​Timelines as Research Tools

by Christine Liu-Perkins
 
I had underestimated the usefulness of a timeline until I was stuck in a confusing muddle of historical research. In desperation, I created a double timeline—one recording major events in the lives of the family I was writing about, and one recording major events in the early Chinese empire. At last, clarity! I gained many insights that had eluded me before, and what I learned enriched multiple sections of the book. That timeline was definitely worth the effort I invested in constructing it.  
 
Timelines not only condense a lot of information, they also help us see connections and patterns, such as:

• cause & effect
• steps in a procedure or process
• chronological order
• sequence of events
• steps leading to a scientific discovery
• historical context
• progression/development/changes over time
• big picture in relation to small details
• comparisons

 
Interested in giving timelines a try? You can make your own using Microsoft Word or Powerpoint:

• How to Make a Timeline in Word
• How to Create a Timeline in Powerpoint

 
You might also include timelines in your manuscripts, activity guides, and presentations. Teachers often look for timelines and encourage students to make them. Here's some sources for creative examples:

• 10 Engaging Ways to Create Timelines
• Strategies that Work: Classroom Timelines
• Digital Timelines

 
How do you use timelines? Have any tips to share?
​
 

---