American Government

How to write a chapter outline?

Purpose: The chapter outline is a way for students to read for comprehension, but more importantly, it allows and supports students’ reflection of the main ideas, topics, and details of the subject matter in order to organize the content on their own before class discussion.

For American Government, the following template should be used.

Title: What is the focus and purpose of the chapter being outlined? Create a title that confirms that you understand the focus.

Section 1: What is the main topic of the first section of the chapter? You will need to outline each section the same way.

  1. What is the significance and relevance of the information in Section 1 to the overall chapter? Write the significance here.
  2. What is the first subtopic which helps support your understanding of this section? Read the main headings and subheadings help guide your answers.
  3. Specifics and details/ Vocabulary terms and definitions
  4. What is the first subtopic which helps support your understanding of this section? Read the main headings and subheadings help guide your answers.
  5. Specifics and details/ Vocabulary terms and definitions
  6. What is the first subtopic which helps support your understanding of this section? Read the main headings and subheadings help guide your answers.
  7. Specifics and details/ Vocabulary terms and definitions

Section 2: What is the main topic of the second section of the chapter?

  1. What is the significance and relevance of the information in Section 1 to the overall chapter? Write the significance here.
  2. What is the first subtopic which helps support your understanding of this section? Read the main headings and subheadings help guide your answers.
  3. Specifics and details/ Vocabulary terms and definitions
  4. What is the first subtopic which helps support your understanding of this section? Read the main headings and subheadings help guide your answers.
  5. Specifics and details/ Vocabulary terms and definitions
  6. What is the first subtopic which helps support your understanding of this section? Read the main headings and subheadings help guide your answers.

Continued….

  1. Read the chapter carefully, and determine what are the main ideas and most important details to support the overall topic.
  2. Make sure to include every section.
  3. The outline should be finished before the material is covered in order to be ready for class discussion.
  4. You include the vocabulary, but don’t have to include the definitions since you will have to turn in vocabulary to me after the quiz.