The Outline Note-Taking Method in 6 Simple Steps

Here is a summary of the outline method of note-taking:

• Research shows that students who take notes tend to score higher on tests. Research also shows that students who use the outline method, in particular, have better test performance.
• The outline method involves making a list of primary topics, indenting subtopics beneath the primary topics, then adding supporting details and examples beneath the subtopics.

If you’re looking for a note-taking method to help you learn and engage with material, then the outline method is a great option.

In this post, I’ll be covering:

• What the outline method is
• What makes the method effective
• Pros and cons of the method
• How to take outline notes in 6 simple steps
• How to effectively study outline notes

Let’s jump in!

What is the Outline Method of Note-Taking?

The outline method is a very popular note-taking strategy that puts information in a clear organizational hierarchy: primary topics, subtopics, and supporting details and examples.

To distinguish between the levels of the hierarchy, you need to indent subcategories. An example of this is shown below:

When to Use the Outline Method

The outline method is applicable in a wide variety of situations. You can use it to take notes during live lectures or when learning from a textbook.

If you intend to use it during a live lecture, check the course syllabus to preview the topics to be covered. Then, make an outline based on these topics. During the lecture, you can fill in the supporting details and examples.

If you intend to use it when learning from a textbook, preview the main sections and subsections of the textbook to create an outline. As you read the textbook, fill in the supporting details and examples.

The outline method is also helpful if you’re preparing a presentation of some sort.

Although the outline method is widely applicable, it is not suitable in situations where you don’t know what will be covered in the lecture.

You also shouldn’t use it for technical courses, where you need to draw diagrams and work through example problems. Note-taking methods like the flow method or T-chart method may be more applicable than the outline method.

What Makes the Outline Method Effective?

According to research, students who take notes tend to score higher on tests than students who don’t take notes. Note-takers remember more of what they learn and can apply it better.

Another research study specifically concluded that students who used the outline method during a 19-minute lecture did better on performance tests than students who used other note-taking formats (conventional and matrix).

The same study also concluded that students who used the outline note-taking method produced more notes. In another study, researchers found that a higher quantity of notes is correlated with better test performance.

One of the reasons the outline method is effective is because it gives you a preview of the information. Confusion while learning something new often results from a gap between expectation and reality.

Here’s what I mean by this:

Say you’re taking a trip to Atlanta, Georgia and you’re reading an article titled “How to Dress for a Trip to Georgia”. However, as you’re reading, you see words like “marshrutka van” and “sulfur baths”. You start getting confused, until finally, you realize that you clicked on an article about the country Georgia, not the state.

By scanning the syllabus before a lecture or skimming the sections of a textbook chapter, you prepare yourself to expect the information to be covered. This can help you learn and absorb new material faster.

Outline Method of Note-Taking Advantages and Disadvantages

Every method of note-taking comes with various advantages and disadvantages. Make sure to consider these when deciding whether to use the outline method of note-taking.

Advantages

1. You get a hierarchical view of the topics.
2. You can review outline notes easily.
3. You can take outline notes digitally.
4. You can use the outline method during structured live lectures or when learning from a textbook.

Disadvantages

1. You can’t use the outline method for unstructured lectures.
2. You should probably opt for another note-taking method in technical classes because they involve diagrams and calculations.
3. You don’t need to use critical thinking when taking outline notes. (However, you can implement critical thinking while studying outline notes, which I will explain near the end.)

How to Take Outline Notes in 6 Steps

Step #1: Get Your Note-Taking Materials

If you intend to take outline notes during a live lecture, here are the materials you will need:

• Course syllabus
• Associated textbook reading (if applicable)
• Pen and paper (if you’re taking handwritten notes)
• Device and note-taking app (if you’re taking digital notes)*

*The outline method of note-taking works quite well for digital note-taking. There is some controversy regarding the efficacy of handwritten notes vs. typed notes. From my experience, how you organize and study your notes is more important than whether you handwrite or type them. However, this can vary by the subject.

