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Developing Outlines |
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Classification is the primary thought pattern involved in preparing
an outline. Developing an outline involves two steps: 1) identifying
how ideas relate and 2) grouping ideas together according to their
connections. An effective outline, then, accomplishes two things:
- It shows the relative importance of ideas.
- It shows the relationship among these ideas.
An outline uses a listing order and a system of indentation
as shown below. A quick glance at the outline indicates
what is most important, what is less important, and how
ideas support or explain one another.
Example Outline
Time Management
Analyze your time commitments--hours per week
Ex: class, part-time job, transportation
Analyze your efficiency
Notice wasted time, duplication of effort.
Notice time traps.
Ex: making small decisions
Principles of time management
1. Use peak periods of concentration.
2. Do difficult tasks first.
Suggestions
Here are a few suggestions for developing an effective outline.
- Concentrate on the relative importance of ideas. Do
not worry about the numbering and lettering system. How you number
or letter an idea, or whether you label it at all, is not as
important as showing what other ideas it supports or explains.
- Be brief. Use words and phrases, never complete
sentences.
- Use your own words. Don't "lift" most of the
material from the text or lecture notes.
- Make sure subentries are relevant. All the
information you place in sublists beneath a heading should support
or explain the heading.
- Align headings to reflect their relative importance. Headings
with the same indentation on the page should be of equal importance.
How Much Information to Record
Before you begin writing an outline, determine how much information
you need to include. An outline can be very brief and cover only
major topics or, at the other extreme, it can be very detailed, providing
an extensive review of detailed, factual information.
How much detail you include in an outline should vary with and be
determined by your purpose for making it. For example, you need include
very little detail in the outline for a supplemental reading that
your instructor has assigned to show you the author's viewpoint and
general approach to a problem. On the other hand, your outline of
a section of an anatomy and physiology text for an upcoming objective
exam must be much more detailed. To find the right amount of detail
to include, ask yourself questions such as "What do I need to know?" or "What
type of test situation am I preparing for?"
When to Use Outline Notes
Outline notes are particularly appropriate and effective in a number
of situations.
- Difficult material. Outlining difficult or
confusing material forces you to sort ideas, see connections,
and express them in your own words and thus aids comprehension.
- Interpreting and reacting. When you are asked
to write an evaluation, reaction to, or critical interpretation
of an article or essay, it is helpful to write a brief outline
of the factual content. Your notes will reflect development and
progression of thought and help you to analyze the writer's ideas.
- Order and process. In courses where order
or process is important, outline notes are particularly useful.
In data processing, for example, where sets of programming commands
must be performed in a specified sequence, outline notes would
organize the information.
- Classification. In the natural sciences, in
which classifications are important, outlining is a helpful way
to record and sort information. In botany, for example, you can
use outline notes to list plant subgroups within each botanical
category and keep track of similar characteristics.
This material has been taken from:
Kathleen T. McWhorter. Study and Thinking Skills in College.
Glenview, Illinois: Scott Foresman/Little Brown College Division,
1988 Handouts\Outline
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