Write Between the Lines
Written on April 5, 2010 by theboneshavespoken
Filed Under: Advice, Solving a Problem
…Huh? You’re probably wondering why I butchered the popular idiom, “read between the lines.” I don’t normally butcher idioms, or anything else for that matter, but that cliché idiom just begs to be butchered, especially for the purposes of this article. I’m going to be talking about outlining – the ways outlining can be used, the reasons to use it, its qualities, its flaws, and its traps.
Writing Between The Lines
You probably hate that word, “outlining.” Especially if your teacher just told you to outline twenty pages from your history textbook (don’t worry, at least five of those pages will probably be sources – wink). Well, I like the word; it’s euphonic. (If you want a truly cacophonic word, try “drill;” nothing makes me wince like being reminded of the dentist.) Anyway, getting back on track, not only do I like the word “outlining” for the way it sounds, I like it for what it is, too. It’s useful for a couple of different things – like note-taking for school, or for forming the plot of a story.
Personally, I find outlining to be the best form of note-taking there is. (This must be said: Cornell notes, you suck. I’m sorry, but you do. You’re a waste of paper.) Especially, especially, especially if you’re outlining while you’re reading. (I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t flat-out read a history book to save my life. I’ll fall asleep within minutes, no matter how interesting the material is or isn’t. So writing while I read really helps me focus on what’s important – while actually getting through the reading.)
In addition, outlining makes your notes organized in a way that just taking straight bullet points never will. “Pilgrims sail to America…Colonies form…Wait, how did I get all the way to the American Revolution?” With outlining, everything is under headings, and each heading tells you exactly what you’re looking at (this satisfies the first rule of teaching: “tell them what you’re going to tell them”). That way, you don’t have to squint at your notes, wondering where the breaks are and why everything seems like one huge, jumbled pile of facts. Read More
