Ask your instructor whether she wants a topic outline or a sentence outline. Topic outlines use short phrases to describe each point covered in the text. Sentence outlines require complete sentences. If you use the wrong outline form you may lose credit.
On the right side of the header, type your last name followed by the outline page number. This should appear in the margin on every page of your research paper outline.
Type the title of your paper as the title of your outline. Never use the word "Outline" as the title. Center the title 1 inch down from the top of the page. Do not set the outline title off with all caps, underlining, bold text and so on.
Include an introduction, a conclusion and at least two body subdivisions in the structure of your outline.
Assign Roman numerals to main topics within the paper. Often, each paragraph in the paper is outlined under a main topic heading. If you are writing a longer paper with multiple sections, each section may be treated with a main topic heading. Place a period after each Roman numeral.
Capitalize subheadings included within the main topic. Each main topic must point to at least two subheadings that explain or support the main topic. Place a period after each capital letter.
Number subtopics included under the subheading. These are optional within the outline, but there cannot be only one numbered subtopic under any subheading. The subtopics clarify the capital-letter subheadings. Place a period after each number.
Indicate details under subtopics with lower case letters. These too are optional in an MLA outline, but there must be at least two under any subtopic that lists them. Place a period after each lower case letter.
Begin each phrase or sentence in the outline with a capital letter. Do not use other capital letters unless there are proper nouns.
Indent subheadings, subtopics and details in your outline so that all letters or numbers of the same kind line up with each other. This makes the research paper outline easier to follow.