I used to use a fairly rigid outlining method for my essays, and then fill in the blanks from there. I've only ever applied this method to literary analysis essays, but it could work with any essay where you're citing a source to argue a point about something. Fair warning: this is going to be a long answer.
First, you need your thesis. The thesis is the foundation of your essay, and you can't make your outline without knowing what point you're going to argue and what evidence you'll use to argue it. In the traditional five-paragraph essay, you'll need three points to make up your body paragraphs. To construct your thesis, simply make your point followed by the evidence you'll present in your paragraphs in the order you'll write those paragraphs. Here's an example thesis outline, and an example of that formula put to use:
In Author's Novel, the behaviour of Character A is used to symbolize X through 1, 2, and 3.
In particular, Joseph Conrad utilizes Kurtz’s Intended and Kurtz’s African mistress to symbolize the Victorian idea of the contrast between civilization and savagery through their differing appearances and mannerisms, as well as through their roles in the eyes of the more prominent male characters and the narrative itself.
The latter example is from a bit of a compare-and-contrast literary essay, but you’ve got the point I’m arguing (the use of the characters to symbolize Victorian ideas about civilization), and the three pieces of evidence I’ll be using to argue it (their looks, their actions, and how male characters in the novel and Conrad himself view them).