How to Write a Harvard Outline

How to Write a Harvard Outline

The classic outline form is known as the Harvard outline. Below is an example:  

			History of the Vietnam War
I. Vietnam as part of French Indochina
A.	19th Century imperialism
	1.	Berlin conference, 1890
		a.	Africa
		b.	Chinese concessions
		c.	Southeast Asia
	2.	Restored French national pride after German defeat
	3.	Built up the French business classes after Napoleon III
B.	Tin and rubber industries
C.	Revolutionary insurgencies emerge after 1900
D.	Ho Chi Minh and other French-educated Marxists
II. Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh Coalition
A.	<sub idea here>
B.	<sub idea here>
III. World War II and Japanese Occupation
IV. Vietnamese Declaration of Independence

Rules for Constructing a Harvard Outline

•  Use phrases, not complete sentences

•  Where you have a I, you have to have a II; where you have an A, you have to have a B

•  You don't need sub ideas (sub details)

			Title  (Subject)
I. Main Idea  (Main Topic)  [Paragraph 1]
A.	Sub Idea (Sub Topic)
B.	Sub Idea  (Sub Topic)
	1.	Sub Idea of this sub idea B  (Details)
		a.	Sub Idea of sub idea i   (Sub Details)
		b.	Sub Idea of sub idea ii  (Sub Details)
		c.	Sub Idea of sub idea iii  (Sub Details)
	2.	Sub Idea of sub idea B  (Details)
II. Main Idea  (Main Topic)   [Paragraph 2]
III. Main Idea (Main Topic)   [Paragraph 3]