PURPOSE
Outlining your reading material is a beneficial method for demonstrating that you understand the material you have read. It is a great way to individually review your course material: readings, lectures, articles. Additional benefits of outlining your reading material include:
helps to develop a better understanding of the material you read by:
revealing the basic structure of the text;
distinguishing between main ideas and supporting ideas or examples;
improves your ability to remember what you have read;
provides a study guide for the material you have read.
Before diving deep into the reading, skim through the entire material to get an overview. Pay attention to chapter titles, headings, subheadings, and any summary sections. Identify the subtopics or supporting ideas that fall under each main point. Use capital letters (A, B, C, etc.) to designate these subtopics and indent them under the corresponding main points. There is no one-size-fits-all format for a reading outline, but the typical structure is hierarchical, with main points at the top, followed by subtopics, and supporting details. You can use bullet points, indents, or different font styles to differentiate between different levels of information. After completing each section or chapter of the reading, write a brief summary of what you learned or the key takeaways. This will help reinforce your understanding of the material.
STEPS TO CREATING AN OUTLINE:
Read the assigned chapters from the text (Timeline provided in your course calendar)
Skim the text for an overview of the content’s structure:
Title
Headings
Be able to answer the question: “What is the text talking about?”, in your own words.
What are the key phrases used in each paragraph?
What are the critical supporting details in each section?
Key concepts/definitions. Application beyond what is noted in the textbook
BEST PRACTICES
Do not use the text’s exact words when creating your outline. Use paraphrasing and summarizing to restate the topics and information.
For help paraphrasing and summarizing, visit Integrating Sources into your Paper
Review your outline by comparing it with the original text to insure that:
you followed the sequence of the reading;
no important information was missed.
HOW TO ORGANIZE
Logically organize information using Roman numerals, capital letters, and arabic numerals to represent the hierarchy of the levels. Papers should be submitted in Times New Roman, 12 point font, double-spaced. Examples of how to create outlines is noted below:
Level 1: Group Name (Subject Matter) of related Topic Sentences; label with Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV, V, …)
Level 2: Topic Sentences; label with capital letters (A, B, C, D, E, …)
Level 3: Supporting details; label with Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …), or bullet points.
EXPECTATIONS
The document should be uploaded as a PDF or Word document.
It should be written in Times New Roman, 12 point font, and double-spaced, and a minimum of 1-page long.
Your outline should be on one of the assigned chapters from Module 3, 2, or 1. Remember, it would only have to be a section of the chapter. For example, Social Research chapter has 3 sections: 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3. 2.2 in itself would count as one outline. You would then be tasked with selecting a section from a different chapter. Perhaps one of the sections under the chapter on culture?
