? on Book proposal 'table of contents'

The detailed outline should tell what each chapter is about.

The table of contents simply gives the chapter names.

They've asked you for both.

I agree a table of conent only needs to give the chapter headings, in order.

They ask for the description to see what's in the chapters and how you put the book together.

They ask for a table of centents to see if you can think up good chapter names.

That's why there are two requests, and not just one

In my opinion, the outline should tell what happens, in the order in which it happens in the book. I don't think the outline needs, "In the next chapter . . " passages. You should just summarize the story from beginning to end.

Then your table of contents should showcase your clever and insightful chapter titles. They may all change if you get published, but your titles will still be a starting point. For example, I had a chapter called "A Visit From Management" that my editor suggested changing to "Young Executives."

Neither title means much on its own, but in the context of the book, the second is a better fit.

And for what it's worth, I didn't do what you are doing. I wrote the whole book and submitted that. So I have never tried to write a summary of my story.