Transcript Document

WARM-UP: Evaluate Your
Present Note-Taking System
Ask yourself:
• Do I use complete sentences?
• Do I use any form at all?
• Are my notes clear or confusing?
• Do I capture the main points and all subpoints?
• Do I streamline using symbols,
abbreviations, and shortcuts?
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6 Important Reasons to Take
Notes
• It helps you to concentrate in class.
• It helps you prepare for tests.
• It is easier to work from notes that you have
written rather than photocopied sheets.
• Information is more easily remembered if you
write it down.
• Your notes are often a source of valuable clues
for what information the instructor thinks most
important.
• Your notes often contain information that cannot
be found elsewhere (i.e., in your textbook).
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Overview
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Scanning and Skimming
Ways to Reduce and Streamline Notes
Guidelines for Note-Taking
Methods
Tips for Finding Major Points in Lectures
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Scanning and Skimming
• “What do I need to find out?” Be aware of your
purpose before you start reading.
• Develop efficient reading skills—good reading
speed and good comprehension.
• Before reading, you need to scan the chapter.
This involves looking at the introduction,
headings, graphics, and diagrams.
• Skim each section: the opening paragraph, the 1st
sentence in a paragraph, sub-headings, and the
final paragraph.
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Scanning and Skimming
• While skimming, let your eyes roam down the
page, concentrating on the center part, searching
for key terms. Train your eyes to roam down the
page reading and anticipating groups of words.
Practice moving your hand or finger down the
page to train your eye to move quickly.
• Don’t read 1 word at a time. The rate of
skimming should be at least twice as fast as your
normal reading. Slow skim information that
looks important and select and take notes or fast
skim information that is not relevant.
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Ways to Reduce and Streamline
Notes
• Use a new page for each new topic.
• Write on one side of the page only.
• Space your notes; write on every second
line.
• Leave margins to note key points and areas
of difficulty.
• Use abbreviations and symbols.
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Guidelines for Note-Taking
• Take notes selectively. No NOT write down
every word. Remember that the average teacher
speaks 125-140 words per minute, and the
average note-taker writes about 25 words per
minute.
• Be brief. Write down the main points and
supporting information in words and phrases, not
sentences.
• Don’t be concerned with spelling and grammar.
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Guidelines for Note-Taking
• Write legibly. Notes are useless if you
cannot read them later!
• Organize notes into some sort of logical
form.
• Simplify ideas into your own words or
even diagrams.
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Methods
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Outline. Use lettering, numbering,
indentation, and bullets to divide and
summarize ideas.
1.
Topic Sentence or main idea.
A.
Major points providing information about
topic.
1.
Sub-point that describe the major point.
a.
Supporting detail.
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Methods
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Mapping. Good for showing how information
interrelates. Used for difficult concepts and
the visuals are easily taken in for students
with spatial memories.
Chemistry
Atoms
Protons
Neutrons
Bonds
Electrons
Ionic
Covalent
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Methods
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Charting. Best used where you have
several types and different categories to
bring together.
Animal
Habitat
Breeding
Prey
Distribution
Tiger
Panda
Rhinoceros
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Tips for Finding Major Points in
Lectures
The teacher is usually making an important
point if he/she:
• Pauses before or after an idea.
• Uses repetition to emphasize a point.
• Uses introductory phrases to precede an
important idea.
• Writes an idea on the board/overhead.
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