Inserting a table of contents in a research paper is challenging for most undergraduate and postgraduate students. So, don’t you know how to develop a table of contents for a research paper? Today we will give you helpful tips on making a table of contents in a research paper.
Therefore, this article will discuss the table of contents and more.
What is a table of contents?
A table of content is a list of topic heading and sub-topics of a research paper. As you understand, a research paper consists of different headings and sub-headings, which must be outlined for a professor to know a synopsis of what you are discussing. Additionally, it will be easy for the readers to find specific information quickly.
How to write a table of contents for a research paper
As a beginner, you might wonder how to write a table of contents for a research paper. It is not daunting as you must write each section’s research topics and sub-topics. The sections of a research paper include the title, introduction, literature review, research methodology, data analysis, conclusion, and reference.
All these parts should appear in the table of contents. Therefore, while writing your report, ensure that you put this section in chapters and highlight each chapter with heading 2. The sub-topics should be in heading three; if there are sub-subtopics, they should be in heading 4.
When you do these, it will become simple for you to generate the table of contents page. Suppose you are using Microsoft Word; you should go to references, click on the table of contents, then choose an automatic or manual table of contents.
What does a table of contents look like for a research paper?
This is a list of chapters and sub-chapters of a research paper. The table of contents paper also has the page number alongside the topic or sub-topic.
What you should not include in a table of contents paper
There are parts of a research paper that you should not include in your table of content. However, you might have seen other papers, including these parts don’t as it is not necessary. These parts include the acknowledgment and abstract. They are not a must but ensure you insert all H1, H2, and H3 topics and sub-topics.
What are the examples of table of contents in research paper?
We have two examples of tables of contents that you can use for your research paper. They include automatic and manual. Under the automatic table of contents, you should have labeled the heading and sub-headings using H1, H2, or H3. This will give you a simple time to generate the table of content automatically.
The second is the manual table of content. When you choose this table of contents format, you will enter each heading manually and the page number. We recommend you use the automatic table of contents as it is simple and not prone to mistakes such as wrong topics or page numbers.
How to update table of contents in microsoft word
You have written a new topic or sub-topic that is not on the table of contents you generated. Suppose you experience such, don’t panic or generate a new table of contents.
All you need to do is to go to the top-left corner of your table of content and click update table. By so doing, you will have updated your table of contents paper.
Frequently asked questions
1. Where to place table of contents for a research paper
The table of contents should be after the title page, acknowledgment, and abstract. Immediately before the introduction or chapter one.
2. Importance of table of contents
Inserting a table of contents in your research paper is essential. This is because it enables a reader to locate specific information quickly. Also, it shows the organization of your work, creating an excellent perception for a professor assessing your paper.
Conclusion
We hope you have learned how to write a table of contents for a research paper. These insightful tips are best for you and will enable you to write an exceptional paper. Please, share this content with your colleagues, and if you have any questions, leave a comment, and we will give you an answer.
