Ok, sorry to keep answering your question since you asked for other opinions, but...
The cases are put in your book because they are good examples of a particular area of law. The reason they are there is because the editors and the professors want you to use that case as a basis for understanding that particular area of law. For example, I will assume you are in torts and have read the case of Vosburg v. Putney. In this case, they formulate a law of battery based on the facts that says something like: a battery is an unlawful, intentional contact that is unconsented to. This is based on the facts of the case and is reasoned out by the judge in the case. So you would put this in your outline under the heading Intentional Torts then the subtopic "A. Battery." Then under battery you would say, harmful or offensive touching, intentional, unconsented to and in parentheses or something you would write Vosburg v. Putney
So what you are doing is using the rule that is gleaned from the case in your outline. Hope this clears things up.