Outlining a Reading

Learning Objective:

  • Outline a reading to identify the main idea and major details.

LESSON
An outlineA preliminary plan for a piece of a writing, often in the form of a list. It should include a topic, audience, purpose, thesis statement, and main and supporting points.  help a reader understand the topicThe subject of a reading. of a readingA piece of writing to be read. A reading can either be a full work (i.e., a book) or partial (i.e., a passage). by looking at the organization of the details in the passageA short portion of a writing taken from a larger source, such as a book, article, speech, or poem.. Readers can use two types of outlines when breaking down the information in a reading: formal outlinesAn outline that is traditional and structured, follows a set pattern, and uses a combination of Roman numerals, letters, and numbers to show a hierarchy of information based on the major and minor details or ideas. and informal outlinesA simplified outline that presents an overview of the placement of information in a reading..

Formal outlines are more traditional and structured. They follow a set pattern and use a combination of Roman numerals, letters, and numbers to show a hierarchyA system that is organized into different levels according to importance or power. of information based on the major detailsThe larger points within a reading that support the main idea. and minor detailsSmaller statements within a reading that tie directly to major details. or ideas.

Formal outlines look like this:

I.    Main Idea
      A. Major Supporting Detail
           i. Minor Supporting Detail
           ii. Minor Supporting Detail
      B. Major Supporting Detail
           i. Minor Supporting Detail
           ii. Minor Supporting Detail
       C. Major Supporting Detail
           i. Minor Supporting Detail
           ii. Minor Supporting Detail

I.   Gardens
     A.  Vegetable
           i. In-ground gardens
           ii. Potted gardens
     B.  Flower
           i. Raised beds
           ii. Natural
     C.  Water
           i. Fountains
           ii. Ponds

Informal outlines are less structured, but they still present an overview of the placement of information in a reading.

Informal outlines look like this:

 

Main Idea

    - Supporting Idea
    - Supporting Idea
    - Supporting Idea

 

Planning a home garden

    - Vegetable garden
    - Flower garden
    - Water garden

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