\documentclass[a4paper,11pt]{article}
% define the title
\author{H.~Partl}
\title{Minimalism}
\begin{document}
% generates the title
\maketitle
% insert the table of contents
\tableofcontents
\section{Start}
Well, and here begins my lovely article.
\section{End}
\ldots{} and here it ends.
\end{document}