Transcript Note-taking Strategies for College Readiness

Note-taking Strategies for
College Readiness!!
SS AP Help Session #1
10/20/2010
Dr. Funk & Mrs. O’Brien
Why take notes?
• To aid in your retention of facts and ideas
collected from a reading or lecture
• To have a record of important information
to study for a future test
• To be an “active listener” (one who is
actively engaged, responding
to the information or text)
Do’s & Don’ts for Taking Efficient
Notes
• DO:
– Jot down information that will jog your memory
later on
– Include key terms, concepts, names, dates, etc.
– Develop a system of “shorthand”
– Paraphrase
– Organize your notes!
– Tailor your note-taking method to the topic being
discussed
Do’s & Don’ts for Taking Efficient
Notes
• DON’T:
– Try to write everything down
– Write in complete sentences
– Simply “bullet” your notes
– Copy the text word-for-word
Some Note-taking Methods . . .
•
•
•
•
•
Outlining
Cornell Notes
Concept Maps & Webs
Mind Maps
Graphic Organizers
– Charts
– Venn Diagrams
– Flow Charts
– Cause & Effect Chains
– Annotated Timelines & Maps
Outlining
• Benefits
– Differentiates btwn. “main ideas” and “details”
– Organized--easy to find specific info. while studying
later
– Forces student to be more active (i.e.-deciding
whether or not a fact is a main idea or a supporting
detail)
– Great for pre-writing
• How to Create an Outline
– Uses Roman numerals, Letters, and Numbers
– Indentation (items further to the left of page are the
main ideas/concepts)
Sample Outline
I. Planets of the Solar System
A. Mercury
1. closest planet to the sun
2. named after the Roman god of commerce & travel
B. Mars
1. sometimes called ‘the Red Planet’
2. has two moons
a. Phobos
i. has a diameter of 22 kilometers
ii. named after the son of Ares & Aphrodite in Greek
mythology
b. Deimos
i. made up of asteroids & ice
ii. first photographed by the Viking I satellite in 1977
C. Neptune—named after the Greek God of the sea
Cornell Notes
• Benefits
– Promotes “higher-level” thinking
– Improves retention/memory (info. is “processed” THREE
times)
– Can be used to expand upon the outline method
– Endorsed by many colleges
• How to take Cornell Notes
– Step #1: “RECORD” (outline notes over reading/
lecture)
– Step #2: “RECALL” (sorting of information;
determining importance)
– Step #3: “SUMMARIZE” (explaining the main idea)
Cornell Notes
Concept Maps, Webs & “Mind
Maps”
• Benefits:
– Appeals to VISUAL learners
– Concept “maps” show main idea & supporting
characteristics/examples
– Concept “webs” show relationships btwn. two or
more major concepts
– Useful tool for reviewing previous notes
– Can be used for brainstorming before writing
– Mind maps inspire creativity!
Sample Concept
Map & Web
Sample Concept Map
3 kinds of
Power
______?______
______?______
______?______
4 Theories on
Origins of States
What is
Government?
Government &
the State
Population
______?______
What is a
“State”?
Territory
______?______
______?______
Sample “Mind Map”
Graphic Organizers
• Benefits:
–
–
–
–
Appeal to VISUAL learners
Encourage “critical thinking”, understanding of processes
Format can be adapted to fit the topic
Inspire creativity!
• A Few Types of Graphic Organizers
– Charts (to show various types/characteristics of an idea)
– Venn Diagrams (to compare & contrast or show
overlapping concepts)
– Flow Charts (to show steps of a process)
– Cause & Effect Chains
– Annotated Diagrams, Timelines, & Maps
Sample Chart
Branches of
Government
LEGISLATIVE
EXECUTIVE
JUDICIAL
Includes?
Main Duties
Checks &
Balances on
Others . . .
Sample Venn Diagram
FRENCH
•Executed of the monarch!
•Went through multiple phases
•Democracy didn’t work for
them—rise of Napoleon
AMERICAN
•“No taxation
without representation!”
•Effects of Seven Years’ War
•Written Declaration of
Independence
•Unfair Taxation!!
•Aimed to overthrow Absolutism
•Boycotts as a form of protest
•Fought on battlefields
ALL THREE
•more than one govt.
change/constitution
•MANY competing
factions
•All used ideas of Enlightenment
•Unfair social class
systems
•All involved France
•Colonies breaking
away from Imperial
power.
•in the “New World”
•“Liberty, Equality, and
Fraternity”
•Achieved separation
of powers & end to
monarchy
•The only revolution that involved slaves rebelling.
•The revolution was about equality among races.
•The only African American led revolution.
•Became first black republic & first Latin American
colony to be granted independence.
HAITIAN
Sample Annotated Diagram
Using Your Notes to Prepare for
Tests
• Study your notes before re-reading any part of
the textbook
• Re-organize your notes while studying
– Ex: Use info. from outline or Cornell Notes to
construct a Venn Diagram or Chart
• Use “recall” column of Cornell Notes to “quiz”
yourself (like flash cards)
• Use your notes as basis for discussion in a
study group or review session
Summary & Conclusion . . .
• What Have You Learned?
• Complete “Recall” and “Summary” section
of Cornell Notes!
• Fill out an evaluation
• Go forth and
practice!!! 