{"id":4732,"date":"2021-11-16T10:14:44","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T15:14:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/?p=4732"},"modified":"2021-11-18T10:05:34","modified_gmt":"2021-11-18T15:05:34","slug":"tips-on-outlines-and-structured-documents-in-word","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/?p=4732","title":{"rendered":"Tips on Outlines and Structured Documents in Word"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When creating a law school outline, writing a research memo, or formatting any structured document, some steps tend to be tedious.\u00a0 Thankfully, by following a few tips, a program like Microsoft Word can make this process efficient and flexible.\u00a0 In this post, we share tips on creating course outlines and structured documents, focusing on technical features.<\/p>\n<p>We presented these as part of an in-person demo and Q&amp;A session in the law school lobby.\u00a0 Here you&#8217;ll find direct links and a few screen shots to get you started.<\/p>\n<p>Here are five tips and examples of how they work:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Use headings<\/li>\n<li>Use styles<\/li>\n<li>Use templates<\/li>\n<li>Use outline view<\/li>\n<li>Automate your table of contents<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h1>Use Headings<\/h1>\n<p>In any structured document, you should separate document <strong><em>organization<\/em> <\/strong>from <em><strong>presentation<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 To do this best, use headings to organize topics and sub-topics. Here you see headings as well as the Title and Subtitle elements in the toolbar for Word for Windows and Word Online:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4737\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4737\" style=\"width: 441px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4737 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-headings.png\" alt=\"Word Headings\" width=\"441\" height=\"70\" srcset=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-headings.png 441w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-headings-300x48.png 300w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-headings-150x24.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 441px) 100vw, 441px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4737\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Headings toolbar in Word for Windows<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4738\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4738\" style=\"width: 520px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4738 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-headings2.png\" alt=\"Word Headings\" width=\"520\" height=\"99\" srcset=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-headings2.png 520w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-headings2-300x57.png 300w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-headings2-150x29.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4738\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Headings toolbar in Word Online<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In a contracts law outline, you might choose this structure for the topic of formation:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Heading 1: Formation of Contracts\n<ul>\n<li>Heading 2: Offer<\/li>\n<li>Heading 2: Acceptance<\/li>\n<li>Etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1>Use Styles<\/h1>\n<p>By default, every heading and element of a document has a specific style.\u00a0 Each heading has a specific font, size and style of text.\u00a0 You can edit these globally in the style menu on word.<\/p>\n<p>This graphic shows the editing features, here adopting\u00a0<strong>bold<\/strong>, 22 points, Times New Roman and a line beneath the text for a Heading 1.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4739\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4739\" style=\"width: 526px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4739 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-styles.png\" alt=\"Word Style Editor\" width=\"526\" height=\"539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-styles.png 526w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-styles-293x300.png 293w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-styles-146x150.png 146w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4739\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Style Editor Window in Word<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Note that this is done once and it updates the entire document.\u00a0 There&#8217;s no need to highlight text and update individual elements.<\/p>\n<h1>Use Templates = &#8220;stock&#8221; or customized<\/h1>\n<p>To enhance the look and feel of a structure document, explore two features found in the Design tab in Word:\u00a0 These are the Themes and Style Sets.<\/p>\n<p>You may be familiar with themes from PowerPoint.\u00a0 Each theme contains a specific color palette, typeface and layout elements as a starting point.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4746\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4746\" style=\"width: 337px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4746 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/Word-Theme.png\" alt=\"Microsoft Word Themes\" width=\"337\" height=\"465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/Word-Theme.png 337w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/Word-Theme-217x300.png 217w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/Word-Theme-109x150.png 109w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 337px) 100vw, 337px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4746\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Microsoft Office Themes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Style Sets are more suitable to standard legal documents.\u00a0 With these, the focus is primarily on text attributes.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4747\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4747\" style=\"width: 453px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4747 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-stylesets.png\" alt=\"Word Style Sets\" width=\"453\" height=\"329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-stylesets.png 453w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-stylesets-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-stylesets-150x109.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 453px) 100vw, 453px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4747\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Microsoft Word Style Sets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1>Use Outline View<\/h1>\n<p>When you&#8217;re writing an outline for class, if you follow the tips to structure content with headings, you can use the Word Outline View to organize, sort and structure your own content.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4754\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4754\" style=\"width: 351px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4754\" src=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/outline-view.png\" alt=\"Word Outline View\" width=\"351\" height=\"239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/outline-view.png 351w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/outline-view-300x204.png 300w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/outline-view-150x102.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 351px) 100vw, 351px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4754\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Outline View in Word<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>With this, Word presents your content in a hierarchical view.\u00a0 This makes it easy to rearrange sections and see the relationship between topics and subtopics in a visual layout.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4755\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4755\" style=\"width: 591px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4755\" src=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/outline-view2.png\" alt=\"Example Contracts Outline\" width=\"591\" height=\"278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/outline-view2.png 591w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/outline-view2-300x141.png 300w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/outline-view2-150x71.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4755\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Outline View for a Contracts Course<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Outline View is also relevant to memos for legal writing or other longer-form assignments.\u00a0 With this, you can move sections around in the document with the confidence that each section remains self-contained.<\/p>\n<h1>Automate your Table of Contents<\/h1>\n<p>As a final matter, with most longer documents,\u00a0 you probably want a table of contents.\u00a0 Many legal writing memorandum assignments require a table of contents.\u00a0 Thankfully it&#8217;s possible to automate the steps to create an automatic Table of Contents. &#8211; As long as you&#8217;ve structured your document with headings, you can create and update an automatic table with just a few steps.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4748\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4748\" style=\"width: 398px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4748 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-TOC.png\" alt=\"Word Table of Contents \" width=\"398\" height=\"487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-TOC.png 398w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-TOC-245x300.png 245w, https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/11\/word-TOC-123x150.png 123w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4748\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Table of Contents options in Word for Windows<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>Other Resources<\/h1>\n<p>When working with document creation software like Word or Excel, you probably have thought: there out to be a better way!\u00a0 It turns out, you are often right.\u00a0 We close this post with tips on where to find answers and develop skills on your own.<\/p>\n<p>Everybody at the University of Richmond has access to LinkedIn Learning, which provides training tutorials for numerous software programs, as well as productivity concepts and broad techniques and concepts. The best option to learn about styles is their: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/learning\/word-formatting-and-styles-in-depth-365-2019\">Word: Formatting and Styles in Depth (Office 365 \/ 2019)<\/a> course.\u00a0 There&#8217;s also a version for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/learning\/word-2016-formatting-and-styles-in-depth?u=39703388\">Word 2016<\/a>. This explains how styles work, how to structure outlines, and how to create reusable structured documents.\u00a0 There is also a tutorial called &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/learning\/organizing-an-outline?u=39703388\">Organizing an Outline<\/a>&#8221; that is less about mechanics of Microsoft Word and more focused on outlining concepts and techniques.<\/p>\n<p>The law library also provides access to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.procertas.com\/\">Procertas<\/a>, which you can use to learn Word and even get certified for your skills.\u00a0 This service covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Acrobat.\u00a0 \u00a0This <a href=\"https:\/\/law-richmond.libguides.com\/c.php?g=1075110&amp;p=8050717\">tutorial about Procertas<\/a> explains how it works, and how you might use it as a student here at Richmond Law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tips and resources to explore productivity features of Microsoft Word for outlines, memos and structured documents <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3011,"featured_media":4750,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36878,811],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-student-news","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3011"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4732"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4732\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4768,"href":"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4732\/revisions\/4768"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/create.richmond.edu\/lawlibrary\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}