text: how do you write a good outline for a social studies research project? it has to do w/ the edo period.... and i don't know how to start... :( first, the edo period is a huge subject so narrow it down to the main points you are talking about.  depending on the length of the project, each of those points will be your sections or main paragraphs.  label those with nice fat roman numerals.  then chunk each point down and label them a, b, c...  for example:  edo period japan i.   social structure        a.  social class        b.  political structure ii.  art        a.  theater        b.  painting iii. religion        a. shinto        b. buddhism        c. merging of shinto & buddhism  conclusion.   this is a rough outline that could be really edited because its way too general and it isn't very apparent how each point/section relates to one another.  good luck with you own.