How to make an outline in Word

When you want to summarize the content of a writing to make it more understandable and less extensive, one of the most recommended options for both students and professionals is to make outlines. To do this, you must be clear about the type of scheme that will suit you best, since each idea and each project will require its own design. Of course, the objective of the scheme is always the same: locate the main ideas that are either explained in a text, or an exhibitor wants to present.

• Key schemes: This fan-type scheme uses keys of different sizes and has an opening that runs from left to right. The main idea of ​​the outline (or the title of the abstract) comes before the first brace. Afterwards, each key that you draw — and successively from top to bottom — should contain the secondary ideas.
• Arrows scheme: allows you to show connected ideas through arrows, also from left to right. You should always place the main idea on the left and then go expressing the secondary ideas.
• Bar scheme: very similar to braces, but uses vertical bars or lines to enclose secondary ideas. It allows to rank the most outstanding ideas of the text to be summarized and they are also placed from left to right according to the order of importance.
• Diagram type scheme: In this type of diagrams, geometric figures of different shapes are used to enclose the ideas, the most common figure being the rectangle. The idea is to place the main idea of ​​the text or speech at the top and then place the secondary ideas lower (and connected by lines), also within the geometric figures. This scheme is often used to classify a topic in order of importance, in organization charts, in hierarchical representations, etc.
• Development scheme: It is one of the most used models and it is usually seen in the content indexes of graduate works, in books and monographs, etc. It allows to express in a hierarchical, logical and consecutive way the main ideas of the written content. In this type of diagrams, combinations of numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols and other figures are used.

However, and as we have said before, Word gives you the option to make other types of graphics and designs. If you want to discover, for example, How to make a flyer in Word, don’t miss this other oneHOWTO article.

An outline in Word can contain representative images of the writing, boxes for text of different shapes, bullets, numbering, etc. In addition, as Microsoft is launching new versions of Word, this software is improving the functionalities that it offers to the user. Next, in a HOWTO, we will explain how to make an outline in Word 2007 step by step:

1. If you are a beginner, we recommend that you draw the outline by hand and on a blank sheet of paper before doing it in Word, as this will give you an idea of ​​how it will look. This way you will also see the number of rows and columns that your scheme will have.
2. Open a new document in Microsoft Word 2007. In the menu you must select “File” and click on the “New” option (or by clicking the icon with the blank document figure that you will see in the upper options).
3. In this step, we recommend insert a table as a guide, Well, this way you will be able to place the information with the main ideas in the cells. In this way, each element will be organized on the screen and it will make it easier for you to locate the content in the scheme. To do this, you must select the “Insert” menu and then the “Table” option. There a dialog window will appear with several options to write the number of rows and columns that your table will have.

How to make an outline in Word 2007 type braces or bars

1. First, write the main idea in the first column and in the middle row.
2. In the next column, draw the union figures you will use, either braces or bars. For now, leave them blank.
3. Go to the next column and locate the first secondary idea. Write it in the top rows, from top to bottom, trying to mimic what you drew by hand on the blank sheet of paper.
4. If there are more secondary ideas, on the right repeat steps 2 and 3 until you finish with the location of all the ideas in the outline.
5. Finally, you must draw in the columns that you left blank the keys or bars corresponding to the type of scheme made to enclose the secondary ideas. To draw the braces or bars, go to “Insert” and then to “Shapes.” There you will see all the available shapes that can be drawn in Word 2007.
6. Finally, you must remove the edges of the table so that it is not visible. Select the table and, on the ribbon, click “Border”. Then select “Borderless.” Your scheme will be ready!

How to make an outline in Word 2007 type diagram

1. Start by writing a title for your outline or presentation.
2. Go to the menu and give the option “Insert”. Select “Shapes” and then the shapes you want to use for your outline. From unCOMO we suggest you make use of the rectangles, as they are the most practical ways to develop a scheme.
3. Draw the geometric figures you want to use and, as you design them, write the pertinent information inside them. To do this, select the shape in which you want to write, click on the right button of your mouse and press “Add text”.
4. Once each box contains the desired information, connect each geometric shape with lines.
5. If you want to make your scheme more attractive, you can add color to the edges of each figure and to the connectors. You can also fill each rectangle with different colors to differentiate them.

In the following steps we will teach you how to make an outline in Word 2010. If you want to create your own development outline, don’t miss this simple step by step:

1. Open a new document in Microsoft Word 2010. To do this, select the “Blank document” icon that you will find in the upper left part of the ribbon or go to “File” and then to “New”. This last option will show you all the templates that Word 2010 has.
2. In the ribbon menu you must select “View” and then click on the “Scheme” icon.
3. You will see that a combined text box appears on the ribbon where you can select the level you want to work on.
4. A first bullet will then appear in the document where you must write the title of the scheme (or the first level of the development scheme).
5. As you write the levels of the scheme, you can easily go to the following sublevels, you just have to press the option “lower text level”.
6. Go performing the necessary operations as you write the titles of the sublevels. This way you will finish your scheme in no time.

In addition, from UNCOMO we want to present you the options that you will find in the new ribbon of the “Schematic” mode:

• Double arrow to the left: this allows you to move an entire text to the upper level 1.
• Left arrow: allows you to move the selected item to the level above the one you are currently on.
• Combo box text box: allows you to select the level of the outline of the selected element. This option shows the outline level that the text has.
• Right arrow: allows you to decrease an item to the lower level.
• Double arrow to the right: allows you to decrease an element to the lower level of the outline you want.
• Up and Down Arrow Buttons: Allows you to raise or lower the selected item.
• Buttons with the plus and minus symbol (+/-): expand or contract the selected item.
• Combo box text box: used to select the elements to be displayed in the contour or levels that you want to see.
• “Show document” icon: allows you to expose the content of a subdocument and enables the other icons on the ribbon to create, insert and unlink subdocuments.

If you are looking for a default Word outline template, you should know that the program does not offer free options unless you use the SmartArt tool. If you want more information about this option, keep reading this article.

The SmartArt tool has been integrated into this program since 2007. It is a powerful option that allows the user to make outlines in Word more easily. SmartArt is perfect for making graphics in a document directly without having to create a previous table, like this …