5. Outlining

Outlines break down your topic by sub-topic and details.  It uses Roman numerals, Capital Letters, Numbers and lower case letters.  

Using an outline helps the researcher/writer to organize files in the step just prior to writing.

Set up:

Topic:

    I. Subtopic #1

        A. Detail #1

            i. sub-detail #1

            ii. sub-detail #2

            iii. sub-detail #3

                    a. sub-sub-detail #1

                    b. sub-sub-detail #2

        B. Detail #2

             i. sub-detail #1

             ii. sub-detail #2

        C. Detail #3

             i. sub-detail #1

             ii. sub-detail #2

    II. Subtopic #2

        A. Detail #1

            i. sub-detail #1

                    a. sub-sub-detail #1

                    b. sub-sub-detail #2           

            ii. sub-detail #2

            iii. sub-detail #3

                    a. sub-sub-detail #1

                    b. sub-sub-detail #2

        B. Detail #2

             i. sub-detail #1

             ii. sub-detail #2

        C. Detail #3

             i. sub-detail #1

             ii. sub-detail #2

    III. Subtopic #3

        A. Detail #1

        B. Detail #2

        C. Detail #3