Cornell Note-Taking The AVID Way

Problems with taking notes I can’t write everything down the teacher says because he/she talks TOO fast! I can’t read my notes. The notes I take when I read don’t help. I don’t know which parts of my notes are most important. I don’t see how the notes from lecture match the readings from the book.

Don’t be like this guy…

….or her

What’s the advantage of Cornell notes? Helps me take organized notes. Helps me identify key words and concepts from lecture or reading. Helps me scan my notes to locate important information. Improved study skills. Improved grades.

Name Period Date Cornell Notes Write your name, period, and date in the upper right hand corner (see above). Write the topic of the notes (ex. WWII, Cells, Nouns, etc.) on the top line (see above).

Cornell Notes Page setup Name Period Date Cornell Notes Page setup Draw a horizontal line about five lines up from the bottom. Draw a vertical line down the page about one third of distance from the left.

Cornell Notes Key words & ideas Main Idea Name Period Date Cornell Notes Key words & ideas Important dates/people/places Repeated/Stressed Info Ideas/brainstorming written on board / overhead projector Info from textbook/stories Diagrams & Pictures Formulas Main Idea Key Question (after notes are completed)

SAMPLE For English What is a noun? What are the two types of nouns? Name Period Date SAMPLE For English What is a noun? What are the two types of nouns? What is a compound noun? Noun - person, place, thing, idea Types - concrete & abstract concrete - taste, touch, smell, see abstract - ideas (emotions) compound - two or more words combined to create one thing; ex: fireman, bedroom

Cornell Notes Helpful Hints for Straight A Notes Abbrev. , Paraphrase. Name Period Date Cornell Notes Helpful Hints for Straight A Notes Abbrev. , Paraphrase. Use symbols (arrows, circles, underlining) or highlighting to emphasize important ideas and relationships. Skip lines between ideas. Within 24 hours, review notes and develop study questions on the left side. Be aware of teacher clues.*

Question Column Write questions in the left column of your notes to quiz yourself on the material. Write questions in the question column on the same line as the item the question addresses in the record column Write a question for each new Topic Main idea Significant detail Write questions for details on which you think your professor will quiz you.

Quiz Answer your questions in the left column. Cover the Record Column. Read your questions in the Question Column Using your own words, answer your questions out loud. Uncover your notes and check what you have said against the facts. This will help transfer ideas to your long- term memory!

Review Review to improve your memory. If you spend 10 minutes every week or so in a quick review of your notes, you will retain most of what you have studied you won’t have to cram during an “all-nighter” you will relate the facts and ideas to present lectures or readings.

Teacher Clues How do I know if what the teacher says is important? Name Period Date Teacher Clues How do I know if what the teacher says is important? Repetition or stressed inflection Voice gets louder/softer or faster/slower Writing on the board or overhead “This will be on the test.” Gestures (hand/arm movements) “This is important.”

So, what about the bottom of my paper? Name Period Date So, what about the bottom of my paper? What belongs in the bottom space? Summary - review notes as soon as possible after class and write a summary in your own words about the main ideas. Are there any gaps in your understanding? (see next point) Questions for the teacher. Doodles - down here they won’t get in the way of the important stuff. Summary, questions, doodles

Teacher Clues How do I know if what the teacher says is important? Name Period Date Teacher Clues How do I know if what the teacher says is important? Repetition or stressed inflection Voice gets louder/softer or faster/slower Writing on the board or overhead “This will be on the test.” Gestures (hand/arm movements) “This is important.” Teachers give clues to what notes students should write down by repeating, putting voice stress on things , and by saying “This is important”.

Abbreviation Exercise Abbreviate the following lines so they still make sense Hippocrates, a Greek who is considered to be the Father of Medicine, was born on the island of Cos in 460 B.C. George Washington was not, in a sense, America’s first president. Mark Twain fell in love with Olivia Langdon. They married in 1870 and moved to Hartford, Connecticut.

Abbreviation Exercise Answers Name Period Date Abbreviation Exercise Answers Hippocrates (Gr.) Father of Med b.Cos 460B.C G. Wash. Not Am’s 1st Pres.? Twain - Olivia Langdon m. 1870 to Hart Conn

Practice Here is the text. In the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” there are four main characters – including one that may have really exist. The first and most important character is Ichabod Crane. He is an ambitious schoolteacher, who hopes to marry the second character, Katrina Van Tassel. Katrina is the handsome daughter of a wealthy farmer. The third character is Brom Bones. He is Ichabod’s rival for Katrinia, and he is also well known for his practical jokes. The fourth and final character is the frightening, ghostly figure of the Headless Horseman, who terrifies Ichabod into running away. But Irving strongly hints that this might simply be another of the characters in disguise.

Here are the notes: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – 4 Main Characters Ichabod Crane Most important School teacher Wants to marry Katrina Katrina Van Tassel Beautiful daughter of wealthy farmer Brom Bones Also wants to marry Katrina Well known for practical jokes Headless Horseman Scary ghost Scares Ichabod away Might be another character [Brom?] in disguise 1st character? Job? Interest? 2nd character? Description? 3rd character? Interested in? Likes what? 4th character Real or not? Scares who? Might be who?

Step 5: Review Spend at least 10 minutes every week reviewing all your previous notes. If you do, you’ll retain a great deal for current use, as well as, for the exam.

Remember: only 10 minutes a week (minimum) for each subject. With 6 subjects, that’s only an hour a week.

Whether you want this?                                                     This OR It’s up to you!