If you intend to take outline notes when learning from a textbook, the materials are similar:

• Textbook
• Pen and paper OR
• Device and note-taking app (I frequently use Notion for note-taking)

If you’re preparing an outline for a presentation, all you’ll need is pen and paper or an electronic device.

Step #2: Add the Main Topics

If you’re taking notes for a live lecture, pull up the course syllabus. Check the topics to be covered. If there is a textbook reading associated with the lecture, skim the headings in the reading.

Then, write these topics on the left side of the page. Do NOT indent. Also, if you’re handwriting notes, leave space to add subtopics and supporting details beneath the main topics.

If you’re taking notes from a textbook, you can skip the first step and go directly to skimming the headings.

If you’re preparing an outline for a presentation, write down the main topics you’ll cover.

In the example below, I’ve outlined the main topics I intend to write notes on about economist John Stuart Mill.

Step #3: Add the Subtopics

Next, add the subheadings from the textbook under the corresponding heading. Make sure to indent from the left side of the page. Also, leave room beneath the subtopics to add supporting details.

If you’re preparing an outline for a presentation, write down the subtopics within each main category.

As you can see in the example below, I’ve added subtopics beneath the main topics.

Step #4: Add Supporting Examples and Details

Now, you need to elaborate on each subtopic. To make this as efficient as possible, I recommend making a list of sentence fragments rather than full sentences. Try to use abbreviations where possible.

If you’re taking notes during a live lecture and you miss a concept or don’t fully understand it, jot down a quick note (e.g., review [concept] later) or mark the concept with an asterisk.

Continuing with the John Stuart Mill example, you can see that I’ve added details to elaborate on each subtopic.

You may also like “7 Secret Tips For Studying That Will Transform How You Study”

Step #5: Make Connections and Annotate

Earlier, I mentioned that one of the disadvantages of the outline method is the lack of critical thinking. Fortunately, you can employ critical thinking after you’ve finished outlining.

To do so, think about how various pieces of information relate to each other. How is something new you learned related to something you already knew? What are some real-world examples of concepts you learned?

Jot those down in the margins.

Step #6: Review Your Notes

The researchers in this study found that students who don’t review their notes tend to perform worse than students who do. This isn’t surprising due to a phenomenon known as the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve.

According to the Forgetting Curve, we forget on average 90% of new concepts we learn after being exposed to them once. Therefore, you must review your notes—preferably within 24 hours of taking them.

However, there are effective and not-so-effective ways to review your notes. That leads me to the next section…

How to Study Outline Notes

Use Active Recall

Active recall is an effective studying strategy that should be part of every student’s routine. Instead of relying on an external source (like your notes or a textbook), active recall requires you to pull information from your brain.

This means that you shouldn’t simply reread your notes. Instead, you should challenge yourself by only reading the subtopics. Try to recall as much as you can before looking at the details beneath.

Employ Critical Thinking

Use your critical thinking skills by brainstorming ways the concepts relate to one another, to things you’ve already learned, and to real-world scenarios. Doing so will help you retain and understand new concepts better. Jot these connections down in the margins.

Rewrite Your Notes

You may choose to rewrite your notes in a different form. You can make flashcards, which will make it easy to do active recall in the future.

You may also choose to make a mind map. This is an effective way of visualizing the relationships between concepts. In the example below, the mind map makes it easy to study the geographic distribution and lifestyles of major Native American civilizations pre-European arrival.

If you’re looking to compare and contrast multiple instances, the charting method is a good option. In the example below, you can see that the table format makes it easy to compare and contrast different anxiety disorders.

Use Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition involves reviewing your notes periodically after first taking them. You need to do this to combat the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve.

According to computer researcher Piotr Wozniak, who created SuperMemo (an algorithm that determines when to do spaced rep sessions), the best spaced rep intervals are:

• 1st rep: 1 day after the date learned
• 2nd rep: 7 days after the date learned
• 3rd rep: 16 days after the date learned
• 4th rep: 35 days after the date learned

Since it can be a hassle to remember the next spaced rep date, I use Notion to automate my review schedule. Instead of checking a calendar after each review session to determine the next date, Notion automatically calculates my next review date. You can check out how to use Notion for note-taking here.

