The front page of a guideline is the Algorithm, which usually consists of a flow chart or descriptive table. The algorithm describes steps to be taken in the treatment of patients to whom the guideline applies. Those steps are stated briefly in the algorithm itself; a complex therapy might be referred to simply as "treatment." The algorithm annotations enunciate the steps of the algorithm in more detail.

Essentially, the algorithm describes what to do in order to follow the guideline.

The Algorithm Annotations follow the algorithm. The annotations expand upon specific steps or aspects of the algorithm, providing details necessary in order to understand the guideline's recommendations. An algorithm box reading "Provide education" might be followed by an annotation describing the process by which that education should be provided.

The strength of the evidence for each recommendation, or for each potentially controversial recommendation, is noted in the annotations.

Simply, the annotations describe what to do in greater detail than is possible in the algorithm.

Occasionally, the annotations are accompanied by Appendices or Tables. These are essentially annotations whose size or central importance makes including them in a single annotation impractical.

The Discussion and References section, like the algorithm annotations, refers to steps or actions in the algorithm. Aspects of the guideline which might be controversial or which require justification for any other reason are addressed in this section. The discussion in a guideline takes the form of a concise description of the choices made by the guideline work group. It is important for the work group to note in the discussion how they reached decisions, what kind of evidence was considered, and whether work group consensus was the basis for a decision in areas where evidence was uncertain or lacking. References pertinent to the work group's decisions are cited beneath each point. Only the most pertinent references are listed. The strength of each recommendation, or of each potentially controversial recommendation, is noted in the discussion. References for the recommendations are individually graded.

The discussion and references describe why the guideline makes the recommendations that it does.

The Ideas for Measurement section describes methods for measuring the implementation of the guideline. The first page of the specifications provides an overview of the plan. Subsequent pages detail individual measures which can be collected in order to measure implementation success.