Curtis High School Science Dept. Biology
Descriptive Outline Procedures
I. Introduction: Properly using your biology textbook is one of the essential study skills you need to master in order to be successful in the class. Preparing a descriptive outline is a way that you can read and take notes from your biology textbook to improve your general understanding as well as quiz and exam scores.
II. Basic Procedures:
1. Start the descriptive outline on at the top of a new sheet in your composition notebook.
2. Write a header that identifies the chapter topic, chapter and section numbers (e.g., ‘Comparing Chordate, 33-1’).
3. Write in the red header title to the left hand side of your page (e.g., ‘Chordate Evolution’).
4. Now move over three cm (about an inch) to the right on your page and write the first blue header title as a question with a Roman number in front (e.g., I., II., III., etc; ‘I. What are the origins of chordates?’)
5. Answer the blue header question by reading the text. Always include the green header titles in your answer, formatted three cm to the right of the question and separated by A., B., C., etc. You will have to take more notes than just the green headers to answer the blue header question.
6. Always write out the key concepts in the reading (golden key in a green oval) in your outline.
III. Added Procedures: Sometimes you may be asked to add more to your outline such as…:
1. Vocabulary words and definitions.
2. Check point questions and answers.
3. Figure key concepts and/or questions and answers.
4. Section assessment questions and answers.
Curtis High School Science Dept. Biology
Descriptive Outline Procedures
I. Introduction: Properly using your biology textbook is one of the essential study skills you need to master in order to be successful in the class. Preparing a descriptive outline is a way that you can read and take notes from your biology textbook to improve your general understanding as well as quiz and exam scores.
II. Basic Procedures:
1. Start the descriptive outline on at the top of a new sheet in your composition notebook.
2. Write a header that identifies the chapter topic, chapter and section numbers (e.g., ‘Comparing Chordate, 33-1’).
3. Write in the red header title to the left hand side of your page (e.g., ‘Chordate Evolution’).
4. Now move over three cm (about an inch) to the right on your page and write the first blue header title as a question with a Roman number in front (e.g., I., II., III., etc; ‘I. What are the origins of chordates?’)
5. Answer the blue header question by reading the text. Always include the green header titles in your answer, formatted three cm to the right of the question and separated by A., B., C., etc. You will have to take more notes than just the green headers to answer the blue header question.
6. Always write out the key concepts in the reading (golden key in a green oval) in your outline.
III. Added Procedures: Sometimes you may be asked to add more to your outline such as…:
1. Vocabulary words and definitions.
2. Check point questions and answers.
3. Figure key concepts and/or questions and answers.
4. Section assessment questions and answers.