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Tools for Effective Note-taking. Rosalyn Schiller Lakeside Study Center ’07-’08. Why take notes?. Know the Purpose of the Notes. To prepare the next class’ questions? To prepare the next class’ discussion? To participate? To lead? To prepare for a test? A quiz? An essay?
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Tools for Effective Note-taking Rosalyn Schiller Lakeside Study Center ’07-’08
Know the Purpose of the Notes • To prepare the next class’ questions? • To prepare the next class’ discussion? • To participate? To lead? • To prepare for a test? A quiz? An essay? • To gather information for a research paper? • To reflect on larger ideas and themes?
Here’s a System that Works Start notes with: • the date • the source • the topic or title EG: 9/21/04 Pgs 11-16 Ch 1 Islam
Part 1: BasicTools as You Write Two Aspects to consider • Form: The visual design or “how it looks” 2. Content: The ideas or “what it means”
Form Tools • Space: Use lots! Use margins & modified outline • Abbreviations & Symbols relig. & • Highlight: Use underlines, circles, squiggles, CAPS, color (if available)
ContentTools • Telegraphic sentences • Omit low-meaning words (is, are, the, a, etc) • Skip punctuation • Abbreviate thoughts (but writefullideas, not just topics) • Paraphrase (use own words) Improves understanding and memory! • Pictures (maps, diagrams, flowcharts, drawings) They speak 1000 words (if labeled!!) Talent not necessary!
AND the most basic CONTENT of all… • Main Concepts and Supportive Details Do your notes have both?
Teacher and Course Focus Do you know what the teacher thinks is important? How? • Teacher’s comments • Teacher’s guiding questions • Assignment sheet, e-mail or website Modern World History "Exchange”.
Then there’s YOU! Use your own experience, background and knowledge to interact with the material • Connect: Make associations. • Respond: Do you agree? Disagree? • Question: Is this valid? Is this confusing? • Evaluate: Is this balanced? Fair? Biased? • Draw inferences: Where does this lead?
How are your notes? • Do you know why you’re taking these notes? (Purpose?) • Are they dated with description and title? • Do they need more… Spacing? Abbreviations? Symbols? Highlighting? • Do they have… Telegraphic sentences? Abbreviated full ideas? Paraphrasing? Maps, Pictures?
How are your notes? • Are they complete in content? Main concepts? Supportive details for each? • Do they reflect what the teacher counts as most important? • Do they include your reactions to the material? • TRUE TEST - Do they make sense 1 day later? 1 week later? 1 month later? In May?