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Learn how to create a timeline to organize and remember the information you gather from the texts you read.
| 0:00 | Owl: Welcome to How to Make a Timeline, an instructional video on reading comprehension brought to you by the Excelsior University Online Writing Lab. |
| 0:13 | As you read, you may come across passages that narrate when or how events unfold. |
| 0:19 | One way to process this information is by creating a Timeline. |
| 0:24 | A Timeline is a record of information organized chronologically. |
| 0:29 | That means it lists information according to when it happened, usually from first to last. |
| 0:36 | A Timeline can be useful for keeping track of several different kinds of information. |
| 0:42 | Most obvious are historical events, which unfold over time and thus can be tracked chronologically on a timeline. |
| 0:49 | Fictional events can also be tracked using a timeline. |
| 0:53 | For instance, you can record the stages of a story’s plot on a timeline. |
| 0:59 | Additionally, timelines can be used for tracking the steps of a process or procedure. |
| 1:05 | For instance, if you’re reading a chemistry textbook, you might use a timeline to break down the steps of a chemical reaction. |
| 1:12 | A timeline can be constructed using a simple list on a sheet of paper. |
| 1:18 | However, for this example, we’ll use a more visual method for displaying information. |
| 1:24 | This method involves displaying information chronologically from left to right using event boxes to record each step. |
| 1:32 | Now, let’s practice making a timeline from something you’ve read. |
| 1:36 | Imagine you’ve just read an interesting article online about the history of the electric guitar. |
| 1:42 | You would like to remember the most important information by placing it into a timeline that you can use as a reference after you read. |
| 1:50 | Using a blank timeline template, we’ll start by writing down an appropriate title. |
| 1:55 | Let’s call it “Evolution of the Electric Guitar.” |
| 1:58 | Then, fill in each box with a different event in the evolution of the electric guitar. |
| 2:04 | Make sure to organize your information chronologically and write it down from left to right. |
| 2:09 | You will need to alternate between the top and bottom row of boxes. |
| 2:14 | The first electric guitar was the Rickenbacker “Frying Pan,” which was created in 1931. |
| 2:21 | Next came the Les Paul “Log” in 1941, followed by the Fender Broadcaster in 1948. |
| 2:28 | In 1952, Gibson released its legendary Les Paul guitar, and Fender released its legendary Stratocaster guitar shortly thereafter in 1954. |
| 2:39 | 1979 saw the birth of the Van Halen “Frankenstrat.” |
| 2:43 | It was closely followed by the Jackson Randy Rhoads “Flying V” in 1982. |
| 2:49 | In 1994 Ibanez released its 7-String Guitar. |
| 2:53 | Finally, 2008 saw the rise of virtual guitars with the production of the Guitar Hero Controller for the popular video game Guitar Hero. |
| 3:03 | That’s it! |
| 3:04 | Our timeline for the evolution of the electric guitar is complete! |
| 3:08 | Creating a timeline from the information you read is an excellent way to organize and remember information the next time you need it. |
| 3:16 | You can download a timeline template here. |
| 3:22 | Thanks for listening to this instructional video on How to Make a Timeline! |
| 3:27 | Visit the Excelsior University Online Writing Lab for more support with reading and writing skills. |
