Handout C505-02
Title Page Guidelines
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The title page (also sometimes called the cover
page) is the first page of a report and typically
contains the report title, the writer’s name, name
of school, and the date. The name of the course
and the teacher’s name may also be keyed on the
title page.
The title page should be centered horizontally
and vertically on the page. Use the automatic
centering feature of your software for horizontal
and vertical centering of text.
Typically the report title is keyed in all caps and
bold.
There are various acceptable formats for the
design of the title page. If you are using a style
manual, check the specific guidelines in that
manual.
Handout C505-03
Title Page Example
(2” top margin or vertically centered on page)
COMPUTER COMPONENTS
3” (18 SS or 9 DS returns)
By Felisha Jones
DS
Computer Applications I
3” (18 SS or 9 DS returns)
May 1, 2004
Handout C505-04
Outline Guidelines
An outline is a type of enumeration. It usually follows the
title page and precedes the report itself. Check your
software for an outline feature that automatically formats
the different levels.
The guidelines for outlines follow:
 Leave a 2-inch top margin, or you may want to
vertically center it on the page.
 Use the same side margins and format as the report
itself.
 Center the heading in all caps and leave a quadruple
space after the heading.
 Main entries (shown with Roman numerals) should be
keyed in all caps or initial caps and bold. Double
space before and after a main entry.
 Secondary entries (shown with capital letters) should
have important words keyed with initial caps. These
entries are the side headings in a report.
 All other entries (shown with Arabic numbers, i.e. 1,
2, 3, etc., and lower-case letters) should have only the
first word in initial caps. These entries should be
single-spaced. These entries are the paragraph
headings in a report.
 Two spaces follow the entry numbers and letters.
Thus, set tabs (unless using the automatic outlining
feature) every 4 spaces.
Handout C505-05
Outline Example
COMPUTER COMPONENTS (Heading)
(QS)
I. HARDWARE (Roman numerals for main entry)
(DS)
A. Input and Output Devices (Secondary entry, important
words-initial caps)
B. Processing
C. Memory
D. Storage Media
(DS)
II. SOFTWARE
(DS)
A. Operating Systems
B. Graphical User Interfaces
C. Integrated Software
1. Word processing (Other entry with initial caps on first
word only)
2. Spreadsheet
3. Database
D. Software Suites
(DS)
III.
GUIDELINES FOR PURCHASING A COMPUTER
(DS)
A. Buying Direct or Retail
B. Selecting a Vendor
C. Warranty
Handout C505-06
Table of Contents Guidelines
The Table of Contents follows the cover page of a report.
The guidelines for a Table of Contents follow:
 Check your software! Some contain features that enable you
to automatically create a Table of Contents from the Outline
or report.
 Use the same margins as in the report itself.
 Center the heading, CONTENTS or TABLE OF
CONTENTS, in all caps 2” from the top of the page, and
quadruple space after the heading.
 Each entry in the Contents refers to a chapter or major
section and should be keyed in capital and lower-case letters
(initial caps).
 Precede each major entry with a Roman numeral and use
right aligned tab stops with leaders (row of periods) to lead
the reader’s eye from the entry to its respective page number.
Check your software’s automated feature for creating leaders
with tabs. Using the automated feature assures that leaders
will be aligned consistently within all lines of text.
 Place a double space before and after all major entries.
Single-space all secondary entries.
 Subtopics (secondary headings) within each section should
be typed a double space below the major headings and
formatted with a .5” indent.
 Number the Contents page(s) at the bottom center and with
lower-case Roman numerals (i.e., i, ii, etc.) Check your
software to insert and customize the page numbering.
Handout C505-07
Table of Contents Example
CONTENTS
(QS)
I. Hardware .............................................................................................. 1
(DS)
A. Input & Output Devices ................................................................. 2
B. Processing ....................................................................................... 4
C. Memory........................................................................................... 6
D. Storage Media ................................................................................. 9
(DS)
II. Software ............................................................................................ 12
(DS)
A. Operating Systems ........................................................................ 12
B. Graphical User Interfaces ............................................................. 14
C. Integrated Software....................................................................... 17
1. Word Processing ...................................................................... 17
2. Spreadsheet .............................................................................. 18
3. Database ................................................................................... 19
D. Software Suites ............................................................................. 20
(DS)
III. Guidelines for Purchasing a Computer............................................ 21
(DS)
A. Buying Direct or Retail ................................................................ 21
B. Selecting a Vendor........................................................................ 22
C. Warranty ....................................................................................... 23
(i)
Handout C505-08
Unbound and Leftbound Report
Guidelines
Unbound reports are typically short reports (either
business or academic) prepared without binders or covers.
