I have always used outlines in my writing, so nothing terribly new here. But I have always done them in the rather old-fashioned method of very specifically and formally outline what I am going to write about and then filling in the areas. I like Boice's idea about combining playful freewriting with informal outlining. I think this can help to create writing that is organized while remaining creative.
I can also see the potential of using this in the classroom, as a student exercise in planning. Some informal outlining can help the students to get a feel for the overall paper in a relaxed manner. I have a number of students who write decently enough on the sentence level, but their paragraphs seem like a collection of boxes that they have divided up and thrown things in. I have had trouble getting many of them to create a paper with organic unity. I think this sort of informal outlining, even after a draft is written, could help them to look at the big picture. I'm not talking so much about doing a reverse outline, either. But having them, without looking at their draft, create an informal outline of what they think their paper is saying. I think I may try something like this for a later paper, to help them get a relaxed view of their entire essay.
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