Creating a well-structured table of contents in Word is essential for maintaining clarity and professionalism in your thesis
To create an accurate and dynamic table of contents in Word, begin by applying heading styles consistently throughout your document
Select each chapter title, section heading, and subsection, then apply the appropriate heading level—Heading 1 for ketik main chapters, Heading 2 for major sections, and Heading 3 for subpoints—from the Styles gallery on the Home tab
This step is essential because Word uses these styles to automatically identify which text should appear in the table of contents
Insert the table of contents in the designated location, usually between the abstract and the introduction section
Go to the References tab in the Word ribbon, then select the Table of Contents option from the dropdown menu
Word offers several preformatted options, ranging from simple to more detailed layouts
Select a template that aligns with your university’s thesis guidelines or departmental style manual
Once inserted, Word instantly compiles a complete list of all headings and assigns accurate page references based on current document layout
It is important to update your table of contents whenever you make changes to your document, such as adding, deleting, or reordering sections
After editing your thesis, simply click anywhere within the table of contents, and a small Update Table button will appear
Click it and select Update Entire Table to refresh both the page numbers and the list of headings
If you have added new headings, make sure they are styled correctly before updating, or they will not appear in the table
Avoid manually typing entries into the table of contents, as this defeats the purpose of automation and increases the risk of errors
Hand-typed entries remain fixed and will not reflect new pagination, resulting in misleading navigation
If your university mandates custom styling for headings, use the Modify option to adjust spacing, fonts, and leader dots individually
You can independently define the style of Heading 1, Heading 2, and Heading 3 entries to meet exact institutional specifications
Section breaks enable independent page numbering and ensure accurate table of contents generation across document segments
Section breaks preserve the integrity of page numbering across different parts, allowing the table to reflect correct references in each zone
If you have preliminary pages numbered in Roman numerals and the main text in Arabic numerals, Word will still generate the correct page numbers as long as the styles are applied correctly and section breaks are used appropriately
Finally, always proofread your table of contents after final updates
Check that every heading appears, that page numbers match the actual locations in the document, and that formatting is consistent with your university’s thesis guidelines
A well-built table of contents enhances professionalism, improves reader experience, and reinforces the rigor of your research
