« Outlines, clarity, et al.Integrity »

6 comments

Comment from: hinermad [Visitor]
hinermad

Diana,

I remember doing outlines in grade school. Very little mention of why we should do them, but lots of encouragement to start the first line with “I.” and not “1.” Since then I’ve discovered what they’re for. Finding Microsoft Word’s outline view was a godsend.

I’m a little surprised your teachers disrespected outlines. What do they suggest, that you write without some sort of organizational plan? (Boy, that would explain a lot.)

I think your students, if they end up doing much writing (which should be expected of Academy graduates), will be well served by you teaching them to outline.

Dave

P.S. Bonus points for using the term “checksum.” D.

03/08/07 @ 13:47
Comment from: [Member]

Just for you, Dave. ;)

The tough part is finding a good textbook (or any textbook, I’m thinking) that teaches outlines. Right now, I have to teach what I remember and give them handouts (still better than nothing, but still).

d

03/08/07 @ 18:11
Comment from: hinermad [Visitor]
hinermad

Diana,

Thank you. Aren’t I special?

Are you going to require your students to use the formal outline structure? Good luck finding materials on that. I’ve seen some decent Web pages at Purdue and other schools that give an idiot’s guide to outlining but they play fast and loose with formatting.

Dave

03/09/07 @ 09:00
Comment from: [Member]

Funny you should ask. Yes…they’re doing the formal outline.

I’m appalled that I can’t find any good instruction material on formal outlines. At this point, it looks like I’ll be forced to comb through the bookshelves of the (ahem) more experienced instructors in order to find the (cough) vintage textbook I seek.

d

03/09/07 @ 19:08
Comment from: Hinermad [Visitor]
Hinermad

Diana,

Are you trying to get a job in Public Relations? “More experienced” and “vintage” equate to “older” and “old” in most tongues.

Fairness dictates that I admit to having had a book that included the formal outline format. But I can’t find it. It was called Writing for Career-Oriented Students. I don’t recall the author’s name.

I’ll ask my other English teacher friend if she has any pointers.

Dave

03/10/07 @ 00:29
Comment from: harry Burkett [Visitor]
harry Burkett

You might want to try picking my mother’s brain - she has her Masters in English and taught for a while at SFA. You can get in touch with her on the family site or I can send you her e-mail if you need it.

03/10/07 @ 11:14


Form is loading...