FAQ

Why is the outline method important?

Note-taking, in general, improves learning and student performance on tests. The outline method is an easy, widely-applicable method of note-taking that will help you stay engaged during class or while learning from a textbook.

Creating an outline can also help you prepare for a presentation.

Why is using an outline to take notes a good strategy?

Creating an outline requires you to review the course syllabus and skim the main sections of a textbook beforehand. Doing so prepares you to expect the topics that will be covered in a lecture or textbook reading.

Since confusion often results from a gap between expectation and reality, this preparation will help you absorb information faster.

Additionally, the outline method is widely applicable, provides a hierarchy of topics, can be adapted to digital notes, and is easy to review.

What are the six steps for the outline method of taking notes?

1. Get your note-taking materials (usually pen-and-paper or a device and your course syllabus/textbook)
2. Add the main topics (found by skimming the syllabus and/or headings in the textbook)
3. Add the subtopics (found by skimming the subheadings in the textbook)
4. Add supporting examples and details (preferably in a list of sentence fragments rather than full sentences for efficiency)
5. Make connections and annotate (employ your critical thinking skills and draw on prior knowledge)
6. Review your notes (to combat the Forgetting Curve)

You may also like “5 Ways to Improve Attention Span While Studying Immediately”

What is the difference between Cornell and outline method of note taking?

The Cornell method and outline method are two different note-taking methods that are suitable for different circumstances. The Cornell method involves splitting your page into two columns: a narrow left column with keywords and a wider right column with supporting details. At the bottom, you need to leave space for a summary of the notes on the page.

During a live lecture, you need to fill in the right column. After the lecture, you need to fill in the left column and summary section.

This is an example of the Cornell method:

The outline method involves listing the main topics and subtopics before the lecture, then filling in supporting details beneath the subtopics during the lecture. You don’t need to create columns or summarize your notes.

The Cornell note-taking method, like the outline method, is more suitable for humanities classes. Both methods also make it easy to see the main concepts, although the outline method provides a more hierarchical view.

One advantage that the Cornell method may have above the outline method is that it requires critical thinking to write the summaries.

What is the most effective note-taking method?

There is no best note-taking method since different methods work well in different situations. However, scientifically speaking, the learning process is facilitated by active recall and critical thinking. As such, note-taking methods that emphasize these strategies can help you learn more effectively.

The outline method of note-taking does not particularly emphasize active recall or critical thinking. However, it provides an efficient way to take notes during live lectures.

Additionally, as you saw in the section “How to Study Outline Notes”, you can employ active recall and spaced repetition when studying your outline notes. You can also integrate critical thinking into your note-taking by making connections and annotating (step #6 of taking outline notes).

Check out this post for more note-taking methods to learn about which ones are most effective in specific situations.

Overview of the Outline Method of Note-Taking

The outline method is a great option for structured lectures, note-taking from a textbook, and planning a presentation. Research has shown that note-taking facilitates learning and that the outline method specifically can boost test performance.

The outline method consists of 6 simple steps:

1. Prepare your note-taking materials
2. Add the main topics
3. Add the subtopics
4. Add supporting examples and details
5. Add connections and annotations
6. Review notes using active recall and spaced repetition

I hope this post gave you a clear idea of how to use the outline method of note-taking!

For more on note-taking, check out these posts:

• The Outline Method of Note-Taking
• The Charting Method of Note-Taking
• The Sentence Method of Note-Taking
• The Boxing Method of Note-Taking
• The Flow Method of Note-Taking

For more posts on learning and studying effectively, check out:

• 7-Day Dopamine Detox for Studying—Skyrocket Your Focus Now!
• Best Aesthetic Note Taking App (Free & Easy-to-Use)
• How to Apply Atomic Habits to Studying to Get Better Grades
• How to Wake Up at 5am to Study—Tips From a Former Night Owl
• 11 Ways to Stop Getting Distracted by YouTube While Studying
• 7 Secret Tips For Studying That Will Transform How You Study