The Reason Behind Outlining

[angelart73]

What is the reason that SWB recommends outlining? Is this skill as important as narrating? Does it take the place of it? I am confused as to when to use outlining, and when to use narrating. I come from a strictly CM background where outlining is not used, at least to my knowledge. Thanks!

[redsquirrel]

I think SWB's own words would be best. I suggest reading TWTM and listening to the audio lectures "a plan for teaching writing: the middle years."

 

Outlining is a logic stage activity. You will do a better job writing your own papers once you have taken apart a bunch of others. It helps you see how they tick.

 

It does not take the place of narration. In the logic stage the student writes their own narrations and also does outlining. Outlining isn't a big deal. You only need to pick a section of about 250 words. It is roughly 6 to 8 paragraphs.

[enviromommy]

What is the reason that SWB recommends outlining? Is this skill as important as narrating? Does it take the place of it? I am confused as to when to use outlining, and when to use narrating. I come from a strictly CM background where outlining is not used, at least to my knowledge. Thanks!

 

I can't tell you the reason SWB recommends it, but I can say that I consider outlining to be one of the most important and useful skills I learned in school. In high school, I outlined my whole AP History textbook because I had heard it would be useful for the AP, and that was so true. I never had to look back at the book to study, because my outline had everything that was important right there. In law school, the same was true, only even more so. You HAD to outline well to assimilate all the material and to have a quick reference during the open book exams - there would never have been time to find something quickly in the book. In my professional life as a lawyer, I did an outline every time I sat dwn to write a long memo. When I taught French, I wrote an outline of what I wanted to teach during the year.

 

As a result, I really emphasize outlining with my kids. In addition to WWS, I have them outlining in most other subjects.

[In2why]

I think outlining is VERY important. First comes narrations so that they can summarize the main points and discard details, then they put it in outline form, which is basically a form of notetaking. To me if you have a decent outline you can come back 2 months later and write a paper using the outline. Or study for a final. And of course it gives a person the skeleton after they brainstorm or do their own research before they write.

[angelart73]

That makes sense. I did lots of outlining in school and college, but since I am teaching my own kids, and learning so many new techniques, and backing off of so many others, I was curious about how it all played into the whole narration component that CM speaks of. I agree that it is a great skill. Thanks!