A multi-page unbound report may be held together by
paper clip or staple.
Leftbound reports differ only in that they are bound with a
binder or cover.
The format guidelines for unbound and leftbound reports
follow:
 The top margin of the first page on a business report is
2” and 1” on an academic report. Succeeding pages
have a 1” top margin.
 Side margins are 1” for an unbound report. For
leftbound reports, the left margin only is increased to
1.5” to accommodate for the binding or cover. The
right margin remains at 1”.
 The bottom margin is 1”, although that may vary as
page-break decisions are made. (Example: Avoid
widows and orphans and do not split side headings
from the paragraph that immediately follows.)
 Center the title of the report in all caps for business
reports or initial caps for important words and bold for
academic reports. Double-space between the title and
the body of the report in an academic report and
quadruple-space in a business report.
 Double-space the body of the report.
Handout C505-08 Page 2
 The first page of some academic reports has a heading
keyed 1” from the top at the left margin as illustrated
(thus a title page is unnecessary).
Anne Kilpatrick
Ms. Jones
English 10
15 April 2004 (Date is keyed in military style.)
 The second and succeeding pages typically have a
page number .5” from the top, aligned at the right
margin. Double-space after the page number. Check
your software for a page numbering feature or the use
of a header for page numbers. There are several
acceptable page numbering styles. The student’s last
name should precede the page number. (Example:
Kilpatrick 4)
 Indent the first line of each paragraph .5” (check the
automatic special indentation feature of your
software).
 Enumerated (numbered) items within a report
should be single-spaced with a double-space between
items. They should also be formatted with a left
indentation of .5”.
Handout C505-08 Page 3
A long quote consists of four or more lines. An example of
a long quote in a business report:
In her book, Turabian provides the following definition of
the ellipses:
Any omission of words, phrases, or paragraphs in
quoted matter is indicated by ellipsis points, which
are period dots, not asterisks (stars). There should
be a space before each dot, unless the first dot is a
period, and a space also after the last if a word
follows. (156)
An example of a long quote in an academic report:
Jones 3
Omission of words, phrases, or sentences of the original text is
permitted on the grounds of brevity and to exclude irrelevant
data.
Writers should use their own words most of the time . . .
In other words, credit must be given to sources, whether
they are quoted directly or paraphrased. (Shepherd, 50)
Handout C505-08 Page 4
 Quotation marks are not used in long quotes. Instead,
block indentation is used to set off the text by .5” from
the left (and right margins if you choose) in a business
report and 1” from the left margin only in an
academic report.
 A long quote begins a double space below the line
preceding the quote and a double space should follow
it.
 The spacing within a long quote is SS for a business
report and DS for an academic report.
Text references in reports can take several forms.
Typically, you should refer to a style manual for the
specific format required for your report.
 Textual citations (or parenthetical references) are
formatted in parentheses within the body of a report.
You can see an example of textual citations in the
examples above of long quotations. The author’s
name and the page number of where the source can be
found is located in parentheses at the end of the
passage (long quote).
 A second form is to place all the notes at the end of
the report. These are called endnotes or works cited.
 A third way is to place the notes at the bottom of the
same page on which they occur. These references are
called footnotes. Check your software for automated
features in formatting text references as either
endnotes or footnotes.
Handout C505-08 Page 5
If not using an automated feature, typically, footnotes
will appear a double-space below the last line of text on
the page. A horizontal line (approximately 1.5” in
length) separates the footnote from the text. After the
horizontal divider line, double-space, indent the first line
.5”, and key the superscript footnote number (superior
figure) followed by the text reference in a proper form.
Continue to consecutively number each footnote. Check
the style manuals for variances in this format.
Single-space continuation lines and begin them at the left
margin. Double-space between footnotes.
