Note-Taking

1. Note-Taking

2. Why Take Notes? • It helps you focus on what is important in what you are reading or hearing. • It gives you a record of what you need to know for the future. • It helps you connect the main ideas into a big picture. • It helps you remember through repetition.

3. Tips for Taking Notes 1) Always write notes in your own words. 2) If you don’t know what something means, raise your hand and ask. 3) Only write main ideas and supporting details. 4) Spend 80-90% of your time reading or listening, and only 10-20% writing. 5) Don’t write in complete sentences. 6) Use abbreviations 7) Only write down what you don’t already know (or you think you could forget).

4. Abbreviations Practice Re-write the following sentence using your own abbreviations: “The Mississippi River rises in the lake region of northern Minnesota and flows nearly four thousand miles southward through several states until it flows into the Gulf of Mexico through a large delta in southeast Louisiana.” Write down how many letters are in the original and how many are in your version.

5. Note-Taking Method #1: Outlining • Step #1: Read the paragraph • Step #2: Write down the main idea • Step #3: Write down important details

6. Outlining Practice- Step #1: Read the paragraph Around 1300 AD, about 200 years after the Maya Indians disappeared, a wandering tribe of Indians wandered into the Valley of Mexico. These people were called the Aztecs. When the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico, other tribes were already in residence. They had already taken the best land. The Aztecs had to make due with the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco. They had to adapt to their environment. They built canoes, fished, and hunted birds that lived near the water. They created floating gardens for growing food. They created more land for agriculture by filling in the marshes. They built dikes to hold back the water. The Aztecs were a very clever people. 

7. Take out book and read for SSR

8. Outlining Practice- Step #2: Write down the main idea Around 1300 AD, about 200 years after the Maya Indians disappeared, a wandering tribe of Indians wandered into the Valley of Mexico. These people were called the Aztecs. When the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico, other tribes were already in residence. They had already taken the best land. The Aztecs had to make due with the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco. They had to adapt to their environment. They built canoes, fished, and hunted birds that lived near the water. They created floating gardens for growing food. They created more land for agriculture by filling in the marshes. They built dikes to hold back the water. The Aztecs were a very clever people.  SAMPLE: I. Aztecs moved to the Valley of Mexico

9. Outlining Practice- Step #3: Write down the important details Around 1300 AD, about 200 years after the Maya Indians disappeared, a wandering tribe of Indians wandered into the Valley of Mexico. These people were called the Aztecs. When the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico, other tribes were already in residence. They had already taken the best land. The Aztecs had to make due with the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco. They had to adapt to their environment. They built canoes, fished, and hunted birds that lived near the water. They created floating gardens for growing food. They created more land for agriculture by filling in the marshes. They built dikes to hold back the water. The Aztecs were a very clever people.  SAMPLE: I. Aztecs moved to the Valley of Mexico • around 1300 AD • other tribes already lived there • Best land already taken • Aztecs used swamps • Built canoes, fished, etc • Created floating gardens • Filled in marshes to make more land

10. Method #2: Mapping • Step #1: Read the paragraph / listen to lecture • Step #2: Write the main idea in the center of your page and draw a circle around it • Step #3: write important supporting details on lines connected to the circle

12. Method #3: Cornell Notes • Developed by Professor Walter Pauk at Cornell University in 1949. • Designed to be a study guide • Preferred at most major law schools

13. Why are Cornell Notes better than other note-taking methods? 1) Cornell notes help you to organize and process data. 2) Cornell notes help you see the “big picture”. 3) Cornell notes help you study.

14. Method #3: Cornell Notes S – Set up paper Name, date, and period! Make a large left margin by drawing a line down the paper. T – Take notes Use the 7 tips on note-taking. A – After taking notes Read over your notes and highlight, underline, and add or delete notes. Now fill in the left margin with high level questions that are answered by your notes. R – Review At the bottom of the page, write a 3-5 sentence summary that ties together the main ideas covered in your notes.

16. Taking, Making, Interacting, Reflecting • Note-Taking=take the notes in your classes • Note Making=make notes within your notes (may use a different color) • Note-Interacting=review your notes • Note Reflecting=write a summary (facts) and reflection (info learned and connections)

17. Summary/Reflection • Answer the following questions in the space provided in complete sentences • 1.) What were the notes about? • 2.) What did you learn from the notes? (2 things—be specific)