A system of levels of headings and subheadings can be used to correspond to the levels of subordination in an outline (i.e., the major ideas in your outline can be given a first level heading, the supporting ideas can be given a second level heading, and so on). Organizing your work in levels of subordination that are identified with appropriate levels of headings will make it easier for you to write your paper and will make it easier for your grader to understand your points.

Trinity requires students to use the headings style of Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. However, some study guides might specify how your essay should be formatted. Any specifications from the study guide take precedence over Turabian.

KATE TURABIAN STYLE LEVELS OF HEADINGS

Level 1:

Centered Heading, Underlined or in Boldface, Capitalized Headline Style

Level 2:

Centered Heading, Not Underlined or Boldface, Capitalized Headline Style

Level 3:

Side heading underlined or in boldface, capitalized sentence style

Level 4:

Side heading, not underlined or boldface, capitalized sentence style

Level 5:

Heading indented and run into (at the beginning of) a paragraph and underlined or in boldface, capitalized sentence style