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Creating an Outline

Most word-processing software includes an outline feature, allowing you to create and format an outline. Word, for example, allows you to experiment with the organization of information in your document by automatically formatting, filling in, rearranging, and updating your outline. The following guidelines for creating an outline are based on Microsoft Word for Windows 2000, but similar text-production software packages, such as WordPerfect, Acrobat, Word for Macintosh, and other versions of Word provide similar options. Review the Help menu of these packages for instructions on how to create an outline. 


Selecting an Outline Format

The "Bullets and Numbering" function in the Format menu allows you to automatically format and create your outline. Here’s how:

  1. Click where you want your outline to begin. You may put your outline in a new or existing document.
  2. Click the numbering button on the Formatting toolbar. The Arabic numeral 1 will appear at the beginning of your paragraph.
  3. Select Format --> Bullets and Numbering, and then click the Outline Numbered tab if it isn’t already selected. You can then choose one of the outline formats shown or customize one of the available formats to create your own.
  4. To choose from one of the available formats, click on the outline format with the bullets and numbering you want. Then click "OK."
  5. To create your own customized outline format:
    1. Select the type of list you want to modify, and then click "Customize."
    2. Select the formatting options you want by clicking the level you want to modify in the "Level" or the "Preview" box (see figure below).

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    3. Select the number format, number position, and text position you want at that level.
    4. Repeat this process for each level you want to modify.
    5. Click "OK."

Creating and Modifying Your Outline

When the dialog box closes, your paragraph will begin with the number or letter of the first heading. You can then fill in your outline, changing levels and indentation as you go.

  1. To create your outline, begin by typing the words for the first major topic and then pressing the "Enter" or "Return" key for the next paragraph or line. Each paragraph will begin at the same level as the previous paragraph unless you specify otherwise.
  2. To move between levels, click the "Increase Indent" or "Decrease Indent" button in the Formatting menu (see figure below).

  3. To return to normal paragraphs without outline numbering, press your "Enter" key after the last line of the last paragraph you wish to appear in outline form. Then click the Numbering button and the numbering command will be turned off.
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