1. OUTLINING Why and How to Create a Useful Outline

2. What is an outline? A graphic organizer for information  Shows the order of various pieces of information  Shows the relative importance of each  Shows the relationship between the various parts

3. Why create an outline? To make writing or studying easier To organize large amounts of information To study and learn information from a textbook

4. How do I create and outline? Read the text carefully.  First skim section and look just at section headings (in blue and green)  Then read section  Make note of bold text...things that stand out from the regular text  Look at diagrams and pictures and their captions

5. How do I create an outline? (cont’d) Analyze the information to determine what is important  Do not simply copy the information  Not all information is important: You be the judge!  Ask yourself: “Is this piece of information important for me to remember?”

6. How do I create and outline? (cont’d) Organize the information  Determine the order of importance of the information (usually the way it is presented in the textbook)  Use phrases (use the least number of words, but keep the meaning)  Avoid using complete sentences

7. How do I create and outline? (cont’d) Preferred format: Roman Numerals: I, II, III, IV, (most general)  Upper Case Letters: A, B, C, Arabic Numerals: 1, 2, 3,  Lowercase Letters: a, b, c,  Lowercase Roman Numerals: i, ii, iii, iv, v (most specific) Go from most general to most specific

8. Format Example I.First Main Topic – All Words Capitalized A. Use capital A, B, C for sub topics 1. Important info on this part of the topic 2. More info a. more detail b. more detail i. Example ii. Example iii. Example (skip a line here) II. Second Main Topic

9. Now, let’s start outlining Ch. 1 of your Physical Science Text I. Exploring Physical Science A. Physical Science: study of matter & energy 1. Matter: “stuff” that everything is made of 2. All matter has energy B. Chemistry: study of properties and structures of matter and how they interact C. Physics: study of how energy affects matter