The Revised Outline Method

In my previous post I explained how to use the good ol' Outline Method for your note-taking. The problem most students have with this method is that roman numerals are confusing. Their focus that should be on recording the information (from lectures and textbooks) in a way that clearly displays the key points, is instead on remembering the order of I's and a's. This is where the Revised Outline Method comes in.

Very Different

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You create the key to organize information. Maintaining "proper" note-taking form and using roman numerals may not be your style. I prefer to draw shapes that I fill in with ink of different colors. Even Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) and English letters (a, b, c) are better, plus you can alternate between colors. The action of tracking what each symbol means for your code helps you recall the information more easily. Using colors was prohibited when writing my notes in both grade school and high school. My teachers (except one) felt it was distracting. My AP Brit Lit (British Literature)/ AP Psychology teacher Mr. J - he taught both - allowed me to use whatever colors I wanted (which were navy blue, purple, and pink). It makes sense that Mr. J accepted my methods in the 12th grade, since no research has proven that not using black ink causes you to learn less easily. This means you can write in blue, pink, or purple; colors won't make you less likely to remember information.

Yet Very Similar

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Students can fall into the same traps with all note-taking methods. The difference is that both the Original Outline Method and the Revised Outline Method make it immensely easier. Copying lecture slides and textbook definitions word-for-word is extremely inefficient. By creating you own key, you decide what goes where and how the information is separated. Remember keep your indents consistent, and rephrase text so you understand how the terms relate to one another. I mean, you take notes so you can study from them. No one wants to read through chapters and slides weeks after they were taught in class.

Helpful Hint:
I could not tell you enough times: both outline methods require time-management. You have to actively think about what you’re writing and try to re-word and condense it. If you find that you just don’t have the time for such detail, or know you can’t follow lectures by outlining, then Column Notes is what you need.




Sources:
Skylar Anderson. “4 Effective Types of Notes to Try Note-Taking In”. StudyRight. 2018, https://www.studyright.net/blog/types-of-notes/. Accessed 28 Aug. 2018.