Strategy #3: Outlining
An outline presents a picture of the main ideas and the subsidiary ideas of any subject. Some typical uses of outlining are: a class reading assignment, an essay, a term paper, a book review or a speech. For any of these, an outline will show a basic overview and important details.
This is probably the one you’re most used to… Its taking a large amount of
text and divides it up into categories, working off of the headings in your book. The benefit of this is that your book is already divided into heading, a broad category and then several smaller subsections within. If you prefer to do your notes this way, your notes will look a lot like the picture on the right. Below is a simple outline of how it will look like:
BASIC OUTLINE FORM
Below is a synopsis of the outline form. The main ideas take roman numerals. Sub-points under each main idea take capital letters and are indented. Sub-points under the capital letters, if any, take italic numbers and are further indented.
I. MAIN IDEA
A. Subsidiary idea or supporting idea to I
B. Subsidiary idea or supporting idea to I
1. Subsidiary idea to B
2. Subsidiary idea to B
a) Subsidiary idea to 2
b) Subsidiary idea to 2
II. MAIN IDEA
A. Subsidiary or supporting idea to II
B. Subsidiary idea to II
C. Subsidiary idea to II
III. MAIN IDEA
AND IT CONTINUES ON AND ON…