Bears

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OUTLINES


An outline presents the main ideas and subparts of any topic.
  • The main ideas take roman numerals.  
  • Sub-points under each main idea take capital letters and are indented.
  • Sub-points under the capitals are numbered and are more indented.

    Types of outlines:
  • A topic outline uses only short phrases to suggest ideas.
  • A sentence outline uses full sentences (or very brief paragraphs) to show the development of ideas more fully.
  • If your teacher requires an outline, ask which he/she prefers.

The MLA Handbook suggests the following "descending parts of an outline":

 



Please note that if you have an "A" in your paper, you need to have a "B"; and a "1" requires a "2," and so forth.

The following sample of a topic outline is also taken from the 1994 MLA Handbook: