Select the topic for your paper or essay, unless one has already been provided to you by your professor; summarize the point or intent of the paper in one sentence. This sentence will be the rough form of your thesis statement. Place it at the top of your outline page.
Choose the main points or categories of your paper. The number of main points you choose should reflect how long the paper is required to be and how many words you think it will take to fully discuss that main point. For example, if you know that the main points you want to write about will each require much explanation and research, then you may want to choose only a few main points. These points should be labeled with large Roman numerals, such as I, II and III.
Determine what sub-points you would like to include under each main point. These should include evidence and research that you plan to provide or already have provided for the main points. Supporting evidence and facts can also be used as sub-points. These should be labeled with letters, such as A, B and C. Each main point must have at least two sub-points, but there is no maximum sub-point amount.
Create a second set of sub-points, if necessary. These can be used if your sub-point requires further discussion or evidence. They are marked by Arabic numerals, such as 1, 2 and 3. Again, if you need to support a sub-point, you must use at least two minor points; there is no maximum. If you continue this process, the alpha-numeration proceeds as follows: lower-case Arabic numerals (a, b and c) and smaller Roman numerals (i, ii and iii).