Note Taking

Other strategies

A. Note only material that is repeated B. Summarize the info yourself C. Develop personal shorthand

Pay Attention

- anticipate what's coming next - no distractions - pay attention to speaker cues

Engage

- involve yourself by thinking of examples as speaker talks

Listen

- listen to introductory and closing remarks - focus on what's being said

3 Note Taking Methods

1. Cornell Method 2. Mapping Method 3. Outline Method

Why take notes?

1. Helps stimulate critical thinking 2. Helps you remember what was said in class 3. Prep for tests/evaluations/assignments 4. Keeps ypur mind active

Steps to Mind Mapping

1. Identify the topic of the lecture or reading. Place it in the center and circle it 2. Branch the main ideas, each stemming from the main topic 3. From each branch mark key words and examples

3 areas of Cornell Method

1. Note taking area 2. Cue column 3. Summary

3 Note Taking Strategies

1. Pay Attention 2. Listen 3. Engage

Steps for Outlining Method

1. Place major points farthest to the left 2. Indent each more specific point to the right • levels of importance will be indicated by distance away from major point • indentation can be as simple or complex as labeling the Indentation w/ Roman numerals or decimals • markings are not necessary as space relationships will indicate major/minor points

What to do before class?

1. READ your text book in advance 2. Make sure you have paper, text, pens/pencils, handouts 3. Review the notes from last class 4. Make a commitment to attend all classes - remember: note taking is a skill so getting notes from someone else is not a good idea

What to do after class?

1. Review your notes within 24 hours • are they complete and make sense? 2. Identify questions you may have and find answers 3. Re-copy or re-organize if necessary

What to do during class?

1. Sit in front, center portion of the classroom A. Fewer distractions B. You can see and hear better C. Less likely to doze off 2. Identify the visual and verbal cues that an important topic is being addressed 3. Identify possible exam questions 4. Copy whatever the teacher writes in the board 5. Always write definitions and listings 6. Pay attention to signals of importance

Examples of signals of importance

A. Teachers physical gestures • pointing, listing with fingers, clapping, pounding in desk, etc. B. Listen to teachers voice and notes • changes in speed, volume, and pitch • teachers will summarize at the end

Mapping Method

• clearly demonstrates hierarchical relationships among the A. Topic B. Main ideas C. Supporting details • useful because they reduce large amount of info

Outline Method

• requires listening to and writing main points in an organized pattern based on space indentation

The Cornell Method

• split page method of note taking • developed by Walter Paul an emeritus professor at Cornell university • allows space for questions, reflections, & summaries • good for self testing