General Principles of Outlining

Details may vary, but the form of an outline follows these general principles:

·       Main topics are the central ideas.

o   They should be briefly and clearly stated and should not be too numerous.

o   If you are outlining an entire book, the main topics will probably be the chapter themes.

o   If you are outlining a chapter, they will probably be the paragraph themes.

o   The main topics are usually denoted in the outline by using Roman numerals: I, II, III, IV, etc.

·       Subtopics are the points that explain the main topics.

o    In an outline of a book, these would be the paragraph themes.

o    These are usually denoted by capital letters: A, B, C, D, etc.

·       Subpoints are the points that explain the subtopics.

o    These are denoted by Arabic numerals: 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.

o    If further subdivisions are needed, they should be noted in progression as follows:

a.

1)

            a)

                        (1)

                                    (a)

Notice how the numbers and letters follow through and how the indentation occurs as each level of detail is added.

·       Capture the logical flow of the author.

o    To be sure that your outline truly captures the logical flow of the author, the subdivisions should do at least one or more of the following:

§  Clarify or explain the main point of the previous larger subdivision.

§  Classify points of the larger subdivision into categories.

§  Define what the larger subdivision means.

§  Serve as examples of the larger subdivision.

§  Illustrate the large subdivision.

·       Each subdivision must have at least two points.

§  If there is a I, there has to be a II.

§  Here is an example of what I mean:

I.    Main topic

A.    Subtopic

B.    Subtopic

1.     Subpoint

2.     Subpoint

II.   Main topic

A.    Subtopic

1.     Subpoint

a.      Subpoint

b.     Subpoint

1)     Subpoint

2)     Subpoint

2.     Subpoint

B.    Subtopic

Now that you have seen how to outline, take a look at this example of a simply outline of 2 Timothy.

               I.     Greeting and Thanksgiving (1:1-5)

             II.     The Perseverance of a Man of God (1:6-18)

A.    The Exhortation (1:6-11)

B.    The Examples (1:12-18)

1.      Paul (1:12-14)

2.      Onesiphorus was not ashamed (1:15-18)

            III.     Entrust to faithful men (2:1-26)

A.    Paul (2:1-2)

B.    A Soldier (2:3-4)

C.    An Athlete (2:5)

D.    A Farmer (2:6-7)

E.     Jesus (2:8-13)

F.     A Worker (2:14-19)

G.    A Vessel (2:20-23)

H.    A Servant (2:21-26)

          IV.     The Perils of a Man of God (3:1-17)

A.    Facing Apostasy (3:1-9)

B.    Defeating Apostasy (3:10-17)

            V.     The Preaching of a Man of God (4:1-5)

A.    The Charge to Preach (4:1-2)

B.    The Need for Preaching (4:3-5)

          VI.     Concluding Remarks (4:6-18)

A.    Paul’s Triumph (4:6-8)

B.    Paul’s Needs (4:9-18)

        VII.     Paul’s Farewells (4:19-22)