Formal vs. Informal

In an informal outline, you simply try to break your notes down roughly into sections which, even early on, clearly correspond to different parts of your document--for instance, sections which correspond to different supporting reasons. Just skipping some lines or starting a new paragraph is enough of a signal that you're beginning a new section. If your thoughts are clear enough so that you can label each section, so much the better.

Formal outlines follow a prescribed format but accomplishes the same purpose: organizing thought and the support needed to develop the ideas fully.

FORMAL OUTLINE

Thesis statement (main idea)

    1. First main topic

      1. First subordinate idea

        1. First supporting idea

        2. Second supporting idea

        3. Third supporting idea

      2. Second subordinate idea

        1. First supporting idea

        2. Second supporting idea

        3. Third supporting idea

  1. Second main topic

      1. First subordinate idea

        1. First supporting idea

        2. Second supporting idea

      2. Second subordinate idea

        1. First supporting idea

        2. Second supporting idea

          1. First supporting detail

          2. Second supporting detail

Each level contains at least two parts, so there is no A without a B, no 1 without a 2; however, each level may be divided without concern for the other level.

Source: www.svcc.edu/students/LAC/forms/Formal%20Outline.rtf

"How to Make a Formal Outline in Microsoft Word"

www.huffenglish.com/handouts/formaloutline.rtf

The document provides instructions for dealing with formatting issues in MS