The outline method is an effective note-taking method that uses headings and subheadings to organize relevant information, which makes the material easier to review during study sessions.

This method is very intuitive and can be used immediately because all you need are bullet points (to create headings) and the tab button (to create subheadings and notes).

What are the strengths and weaknesses?

Strengths:

• Relevant information grouped together.
• Can be used as a study guide.
• Can be used to take textbook notes.
• Very intuitive to use (no learning curve).
• See connections between topics.
• Works well with theory-based courses.
• Reduces study time.

Weaknesses:

• Does not work well with technical or unstructured courses.
• Requires active organization during class.
• Difficult to do in fast-paced lectures.
• Difficult to add visual aids.

The outline method is a popular choice among students because it requires no training and there is no learning curve so it can be used immediately.

It also works extremely well with theory-based classes, such as philosophy, psychology, and history, since you can see the relationships between different topics.

Additionally, given that relevant information is grouped together and organized by headings, your notes also make great study guides.

However, it is important to point out that this method requires active organization which can be difficult to do in fast-paced or unstructured courses.

Another challenge is the outline method is not compatible with technical courses like calculus, physics, or accounting because it doesn’t do a good job incorporating numbers, equations, or formulas.

Similarly, it is also difficult to include visual images like graphs or figures without ruining the structure of your notes since this method works best with only words.

Despite these challenges, the outline method is still an effective note-taking method and is by far the most popular option among students.

Best time to use this method:

• Theoretical classes
• Structured lectures
• Meetings

The outline method can be used in any situation where information is provided in a structured and linear manner. 

As mentioned earlier, this method works best in classes that focus on theories, abstract information, concepts, and facts.

A class in American History, for instance, is a great example because topics are presented in chronological order to describe the cause and effect of important historical events. 

Do it yourself:

1. Create headings with bullet points.
2. Use the tab button to add subheadings and notes.

Step 1. Create headings with bullet points.

Try it yourself: Click on either the bulleted or numbered list option in the top menu. If you want Roman numerals, press “Shift” + “I” followed by the space bar. You can find more options by clicking the drop-down bar.

Create a heading for each topic covered in the lecture by using bullet points. Keep in mind that headings should be broad enough to encompass all applicable information.

Note: I’m using the word “bullet point” loosely to also include letters, numbers, and Roman numerals.

Additionally, it is a good idea to bold (Ctrl+B), italicize (Ctrl+I), underline (Ctrl+U), highlight, or color important information to make your notes stand out and easier to study.

Everyone will have a different system that works for them…

…but here’s how I typically structure my notes:

• Headings (level one) – Highlighted and all words are capitalized.
• Subheadings (level two) – Bolded and all words are capitalized.
• Sub-subheadings (level three) – Italicized and only the first word is capitalized.
• Sub-sub-subheadings (level four) – Underlined and only the first word is capitalized.

It is also important to have a system for treating terminology, definitions, and examples among other things. 

Personally, I underline all terminology followed by a (1) dash, (2) definition, and an (3) example. 

Here is an example of how I would do this:

“Negative reinforcement – the removal of a stimulus in an effort to encourage the desired behavior (ex: car beeping to tell you to wear a seat belt).”

Step 2. Use the tab button to add subheadings and notes.

Try it yourself: Press the “Tab” button to create an indented bullet point to add a subheading or important information from the lecture.

Depending on the complexity of the lecture, it may be helpful to add subheadings. Of course, this is completely optional and in many cases, only headings are enough.

For example, in my adult psychopathology course, we covered groups of disorders and their associated subtypes and diagnostic criteria. 

Since the class material was often dense, I typically used different levels of subheadings (level 2-4) to structure my notes.

Should I use this method on a computer or paper?

Every student is different: Some prefer taking digital notes on apps like Google Docs, OneNote, Evernote, Dropbox Paper, Word, or Notion while others take notes by hand.

However, I recommend using a computer (or tablet) for the outline method because it has everything to do with practicality.

Here’s why:

First, when you take notes digitally, you have the ability to edit them later, which is a major advantage paper notes simply do not provide.

With paper notes, making revisions is time-consuming and may require you to redo the entire page if the edit significantly changes the existing outline.

Second, digital notes allow you to search keywords with the search function (Ctrl + F) which is a HUGE time-saver when studying for exams or completing assignments that are time-sensitive. 

Since your notes are already grouped by relevance, your search will have all of the information you need in one place.

Related: Learn how to convert written notes into digital notes.

The final advantage is speed since you can type more words than you can write. If done correctly, you can spend less time taking notes and more time listening to the lecture.

This advantage can also counteract one of the outline method’s weaknesses: difficulty in fast-paced classes.

But regardless of which note-taking platform you use, the focus is on the same thing: hierarchy of notes. 

Can be used with:

1. Cornell method
2. Split-page method
3. Sentence method
4. Q/E/C method

The outline method can be combined with others to reap the benefits of using two or more methods. 

These methods are the Cornell method, split-page method, sentence method, and Q/E/C method.

It is important to note that the outline method can be used as a standalone note-taking method so whether you choose to combine it with others is completely up to you.

However, if you’re just starting out with the outline method, I recommend using it on its own first and then add on other methods when you feel more confident.

1. Cornell Method:

Try it yourself: Put headings in the “cues” section and subheadings and notes in the “notes” section of the Cornell method.

The Cornell method has three sections:

1. Cues section (left)
2. Notes section (right)
3. Summary section (bottom)

Since the cues section is typically used for main topics (and questions), this section also works well with headings from the outline method. 

Your subheadings and notes, on the other hand, will go into the notes section. In this section, your notes should look identical to how the outline method usually looks.

