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Creating a Table of Contents

Faculties: SW

The table of contents provides an overview of the entire paper and helps you to locate specific sections quickly. It lists the chapters with their numbering and page numbers according to their order in the text. The page numbers are right-aligned. The table of contents is titled “Contents” or “Table of Contents.” All sections of the paper are included, such as the bibliography, any other lists, and appendices. Only the content sections are numbered – Arabic numerals are preferred.

Contents

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in the Social Sciences.

Golden thread

The table of contents must be complete and logically consistent: It corresponds to the structure of the paper, which provides a meaningful, systematic, and logically coherent sequence of the topic covered. In a good structure, the subpoints relate to each other instead of following each other without connection. This structure becomes visible in the table of contents – also referred to as the golden thread, or red thread in German.

The quality of the paper’s structure is an essential criterion for evaluation.

Objectives and structure

This structure, reflected in the table of contents, should be self-explanatory. The goal is for readers to gain a first impression from the heading about what the chapters and subchapters are about. Understandable chapter headings usually consist of more than one or two words. Formulate headings concisely but as precisely as possible.

Depending on the scope and topic of the paper, dividing it into a maximum of three to four levels makes it more manageable. Often, two levels are sufficient. Too many subpoints fragment the paper and indicate that related topics were not grouped together sensibly.

The length of individual sections depends on their content, and you should aim for a suitable balance between the various chapters.

An outline is not a table of contents!

Keep in mind that your outline is a tool to help organize your text. After revising the draft, you should finalize the structure and naming of your chapters, which will then be set out in the table of contents.

Avoid these mistakes

  • The table of contents reflects a paper structured in a way that is not appropriate for the subject of your work.
  • The various topics are not clearly differentiated, i.e., main points do not form a logical frame for the subpoints, and subpoints are not mutually exclusive.
  • The table of contents contains residual categories, such as “Other”. Check whether and where this content can be integrated sensibly.
  • The research question is used as the heading of a section or the introduction.
  • Page numbers are missing.
  • Only one subpoint is included under a heading.

How it’s done

  • The heading for a section sets out the principle for organizing the following subpoints, i.e., the upper tier in the structure forms a logical bracket around the subpoints below.
  • The subpoints are mutually exclusive in content.
  • If a chapter contains subpoints, there must be at least two.
  • The content weighting of the subpoints is balanced.
Usually, you format the table of contents automatically using your word processing program: Word creates a table of contents based on your headings defined with formatting styles.

Example of a table of contents

Figure: Example of a table of contents.

The table of contents is a mandatory part of the structure of a scientific paper.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a good table of contents?

Your table of contents must be complete, clear, and logically structured: Chapter headings and subchapters relate to each other, a golden thread is visible, and readers can easily navigate through your work.

How do I divide my table of contents?

Depending on the length of the paper, dividing it into a maximum of three to four levels ensures clarity. Often, two levels are sufficient. Warning: Too many subpoints fragment the paper and show that related topics were not grouped sensibly.

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Creating Indexes for Tables and Figures

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in the Social Sciences. What do lists of tables or figures look like? The lists contain a chronological compilation of the titles and page numbers of all figures or tables in the text. They are titled “List of Figures” or “Figures” …

Faculties: AC, AMP, AR, BI, BW, D, EFI, IN, MB/VS, SOH, SW, VT, WT

Contributors: Carola Gröhlich, Susanne Heidenreich, Maria Noll, Erika von Rautenfeld, Schreibzentrum, Dzifa Vode, Deirdre Rieker

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Creating a List of Abbreviations

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science / Natural Science paper. This list then contains all subject-specific abbreviations or those introduced in the context of the respective paper. Common abbreviations listed in the dictionary (such as “e.g.”, “i.e.” or “etc.”) are not included. The list of abbreviations …

Faculties: AC, AMP, AR, BI, BW, D, EFI, IN, MB/VS, SOH, SW, VT, WT

Contributors: Autorengruppe Leitfaden efi, Carola Gröhlich, Susanne Heidenreich, Maria Noll, Erika von Rautenfeld, Schreibzentrum, Dzifa Vode, Dennis Christoph Wolff

This article was published in August 2025 and last updated in April 2025.

Faculties: SW

Contributors: Carola Gröhlich, Susanne Heidenreich, Maria Noll, Erika von Rautenfeld, Schreibzentrum, Dzifa Vode, Deirdre Rieker

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