Footnotes require that you plan ahead and provide for
the space needed on the page if not using an automated
footnote feature.
Footnotes, like endnotes or works cited, refer the reader to
information outside the text. They may be used to
acknowledge the source of information, to support
arguments, to provide additional material, to identify
quoted material, to elaborate on the meaning, or to refer to
other parts of the text.
Source footnotes provide the reader with the essential
details necessary to find the reference. Source footnotes
consist of these four elements:
Author(s) + Title of Work + Facts of Publication + Page
Reference
An example of a superscript text reference:
In 1875, he moved to England.1 At that time, he was
Handout C505-08 Page 6
Examples of footnotes:
__________________
1. Peter F. Drucker, Managing in Turbulent Times, Harper &
Row, New York, 1980, p. 165.
__________________
1
Peter F. Drucker, Managing in Turbulent Times, Harper &
Row, New York, 1980, p. 165.
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When endnotes are used instead of footnotes, they are
placed at the end of the report typically on a separate
page. Number the endnotes page the same way the
other pages of the report are numbered.
Center the heading, ENDNOTES, in all caps and use
a 2” top margin.
Use the same side margins as used in the report.
Endnotes are numbered consecutively as they appear
in the report and are preceded by a superscript
number.
They have a first-line indent of .5” from the left
margin.
Each individual entry is single-spaced, with a double
space between entries.
Endnotes are similar in content to footnotes.
Handout C505-09 Page 4
Bibliography Guidelines
A bibliography is an alphabetical listing of the material used in
the report (such as textual citations, footnotes, endnotes, and
related material which may have been used but not cited), and is
located at the end of the report. The format for a bibliography
page follows:
 Follow the margins used for the research paper (leaving a 2”
top margin).
 Center the title, BIBLIOGRAPHY, in all caps, followed by
a quadruple space between the title and the first entry.
 The first line of each entry should be flush with the left
margin. Continuation lines should be indented .5” from the
left. (i.e., hanging indentation—refer to automatic formatting
features in your software)
 Single-space individual entries, with a double space between
entries.
 Separate the main parts of an entry with commas; these are
author (last name, then first name), title, date, and page
numbers. Each entry ends with a period.
 Alphabetize the entries according to the last name of the
author.
 Underline or italicize book, magazine, and newspaper titles
and place quotation marks around the titles of articles, poetry,
or essays. The date of the issue follows the periodical title.
 Always refer to a style manual for specific requirements.
Handout C505-10
Works Cited Guidelines
The Works Cited page is an alphabetical listing of only those
works you cited in the body of the paper. The following guidelines
are based on the MLA (Modern language Association) style:
 The Works Cited page appears at the end of your paper and
the page number should be numbered in sequence with the
body of the report.
 Follow margins used for the research paper (leaving a 1” top
margin). Double-space the list.
 Center the title, WORKS CITED, in all caps and leave a
double space between the title and the first entry.
 The first line of each entry should be flush with the left
margin. Continuation lines should be indented .5” from the
left. (i.e., hanging indentation—refer to automatic formatting
features in your software)
 Alphabetize the entries according to the last name of the
author.
 Separate the main parts of an entry with periods; these are
author (last name, then first name), title, publisher, and page
numbers.
 Underline or italicize book, magazine, and newspaper titles
and place quotation marks around the titles of articles, poetry,
or essays. The date of the issue follows the periodical title.
A colon and one space separates the date and the specific
pages where the article can be found.
 Always refer to a style manual for specific requirements.
Handout C505-11
Outlines, Side, and Paragraph Headings
Outlines are an enumerated organizational tool.
Enumerated (numeral) items are numbered or listed
items.
Side Headings:
Paragraph Headings:
*Begin at the left
margin—NOT indented!
*Indented .5” like the first
line of a paragraph,
because it begins the first
line of a paragraph.
*Does NOT end in a
period.
*Ends with a period.
*Stands alone.
Paragraph that follows
begins on next line. A
DS precedes and
follows the side
heading.
*Shares a line with the
paragraph that follows.
Paragraph immediately
follows the paragraph
heading on the same line.
*Initial cap all
important words.
*Only capitalize the first
letter of the first word.
*Underlined.
*Underlined.