We are in week 11 (of Y4) and have been seeking info for the 5th grade level of the writing assignments. We have all of the WriteSource books, and they all have detailed explanations of how to make an outline in preparation for giving a speech,

but where is the info on how to make a good outline while listening to a speech?

Can't seem to find that. . .

Thanks
wendy

Well... an outline of a speech is its main points and subpoints, recorded while listening, in a systematic and orderly way.

Most speeches have an intro, three main points, and a conclusion. Your child's task is to listen for these, and record them, and also sub-points, if you so direct.

So... Speech on Abortion (just making this up, and I see that it won't let me indent my subpoints below, but you get the idea...)

Intro: Abortion is wrong
I. Offends God
A. Scripture #1
B. Scripture #2

II. Bad medical practice
A. Evidence...
B. Statistic...
C. More evidence

III. Harmful to our psyches
A. Story of a woman's experience
B. Research says...

IV. Conclusion: it's bad all the way around.

HTH!

Thank you for taking time to respond, Marcia-

I am glad to know I wasn't missing something in the books, and will go over it with her myself using your example.

Appreciate you,
wendy

When my oldest (14) was younger, I found that learning to outline was easier by indentation and bullet points, especially if trying to do this while simultaneously listening to a speech. After all the main points were captured in the above fashion, it made more sense to him to go back and add the Roman numerals, letters and numbers. Hope this helps.

We are about to do this and I have a problem. They hand out outlines for you to fill in every week for the sermons. Now yes, he could fill one of his own but everyone around him has one. I guess I just need to tell him not to look at it...but wait...the put it on the giant screen and fill in the missing words as the pastor gets to each point...So...any other ideas???

christine

Hi Christine,
The point of this type of outline is to learn one type of note-taking. In Writing Aids, we call this "informal outlines." Completing missing words from the big screen is accomplishing the same thing. However, I believe that I would, at home, have him take the fill-in-the-blanks and teach him how to take notes without the blanks. Or, see if your church tapes the sermons. This is what we did: get taped sermons and take notes from them. The first couple of times we had to stop it to write fast enough, but over time the kids improved.

Blessings,