大綱或作階層式大綱是顯示層級關係和樹狀結構型態的一種清單,用於呈現句子之中的要點或者某個主題的條列要旨[1]。當中的每個項目也許會劃分成更多的子項目。目前通用的主流寫作型態指南,建議其組織層級至少要有兩個子分類[2]。這種結構可用於文書的草擬方法、作為文件內容的摘要或是整體理解的途徑。除了清單的形式,尚有多種類型選擇。
以下是相關寫作型態指南的未盡臚列清單:
- Turabian, K. L. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations 7th. Chicago: U. of Chicago Press. 2003: 63–64.
You should have at least two items to list at each level; if you do not, reconsider the structure of the outline.
- Gibaldi, J. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers 6th. New York: Modern Language Association of America. 2003: 53.
Logic requires that there be a II to complement a I, a B to complement an A, and so on.
- Tardiff, Elyssa; Brizee, Allen. Four Main Components for Effective Outlines. 2010-01-08 [2010-04-02]. (原始內容存檔於2010-03-28).
Division – How do I accomplish this? Each heading should be divided into 2 or more parts.
- How to Make an Outline (PDF). Psychology Writing Center, U. of Washington. [2010-04-02]. (原始內容 (PDF)存檔於2010-08-20).
Both topic and sentence outlines follow rigid formats... By convention, each category consists of a minimum of two entries.
- How to Write an Outline. Los Angeles City College Library Online. [2010-04-02]. (原始內容存檔於2010-03-30).
Each heading and subheading must have at least two parts.