Once an outline has been produced, it becomes an effective means to self-quiz. Middle school students readily see the advantage of this logical method of studying / memorizing.

Of course, students also discover that the act of creating an outline (which involves both the analysis of reading material and the synthesis of a product) is itself a powerful strategy for committing information to memory.

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Use the links below to view evidence of the importance of keeping the chosen symbols directly beneath the corresponding topics / subtopics. When properly constructed, a student notices that there are five subtopics (indicated by five "dots"), and then asks themself, "Do I know these five items?" Of course, the same strategy is used to study the next level of subtopics.

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BTW   Parents will be impressed that a middle school science teacher incorporates the teaching of a skill that enhances their child's learning of all subjects.