{
  "name": "Chapter outline rules stated by university writing and dissertation guides",
  "description": "Rules for outlining a thesis or dissertation chapter, compiled from four openly readable university documents; each row records the rule, the document that states it, the topic it governs and the date it was read.",
  "page": "https://casrai.org/guides/chapter-outline-template",
  "publisher": "CASRAI",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "dateModified": "2026-11-12T20:20:37Z",
  "temporalCoverage": null,
  "spatialCoverage": null,
  "columns": [
    {
      "name": "Rule",
      "unit": "",
      "description": ""
    },
    {
      "name": "Source document",
      "unit": "",
      "description": ""
    },
    {
      "name": "Applies to",
      "unit": "",
      "description": ""
    },
    {
      "name": "Date read",
      "unit": "",
      "description": ""
    }
  ],
  "rows": [
    {
      "Rule": "Each chapter completes one part of the overall research purpose",
      "Source document": "Antioch University Virtual Writing Center, Writing a Chapter in a Larger Document (25 Jul 2019)",
      "Applies to": "Chapter goal",
      "Date read": "2026-11-12"
    },
    {
      "Rule": "List each section and subsection and what it must accomplish",
      "Source document": "Antioch University Virtual Writing Center, Writing a Chapter in a Larger Document (25 Jul 2019)",
      "Applies to": "Outline content",
      "Date read": "2026-11-12"
    },
    {
      "Rule": "Reused old writing is rewritten and integrated into the final chapter",
      "Source document": "Antioch University Virtual Writing Center, Writing a Chapter in a Larger Document (25 Jul 2019)",
      "Applies to": "Drafting from outline",
      "Date read": "2026-11-12"
    },
    {
      "Rule": "Headings preserve parallel structure",
      "Source document": "Purdue OWL, Developing an Outline",
      "Applies to": "Heading format",
      "Date read": "2026-11-12"
    },
    {
      "Rule": "Each heading is divided into two or more parts",
      "Source document": "Purdue OWL, Developing an Outline",
      "Applies to": "Heading format",
      "Date read": "2026-11-12"
    },
    {
      "Rule": "Title, problem, purpose, method and research questions must align",
      "Source document": "Regent University, Sample Dissertation Outline (undated, program-specific)",
      "Applies to": "Alignment",
      "Date read": "2026-11-12"
    },
    {
      "Rule": "Every heading has a paragraph under it; paragraphs at least 5 sentences",
      "Source document": "Regent University, Sample Dissertation Outline (undated, program-specific)",
      "Applies to": "Completeness",
      "Date read": "2026-11-12"
    },
    {
      "Rule": "Chapters 1 to 3 end with a summary; chapter 4 ends with a conclusion",
      "Source document": "Regent University, Sample Dissertation Outline (undated, program-specific)",
      "Applies to": "Chapter endings",
      "Date read": "2026-11-12"
    },
    {
      "Rule": "Heading styles in a sample may not match your discipline; consult chair and style guide",
      "Source document": "Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Thesis Chapter Method Guide (Spring 2023)",
      "Applies to": "Heading format",
      "Date read": "2026-11-12"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Antioch University VWC: Writing a Chapter in a Larger Document",
      "url": "https://www.antioch.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/VWC-Writing-a-Chapter-in-a-Larger-Document.pdf",
      "accessed": "2026-11-12"
    },
    {
      "title": "Regent University: Sample Dissertation Outline",
      "url": "https://www.regent.edu/acad/schcou/students/documents/dissertation_forms/Sample%20Dissertation%20Outline.pdf",
      "accessed": "2026-11-12"
    },
    {
      "title": "Purdue OWL: Developing an Outline",
      "url": "https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/developing_an_outline/index.html",
      "accessed": "2026-11-12"
    },
    {
      "title": "TAMUCC: Thesis Chapter Method Guide",
      "url": "https://www.tamucc.edu/grad-college/current-students/assets/documents/dissertation-thesis/guides/thesis-chapter-method-guide.pdf",
      "accessed": "2026-11-12"
    }
  ]
}