Writing an outline can take place at any time during the writing process. Although it is most commonly used before beginning to write or doing research, this process can also take place during or after writing your paper to make sure your points are organized and make sense.
An outline is a first step for writing: a general, unfinished plan that you will use as a guideline in writing, not a finished product ready to publish. You should use it when you prepare to write a rough draft, before you started writing.
