Pay Close Attention to Coordination and Subordination

Outlines are based on the principles of coordination and subordination—the logical placement of ideas relative to their importance to one another. Ideas that are coordinate are given equal weight; coordinate points are indicated by their parallel alignment. An idea that is subordinate to another is given relatively less weight; subordinate points are indicated by their indentation below the more important points. For an example, see the outline above on using effective subject lines in business-related e-mails: Coordinate points are aligned with one another, while subordinate points are indented below the points that they substantiate. Thus Main Point II is coordinate with Main Point I, Subpoint A is subordinate to Main Point I, Subpoint B is coordinate with Subpoint A, and so forth.

Recheck Division of Main and Subpoints

As you review your outline, evaluate whether any of your main points more properly belong as subpoints to other main points. In a speech draft about interviewing and etiquette training, University of Oklahoma student Amber Pointer found this to be the case when she saw that she had created six main points:

  1. Interviewing is competitive and requires preparation.
  2. As in sports, interviewing requires training to compete well against others.
  3. When you sell yourself in an interview, you want to make your best impression.
  4. When you take a course on interviewing, you become more competitive.
  5. Dressing appropriately is critical to making a good impression.
  6. Proper table manners are key to making a positive impression during a luncheon interview.

Upon examination, Amber realized that main points II and IV are actually subpoints of point I:

  1. Interviewing is competitive and requires preparation.
    1. II A. As in sports, interviewing requires training to compete well against others.
    2. IV B. When you take a course on interviewing, you become more competitive.

Similarly, points V and VI are subpoints of point III (which now becomes main point II):

  1. When you sell yourself in an interview, you want to make your best impression.
    1. V A. Dressing appropriately is critical to making a good impression.
    2. VI B. Proper table manners are key to making a positive impression during a luncheon interview.

As she examined her outline, Amber realized that she had introduced ideas later in her speech that properly supported the first main point and presented other material that was actually subordinate to her second main point. Rather than six main points, Amber’s speech in fact consists of just two.