Keep the Earlier Explanation in the Margin

James suggests testing an idea in your own words against a familiar example and a contrasting one. Sally adds a useful check: when wording changes, first ask whether the claim changed too—or only how it was expressed.

A practical next step is to keep the first explanation as a dated snapshot, then add what the examples changed: the wording, the claim, or the evidence you now consider relevant. Don’t overwrite the earlier version just to make the latest one look inevitable. The margin can show how understanding developed, not just where it ended up.

That turns learning into a record of deliberate revision. An earlier explanation can be incomplete without being worthless; the point is to see what you kept and what you reworked. What helps you notice when your understanding has changed, rather than just your phrasing?