Chapter 8: Outlining:

[Erin Lain]

Comment 1: I’m going to keep my comments short on this chapter, mainly
because I think the book does a good job of describing how to outline,
and also, I want you to be focusing on that first week of class right
now.

Comment 2: Outlines are nothing more than synthesizing your notes into
a workable document that you can either study and memorize, or take
with you into the exam (some of your exams will be open note, open
book.) That being said, your outline does not need to look like
everyone else’s, and there is no “right” way to outline. Just make
sure the information you need to know is accessible to you, and in a
format that you understand.

Question1: How do you know what to put in your outline? The book gives
you several suggestions for ways to organize your outline, such as
going through the table of contents. The best way, in my opinion, is
your syllabus. Every class will have a syllabus. It is the way the
professor wants you to go through the material, and I suggest you
organize your outline the same way.

Comment 3: There is nothing wrong with basing your outline on
commercial outlines, study aids, or upper-classmen’s outlines. For
example, it can be helpful to get the specific definitions of “the
model penal code mental states”(Page 107), from a study aid, because
that is a perfect example of something that you need to have memorized
word for word, and you might not have written it down word for word in
class.

Question 2: Why can’t I just use an upperclassman’s outline? The
process of outlining and synthesizing your notes often helps you learn/
memorize the material. Also, you don’t know how well that
upperclassman paid attention in class, if the professor changed what
they went over from year to year, or if they even had the same
professor. You will be tempted to just rely on other student’s
outlines, but I encourage you to actually create your own!

Comment 4: I agree with the book that you want to start outlining
about six weeks into the semester. It will help you recap, and see if
you actually understand what you have covered in a class. And of
course I would be happy to look at any outlines you have started.