Table of contents research paper is quite vital. With that said the clear definition of the table of contents is an organized listing of your file’s sections, chapters and mostly figures that re correctly labeled according to the page number. Therefore, via these tables, your readers should be able to look at them and get a gist on how your paper is organized.
The importance of the table of contents is that it allows your reader to jump to any relevant subsection or section when going through your document. To ensure that this is achieved successfully, you should therefore ensure that your table of content outlines all back matter, front matter and main content. This includes the page numbers and headings of all bibliography and chapters.
You should therefore ensure that your table of contents is easy to read, formatted in the correct manner, and they should be always completed last to ensure that they are very accurate. Even though you can easily finish your table of contents manually, there are a lot of word processing tools like Microsoft Word that allow you to format your table automatically.
At Galaxygrades.com, when we are doing the finishing touches to your dissertation, we do treat the table of contents with utmost care since it is the crucial element in your paper. We reflect much attention to the paper because we understand that this part helps readers navigate your paper via the topic points and your argument. In other words, we perceive the table of contents to be a map.
It could help if you knew that adding the table of contents to a document is quite simple. This activity can be done quickly after you are done writing your research paper. In this guide, Galaxygrades.com experts will take you through the dos and don’ts when it comes to table contents. With our information you can easily manage formatting and processing your dissertation in an incredible manner.
A guide to Writing a Table of Contents
When working on the final touches in your dissertation, you should ensure that you concentrate on the table of contents. As mentioned earlier, it acts as the map the reader uses to navigate your document with much ease.
Whenever you want to write a table of contents, it could help if you started writing the chapter names involved in your research paper in a chronological order. After that, you are then required to draft the subtitles or subheadings and this applies if you have them included in your paper. After all that has been accomplished, you now need to write the page numbers that correspond to your paper’s headings and sub headings. It is important to note that you can quickly set up a table of contents by use of Microsoft Word.
Where should you Place the Table of Contents?
You will always find the table of contents page at the very beginning page of any academic writing project. To specify this, the table of contents page comes right after the title and acknowledgement pages. However, it should not come after the introductory page of any writing project. It is also important to be aware that this position is located at the start of an academic piece and it is accepted universally in any academic writing project.
What should be Included in the Table of Contents
A good table of contents should have the paper’s title which is always located at the topmost part of the page and then followed by the chapter names and subtitles in an orderly manner. At the base of each page, there is a need for you to include the page number that corresponds to the headings in your paper.
Galaxygrades.com has provided you with various chapter names and they include the introduction, abstract, project description, executive summary, summary, marketing plan and conclusion. Visit our website for more examples.
What is the Essence of Having the Table of Contents?
The table of contents is quite vital at the start of any academic writing project because of two important factors. First and foremost, the table aids the reader to locate particular content and sections in your writing seamlessly. Secondly, via the table of contents, the writer can quickly organize your work and arrange various ides in a chronological order so that the most important areas in your academic project are given the first priority. This technique has a great impact that allows you to manage your reader’s expectations in all your academic essays or thesis right from the start.
Get your Thesis Right!
Your academic thesis will be rendered incomplete without a table of contents. It doesn’t matter whether you are completing your postgraduate or Bachelor’s degree, you should include the table in all your submissions. Even though most people advise that you should draft the table after completing your project, Galaxygrades.com experts advice that you should draft a mock table in your initial writing stages.
When you write your table at the early stages, it allows you to create a good structure while thinking through the subject matter and how you are going to conduct your research, create answers and engage your argument.
As you can see, this is close to reverse engineering. You should therefore know how you will organize your chapters and what research quizzes or topics you will utilize during your research as this will help you significantly when it comes to writing.
Therefore, never should you consider the table of contents as an academic formality but rather as something that allows your examiner to get attracted to your topic and comprehend how you have presented your dissertation. If you create a sloppy or unclear table of contents, be prepared for adverse effects on your grades since the dissertation is rendered difficult to follow.
Always consider your examiners as readers because after all, a dissertation is an exercise that needs you to produce an argument. Therefore, with a clear table of contents, be assured of a good impression that will provide a detailed map that will render the examiner’s job smooth while making your argument more persuasive.
How to Create Table of Contents in MS Word
You can easily create a table of contents in word since the entire process is automatic. However, you will first be required to apply the various heading styles in your entire document. After accomplishing that, you then be required to generate the table.
Start by Applying the Heading Styles
Start by perusing your text and make sure all the level of headings are kept in the recommended style. In this case, the style recommended is APA.
After ensuring that the heading styles are congruent, you should move on and update all the heading styles that are listed in the home tab found on top of the screen. Here is a summary of how this is achieved:
1. Highlight the level 1 heading.
2. Right click on the Heading 1 style and press on Update Heading 1 as this command allows the heading to match the selection.
3. Repeat the same process for the remaining heading levels.
After you have done this successfully, you are assured that the remaining updates can be updated quickly and seamlessly by use of the different heading styles found at the home tab. However, you should ensure that all your headings match the recommended design before proceeding.
Now Draft the Table
After the above commands have been applied successfully, you can now proceed and generate the table. You should however start by writing the title “Contents” by use of the level 1 heading style. Then proceed to placing your cursor in between the two lines that are located below this then click on the References tab.
Under this section, click on Table of Contents and then choose the Custom Table of Contents. A window will pop up and under this window, please select the number of level headings that you could like to use and it should always be at least two. This option is found under the show levels and when you have already done this, click OK.
Update your Table
If you follow the instructions given above to the latter, be assured you will have a tale of contents that will be operating under your current page numbers and headings. Assuming that you want to add additional text to your document after performing the above operations, please remember to go back and update your table at the end. This is recommended because the page numbers and headings are expected to change.
When you want to update your table of contents, you are required to right click on the table of contents section then select Update Field. Under this tab, feel free to choose if you want the entire information updated or only the page numbers. However, Galaxygrades.com experts recommend that you should update all the data to reduce curiosity.
Guidelines to follow when adding the Table of Contents
Whenever you want to include a table of contents in your document, please follow the guidelines below.
1. Start with the heading “TABLE OF CONTENTS” and ensure it’s in caps, and center it 2” slightly below the top part of the page.
2. Enter a double spaced line in between the first entry and the heading.
3. Ensure that the table has no listings for any pages preceding it. However, ensure that all the thesis or dissertation parts following it are listed.
4. Ensure that you have listed all appendices together with the reference section if need be. Also remember including their page numbers without assigning separate chapter numbers.
5. Ensure that all entries are in alignment with the document’s left margin or they are indented towards the right by use of consistent tabs.
6. Make sure that all the major subheadings within your content are included in the table of contents.
7. In case there is an entry covering more than a line, make sure you break it up to three-fourths across the page and place the remaining text on the second line following the single-spacing rule.
8. Remember to add a double spaced line in every entry.
9. All page numbers in the table of contents should be found inside the right page margin with the lines of periods covering the spaces between the entry end and page number.
10. Ensure all information in the table is congruent with the headings, sub headings and numbering used in the main content.
11. Remember to number the Table of Contents page by use of lower caps Roman numerals and they should be centered 1/2” from the lower edge.
If you have any questions regarding the table of contents, please contact Galaxygrades.com for help today!
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