Outline Formats

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Outline Formats

7th Grade Computer Literacy

An outline is a way of organizing information in terms of how important it is, and how it relates to other topics.

Outlines are often created as a part of preparing research papers or presentations.

In presentations, using an outline format helps organize the information on slides. This way, the audience of a presentation knows what the main ideas of a presentation are, and what details support that main idea.

The table to the right describes the differences between a formal outline and an informal outline.

FORMAL OUTLINE

INFORMAL OUTLINE

A formal outline is organized using roman numerals, letters, and numbers.

Outlines also use indented text. The indented text in an outline is text that relates to or supports the main idea above it.

In the example image below, Education and Other Training are both details that relate to Requirements.

A formal outline can be a little too complicated for a presentation slide, so you won't use that format in this course.

An informal outline is often organized using bullet points.

Informal outlines can also have indented text to show how ideas are related or supported.

You'll use an informal outline format for the second slide in the presentation.

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