Decide on a lecture topic. The topic should be manageable and should be based on the amount of time that you have to deliver the lecture. This topic will serve as the overall guiding principle for the lecture.
Add an introduction and conclusion section to your outline. For a short outline, these sections can include two or three key points. These points can be point form notes or even single words that capture the essence of the subject at hand.
Break the outline down into themes or categories. A short outline should include three to five themes or categories for sorting data. Each theme or category should include a few short point form notes or words, like the introduction and conclusion.
Add time markers. Short outlines can be enhanced by time markers in each section or category. These markers can be small notes, either highlighted or written in a different color, that note how long the section should take to deliver. These can be adjusted as necessary.