How important is outlining?

[Luanne]

And is it best to learn by itself in a book or is there a grammar/language arts program that teaches it better?

[Josie]

I think outlining is an important skill. I think of it as a sketch of the masterpiece. An outlines allows you to put down the ideas you want to convey, and then write the piece and fill it in. It is an organizational tool, so to speak. They are other ways of doing this, but I like the outline form best--just my preference.

R & S teaches it in their English books. I know there are some good online resources as well.

[Laura Corin]

Outlining is very important as a planning tool for an original piece of your own writing. I think it's an overly-complex technique for note-taking when reading someone else's work.

Laura

[Kris]

All I can tell you is that I hated outlining when I was in school and didn't really need it, until I went on to higher education, to get organized. My son, though, did need it and outlining improved his writing, as well as overall organization and understanding, trememdously.

[kalanamak]

Outlining is very important as a planning tool for a piece of writing. I think it's an overly-complex technique for note-taking when reading someone else's work.

Laura

important for you to understand and it is not well written, OR if it is something over your head you really want to conquer. I.e., I use it when I'm going down for the third time on something I can't/won't cast aside. Also, if I want to really have something down pat, e.g. to present it verbally to a tough crowd.

[HiddenJewel]

I think it is a good tool but I am realizing that perhaps it is a better tool to be introduced later in a child's education.

[Jean in Wisc]

I had the children read history to me. I outlined what they read on the white board. I had them give me ideas and help me, but I did the work. They copied my outline into their notebooks at the end of the session.

Then I switched places with them. They wrote on the white board and I read. I gave them ideas on what to write and slowly let them do more and more of the work. They copied these outlines into their notebooks as well.

Eventually, I was able to let them read and outline by themselves. This takes a little time, but it is rather painless. :)

[Plaid Dad]

Outlining is very important as a planning tool for an original piece of your own writing. I think it's an overly-complex technique for note-taking when reading someone else's work.

This is where I stand on outlining, too. It's a key organizational tool in expository writing and especially in business communication, but it rapidly becomes busywork when used for taking notes.

Here are some links that I give my writing students about outlining and the five-paragraph essay.

Structure of the Five-Paragraph Essay (http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/English/essay/)
Blank Outline form (http://eagleschool.org/chuckprice/Blank%20outline%20for%20making%20a%20five%20paragr aph%20essay.htm)
How to Do an Outline (http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/ScienceInternet/MakingOutline.html)
Information on Outlining from the Writing Lab at Purdue University (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/01/)
A lesson plan for teaching the essay (http://teachingtoday.glencoe.com/lessonplans/expository-writing-the-five-paragraph-essay-lesson-plan-2-of-2) (uses a visual technique to show the parts of an essay - sort of a pre-outline)

HTH!

[Beth in Central TX]

I've slowly made this distinction too as I teach my boys.

When they are organizing their thoughts for a writing assignment, I have them outline their notes and then write a 1st draft.

I did have them outline their history reading as described in TWTM, but now I have them take notes instead. Here is a great website on taking notes (scroll down the page): http://www.factmonster.com/homework/studyskills2.html

[mcconnellboys]

I think SWB not too long ago recommended the Remedia outlining program. Someone help me out here, I think it is listed under another name in the Rainbow Resource Catalog.

Getting that catalog would be very helpful to you, Luanne, as you can read about different resources, books, and texts in it and get an idea of what they cover. Even if you don't end up ordering from them, it's a very good source catalog. Their toll free number is: 888-841-3456.

I think that outlining skills help with notetaking skills and help you to organize your thoughts. I think that in life these skills will help you if you ever need to organize your thoughts to write business letters, speeches or addresses that you might have to present orally, etc. Also, if you go on to do college level work, they will prove most helpful to you.

Regena

[Beth in Central TX]

The books are called Beginning Outlining and Outlining. I found them very helpful as I introduced outlining to my boys.

http://www.rempub.com/Details.cfm?ProdId=3859&category=0#

[Tonia]

I think it is a fairly important thing to know. I use it a lot in my own life. I find it very useful after reading a book - for example, I finished Deconstructing Penguins recently and really like the ideas presented but couldn't figure out exactly how it could be implemented so I went back through the book and made a detailed outline. Now I've got the points I want to use in an outlined format so I don't need to keep flipping through the book to see how to do things.

[Josie]

LOL, You can tell how important I think outlining a chapter or something is...I didn't even consider that is what you could have meant. No, I don't require outlining in that sense. Take notes, yes; outline, no.

[Mom2legomaniacs]

I agree with a lot of what others said. My 9 yr ds is learning about this now in Rod & Staff Grammar. I think it is introducing it very well. He is a reluctant writer. I have found that helping him get started by doing an outline and then helping him decide on an opening sentence has done wonders for what used to cause him great difficulty. So I do feel they are important for us!

[Luanne]

Thank you for this reference. I appreciate it. Now to just wait for my tax return. Did I mention that I don't like waiting? LOL