The standard outline format is a learning tool designed to help writers get organized when writing a paper or research essay. A standard outline assists the writer by allowing him or her to organize the important subjects and readings for an essay in a chronological format. Using outlines helps the author when he or she is writing the essay because it allows for easier transitioning of paragraphs
. and guarantees no important points are left out.There is a standard, accepted outline format. Each main idea receives a major heading and subsequent supporting ideas are indented and given a different designation. Major outline points are designated using Roman numerals, such as I, II and so on. Next, capitalized letters are used, followed by Arabic numerals (1,2,3) and, lastly lowercase letters. Each layer in should receive an extra indentation, too, so that Roman numeral points are left aligned on the page and subsequent, supporting ideas are indented the appropriate amount of space. Typically, five spaces or one 'tab' are used for each layer, so a lower case letter would receive three tabs worth of space to its left. If more than four layers are necessary in an outline, one should use Arabic numerals inside parenthesis, followed by lowercase letters inside parenthesis. Anyone who finds him or herself needing more designations should consider breaking other headings in to more manageable chunks. This division of designations and indentations makes the outline easy to look at and makes it easy for the author to make sure all supporting points are included. Standard outline format should look like this:I.
A.
1.
a.
(1).
(a).
Standard outline format is frequently required of students, but even those not required to use it can take advantage of the organization it offers. By taking the time to create an outline, a writer can create an essay that is better organized and supported. More reference links: http://www.rwc.uc.edu/benander/prep/outline.html http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/03/
