The document discusses different types of outlines used in academic writing. It describes an outline as a condensed version of a text that helps writers organize ideas in a logical, structured format. It then defines and provides examples of four common outline types: topic outline, sentence outline, alphanumeric outline, and decimal outline. The document also lists some benefits of outlining, such as providing an overview of topics and relationships between subtopics, and testing a writer's understanding by recording information in their own words.