2. Split-Page Method:

Try it yourself: Put headings in the “keywords/questions” section and subheadings and notes in the “lecture” section of the split-page method.

The split-page method has two sections:

1. Keywords/Questions section (left)
2. Lecture section (right)

The split-page method is basically the Cornell method without the summary section so it’s unsurprising that it is also compatible with the outline method.

This method can be used with the outline method by adding headings into the keywords/questions section and subheadings and notes into the lecture section.

As in the case of the Cornell method, your notes should look exactly like the outline method.

3. Sentence Method:

Try it yourself: Write detailed notes using bullet points and headings during class and then add necessary subheadings and sentence revisions after class.

I call this variant the “sentence-to-outline method” because it combines the benefits of using the sentence and outline methods.

Start by taking notes with the sentence method (with headings) during class and then transition your notes into the FULL outline method (with subheadings) after class.

This transition process not only includes adding subheadings but also shortening sentences to make them easier to study later.

Note: You don’t have to transition your notes into the outline method if you don’t want to since the sentence version has the benefit of being more detailed.

When doing the sentence method, write notes in full but concise sentences. You can save time by only writing main points and important details (do not transcribe the lecture).

Keep in mind that the end goal of this variant is to transition your notes into the outline method while taking advantage of the sentence method’s detailed information.

4. Q/E/C Method:

Try it yourself: Use headings from the outline method to make “questions” and use notes to provide “evidence” and “conclusions.”

Each note entry will have three parts:

1. Question
2. Evidence
3. Conclusion

I call this variant the outline-to-Q/E/C method because you take notes using the outline method during class and then incorporate the Q/E/C method after class.

Once you finish taking notes with the outline method, go through each heading and determine the main points. Here, you should focus on the BIG and IMPORTANT ideas.

Use your findings to create a question that will replace the heading. You can also create questions by combining multiple headings as long as they are relevant.

Next, create a new subheading for evidence and list relevant notes under it because the goal is to answer the question. This new subheading will also replace any existing subheadings.

Finally, create another subheading for conclusions that summarizes the answers to the questions.

Repeat these steps as many times as there are headings or main ideas. When you’re done, you should have a collection of Q/E/C notes that you can use as study material.

Keep in mind that each note entry only has three parts: Question (heading), Evidence (subheading), and Conclusion (subheading).

Best Note-Taking Apps:

There are many FREE note-taking apps that work well with the outline method but… 

…below is a list of my favorite note-taking apps ranked in order:

1. Google Docs
2. OneNote
3. Microsoft Word
4. Evernote
5. Notion

1. Google Docs:

Try it yourself: Click on the bulleted or numbered list option and use the “Tab” button to add subheadings and notes. If you want to use the outline feature, click on the square icon.

Google Docs is by far my favorite app to use with the outline method since it gives you many bulleted and numbered list options to build your hierarchy.

Tip: If you want to see all of its options, click on the drop-down menu next to each one.

This is a must because if you’re like most students then you probably have your own system of organizing notes so this flexibility will definitely save you time and make note-taking easier.

Additionally, your notes will be automatically saved to the cloud every time you make changes to the document, which is a huge benefit since you don’t have to worry about your computer crashing or running out of battery.

The final advantage of Google Docs is its document outline feature which is the square icon on the top-left side of the screen. 

This feature allows you to see every heading in your document and keep track of all your notes.

2. OneNote:

Try it yourself: If you point your cursor on a heading, a gray arrow will appear on the left. Double click it and the notes under it should collapse. Do this for every heading.

OneNote is another great choice because it also has many different types of bullet points and numbered lists you can use to create your structure.

You can also collapse your notes so only your headings are visible. This macro-level view of your notes makes it easier to find what you’re looking for and increase your productivity.

3. Microsoft Word:

Try it yourself: Double click each heading and select the “Heading 1” option which will change the text blue. Point your cursor on it and a right angle should appear, click on it to collapse the notes under it.

Microsoft Word was the first app I used to take notes back in high school and it still doesn’t disappoint.

Like any good note-taking app, it offers a wide range of bullet points and numbered lists that you can use to create the hierarchy you need for your notes.

But what makes this app a popular choice is its toggle feature because it can turn any document into a great study guide by converting its headings into collapsable toggles.

4. Evernote:

Try it yourself: Click on the bulleted or numbered list option and use the “Tab” button to add subheadings and notes.

Evernote is another great classic.

This note-taking app works well with simple outlines and has a modest offering of bulleted and numbered points.

The main advantage of Evernote is its customizability since you aren’t pigeonholed into a pre-programmed outline structure like other apps.

You have the option to use its pre-programmed outline or you can create your own by using its indent and outdent functions.

5. Notion:

Try it yourself: Type “/togglelist” and press the “Enter” button to input your heading. Use the “Tab” button to add subheadings and the “/bulletlist” or “/numberedlist” commands to add notes.

Notion is a new note-taking app that has taken the world by storm. 

In a nutshell, it’s a workspace for users to keep track of their work and take notes. This app is compatible with the outline method because of its toggle function.

The toggle function breaks down dense notes into a list of headings that you can expand and collapse with a simple click.

This will definitely come in handy when you study for exams and it can also double as an effective study guide.

Overall, Notion is a great option for students looking for an interactive note-taking app and want something new besides what’s already on the market. 

However, it is important to note that it does take some time to learn how to use its command functions but it’s relatively easy to do so.

Examples:

Below are some examples of my notes from past courses I took in college…

• Platform used: Google Docs
• Note-taking method: Outline Method

• Platform used: OneNote
• Note-taking method: Outline Method

• Platform used: Evernote
• Note-taking method: Combined Outline-Cornell Method

• Platform used: Evernote
• Note-taking method: Combined Outline-Split Page Method