An outline is based on coordination and subordination. That means the headings at the same level in an outline should be coordinate and parallel to each other (both the same kind of thing) and subheadings are subordinate to the heading they are under. Since headings are parallel in meaning, they should also be parallel grammatically. If one heading is a noun, the rest should be nouns, and so on.

The points of an outline can be full sentences, or they can be short phrases, but formal outlines should not contain both sentences and phrases. A student's goal is consistency. The advantage of a topical outline is that a reader can quickly see the main points and development of ideas.

An MLA outline page should include a thesis written as a single sentence listed before the outline itself. The word "Outline" should be centered one inch from the top edge of the page. The page numbering for an MLA outline page contains the writer's last name plus a small Roman numeral (beginning with i) in the upper right corner ½ inch from the top edge of the page. The outline follows the title page and precedes the body of the research paper.

Sample Topical Outline

Patel i

Outline

Thesis: Abraham Lincoln, one of America's greatest and most favored presidents, expresses, in his person and through his efforts, the essential ideals of American life.

  1. Lincoln, the Ordinary yet Extraordinary Individual
    1. Lincoln, the Self-Made Man
    2. Lincoln, the American Humorist
    3. Lincoln, the American Adam
  2. Lincoln, the Plain-Spoken yet Compelling Rhetorician
    1. The Farewell Address to Springfield
    2. The Gettysburg Address
    3. The Emancipation Proclamation
  3. Lincoln, the Firm yet Compassionate Leader
    1. Lincoln, the Supreme Commander
    2. Lincoln, the Arbiter of the Constitution