Peter Stuifzand

My top-down method for expanding notes

Ever stare at your notes and wonder how to develop them further? I was reading The Pyramid Principle and it clicked for me. The book mentions the top-down approach for writing articles. You start with the main idea and then build up the argument. It seems to me that the Zettelkasten is also a good fit for this approach.

The Pyramid Principle uses inductive arguments. This means grouping multiple items of the same type under a plural noun like “claims”, “answers”, “steps”, or “consequences”. This creates a hierarchy that can be built top-down, starting with the main idea and then building up the supporting ideas. The Zettelkasten makes this possible by letting you start with a note and link the supporting notes to it.

Top-down approach

With the top-down approach you can start with an idea and then ask a question. The question can be answered multiple times and written down in a new note.

Steps

Follow these steps to write the expanded notes.

  1. Start with a note/idea/claim/situation. You can write a new note, or find one in your Zettelkasten.
  2. Think of a question to explore. Ask a question about that note. For example, you can ask “What are the consequences of this idea?”
  3. Write the possible answers to the question. Then list the answers that come to mind. You can always add more answers later by linking the new notes. Each answer becomes a separate note branching from the question.
  4. Write the summary of the answers to the question. This summary is itself an answer to the question. The original answers support the summary.

Example

Let’s say you have a claim about the moon. Let’s say in your Zettelkasten you have notes about the moon under address “19”. Let me show with an example:

19/15 The Moon is gradually moving away from Earth at a rate of about 3.8 centimeters per year.

You can ask a question about this claim. You can choose to write question as a note card. You could write the answers on the same card as the question, but assuming you need more space, you can write the answers on a new note.

If you do you can write the summary on the question card. You can write the summary later, after the answers are written. The summary is not a sentence based on the answers themselves, but on the content of the answers.

Question to explore: What are the long-term consequences of the Moon’s gradual recession from Earth?

This question can be answered with a note card. The plural noun for the answers is “consequences”. Based on this question you will get answers with the right type.

The Moon Example

19/15/1: What are the long-term consequences of the Moon’s gradual recession from Earth?

19/15/1A: Effects on Earth’s rotation and day length

  • As the Moon moves away, Earth’s rotation gradually slows down
  • Days are getting longer by about 2.3 milliseconds per century
  • In the distant past, days were much shorter (around 18 hours when the Moon formed)
  • Eventually, Earth and Moon would become tidally locked, with the same sides always facing each other

19/15/1B: Impact on tides and ocean dynamics

  • Tidal forces will weaken as the Moon retreats
  • Ocean tides will become less pronounced over geological time
  • This could affect ocean circulation patterns and marine ecosystems
  • Tidal energy harvesting would become less efficient in the far future

19/15/1C: Consequences for Earth’s axial stability

  • The Moon currently helps stabilize Earth’s axial tilt at about 23.5 degrees
  • Without the Moon’s gravitational influence, Earth’s axis could wobble more dramatically
  • This could lead to more extreme climate variations over long periods
  • Some theories suggest this stabilizing effect was crucial for the development of complex life

19/15/1D: Timeline and ultimate fate

  • The process will continue for billions of years until the Sun’s evolution intervenes
  • The Moon will never actually “escape” Earth’s gravity entirely
  • Eventually, the Sun will expand into a red giant, likely ending this gradual dance
  • The Moon-Earth system represents a temporary but incredibly long-lasting gravitational partnership

After writing the answers, you can write the summary on the question card. With this summary we answer the question based on the multiple answers we wrote. This summary can later be used as a part of an article that you write about the moon. To make the summary work better in the article, you can mention the four answers in the summary. The answers then support your summary even better as a point.

19/15/1: What are the long-term consequences of the Moon’s gradual recession from Earth?

The Moon’s gradual recession will fundamentally alter Earth over billions of years by slowing our planet’s rotation and weakening tidal forces. Most critically, Earth may lose the Moon’s stabilizing influence on its axial tilt, causing dramatic climate variations that could threaten habitability. However, the Sun’s evolution into a red giant will likely intervene before this process completes. This represents how gravitational relationships shape planetary conditions across deep time.

© 2025 Peter Stuifzand