Parents' Place
Making an Outline
An outline can have main topics, subtopics, and details. Every outline should have a title.
- Main topics tell the main ideas. A main topic is set off by a Roman numeral followed by a period.
- Subtopics give supporting facts. A subtopic is set off by a capital letter followed by a period.
- Details give specific facts about the subtopics. They are placed after numbers give more information about a subtopic. A detail is set off by a number followed by a period. More precise details may follow.
Sample Outline:
Knots [TITLE]
- I. History of Knots [MAIN TOPIC]
- A. One of the oldest inventions [SUBTOPIC]
- 1. Used with bows and arrowheads [DETAILS]
- 2. Used for clothing and shelter
- 3. One or two inches taller
- B. Famous Gordian knot
- A. One of the oldest inventions [SUBTOPIC]
- II. Tying Knots
- A. Language of knots to name parts of a rope
- B. Preparing rope for knots
- 1. Work the rope to take out stiffness
- 2. Whip the ends so rope doesn't unravel
- C. Useful knots
- 1. Square knot
- 2. Bowline
- 3. Two half hitches
