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Outlining, note taking, finding main point, etc.


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Hi all,

I have just read WTM this summer and noticed that a lot of outlining is recommended.

 

Has anyone here used "Thirty Lessons in Outlining" and has it helped your students in their studies? (Or any other books that you like for this). We have done a little outlining in our grammar studies each year, but that is it. When my son was in high school, we did what we called bullet facts when we read books, but never took the organization beyond that. I'm thinking I need to teach my dd how to analyze those bullet facts, but wondering how to do that.

 

I'm also wondering if the outlining helps to find the main point of what is being read, or if you are still wondering what it is while trying to do the outline? This would mostly apply to a textbook, where it seems that there is a large amount of facts seemingly of equal value. A whole book may not be as hard to do.

 

Hope this makes sense. I'm trying to find a few things to help my daughter improve her study habits, to be more involved with what she is reading (rather than just putting facts into her head), to be able to take notes/summarize, and to research. She is excited as the prospect of being more involved with what she is doing, but this mom is not sure how to do this! We have a borrowed copy of Superstar Student from TTC, it has helped a little, but is geared toward a school approach, so not all of it applies to homeschooling.

 

Thanks!

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I think outlining is an excellent tool for finding the main points. When my son fisr started outlining, he struggled with what the main points are. Now, it is very easy for him to pick out the main points.

 

I haven't done 30 Days to Outlininig, but is sounds good. I did get some exercise book that taught outlining (I can't remember the name) because he needed it broken down into chunks. After we did the book, he was able to outline Kingfisher's History.

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I did buy 30 lessons in Outlining and it looks really good but it is directed toward school kids and has group activities. I have never ended up using it.

 

I have always found the directions in TWTM really clear as far as outlining goes. I found other programs "got in the way" and took up precious time.I would just dive in and use the WTM instructions and then see if there really is a problem.

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Thanks Cedarmom and Peela,

Peela, yes, I have a writing book like that..... I have to be the partner, haha (when my son went to college, he said, wow, mom isn't my lab partner... his partners at college are much smarter than I am)

I am borrowing the second edition WTM, and will probably buy the newest because things in 2nd are out of print. I hope the things I like in 2nd are in the new.... where is the outlining information that you like? I will PM you since you may not look at this thread again :)

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I'm also wondering if the outlining helps to find the main point of what is being read, or if you are still wondering what it is while trying to do the outline? This would mostly apply to a textbook, where it seems that there is a large amount of facts seemingly of equal value. A whole book may not be as hard to do.

 

We just got started with teaching outlining in the past year...I'm starting to help my son learn to do "second level outlining," as we spent last year working on finding the main idea of a paragraph, over and over again for practice. I found it much easier to use whole books, because the paragraphs are written with main ideas and subideas, as opposed to textbooks which don't seem to have paragraphs written like that.

 

The new WTM 2009 has detailed outlining instructions in the logic stage history section, and they are great!!! I like it much better than my 2004 edition.

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