Topical Outline Form

A formal topical outline looks something like this:

I.    First main heading

     A.   First subheading

     B.   Second subheading

           1.   First sub-subheading

           2.   Second sub-subheading

II.  Second main heading

and so on

I prefer a topical outline, but you may do a full sentence outline if you prefer. For an example of a research paper with a full sentence outline, see the sample research paper in the Holt Handbook pages 327-342. For an example of a research paper with a topical outline, see the sample research paper in Reasoning & Writing Well, pages 388-395.

Rules for Outlines

• Items at each level must be parallel, both in idea and grammatically

  • For instance, an example of faulty parallelism of ideas would be to have an outline where under I. Dogs, were the subheadings A. German Shepherds, B. Collies, C. Ugly. Ugly is not parallel to German shepherds and collies.

  • An example of faulty parallelism of grammar would be headings like A. Franklin as inventor, B. Franklin as scientist, C. Politics. (To be grammatically parallel, the third point should be C. Franklin as politician)

• There must be at least two divisions for any level

• Parallel levels and headings line up with each other (Roman numerals are directly in line with other Roman numerals, capital letters with capital letters, and so on)

• Levels in descending order are labled Roman Numerals(I, II, III . . . ), Capital letters (A, B, C . . .), Small cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3), Small letters (a, b, c . . .), small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii . . .)

• Headings on outlines show logical sections of your paper, not physical sections. In other words, you do not necessarily have a point on your outline for each paragraph of your paper. Think of the outline as similar to a Table of Contents to the ideas in your paper.

• Points on an outline indicate ideas developed in some depth in the paper.

• An outline is never physically longer than the paper it oultines.

• The points on an outline can be topical or full sentences, but not both. Either all the points are sentences or all the points are topics (words or phrases).

• Not every point on an outline needs to be developed in the same depth. For instance, under A., you might have three subpoints, 1., 2., and 3.., while under B., you might not have any subpoints.

For more information on doing an outline, see any of these links provided by several colleges and instructors on making outlines:

• How to Do an Outline,
• Developing an Outline
• Making an Outline
• BIO 190 - Making an outline
• Making an Outline