2008, February 4). How to write a college paper: How to structure an outline for a college paper [video]. YouTube.