Making connections AND Taking effective Notes Instructor: Pamela Fox

Pre-reading: Being Prepared Always pre-read an assigned text using a method that works well for you. For all assignments, you should read carefully and analytically, using a variety of reading strategies. Some excellent strategies include Paired reading Asking questions Preview, read, question, recite, write Note taking and summarizing

Pre-reading Ask Pre-reading questions: What do I already know about this topic? What do the headings and subheadings tell me about what is important in this reading? What can I learn from the graphics and images? How much time do I need to read the assignment carefully and to understand it?

More questions: Before & During Experience What experience have I had with ....? What can I imagine about ...? What have I heard about….? Important questions about content How would I describe the author’s main point(s)? How does the author support his/her main point? What are the best examples or evidence? Do the photos add valuable information?

Bottom Line Reading strategies help you prepare for class lectures, discussions, quizzes, exams, and other activities. What you do before, during, and after you read an assigned text will help you achieve success in all of your classes because you will have a better understanding of what you are reading. Find a strategy that works with your learning style and use it regularly.

Understanding the text: Looking for connections and clues . Reading the text(s) aloud to each may help you analyze (think carefully about) the content. Highlight and annotate the main ideas, key terms, unfamiliar words, and context clues that help readers understand the author’s main point(s) and that clarify confusing or unfamiliar phrases and words. Ask: Have I or someone I know had a similar experience? Have I heard about this issue before? When and where? Use a color system to identify the important information in each paragraph.

Example

Personalize Identify a note-taking method that works best for you and use it in all of your classes. I highly recommend the Cornell method.

Cornell Method of Notetaking Divide the paper into three sections.

Cornell Method Document: Write course name, date, and topic at the top of each page. For reading assignments, the topic is the title of the assigned reading. For other assignments, the topic may be the title of a lecture.

Cornell Method Write notes. The large box to the right is for writing notes. Skip a line or leave space between ideas and topics. Record main ideas, key terms and definitions, examples, and other context clues that help you understand the content. Don't use complete sentences. Use abbreviations whenever possible. Develop a shorthand of your own, such as using "&" for the word "and".

Cornell Method Review and clarify. Review the notes as soon as possible after class. Pull out main ideas, key points, dates, and names of people and record them in the left column. CONDENSE! Working with a study partner is helpful during the review and clarify process. Summarize. In your own words, write a summary of the main ideas in the bottom section.

Cornell Method Study your notes Re-read the notes in the right column. But, spend most of your time studying the ideas in the left column and in the summary at the bottom. They contain the most important ideas and probably include much of the information that will be on a test.

Example

Mapping Spider Map: A Highly Visual Outline The Spider Map is used to record a central idea, main ideas, and other important information. The map may be used to organize ideas or to brainstorm ideas for a writing project. Key Questions: What is the central idea for the entire chapter or the main idea in each paragraph? What characteristics are described? Which examples are the best? Key words and phrases? Unfamiliar vocabulary?

Example

Review: Using Your Notes Successfully Reduce - Review your notes to reduce them to related keywords, phrases or questions Recite - Restate out loud and in your own words the content of your notes Review - Review your notes often through recitation to make your knowledge sure . Recapitulate - Summarize your learning by reading assignment or by lecture to ensure your understanding of key points

Summarize Think carefully about which content is the most important and reduce that information to a concise summary. If required, use a proper citation format for documenting where the information is located in the reading: MLA, APA, Chicago. I recommend that you always cite whether it is required or not. Always summarize. It is the best way to ensure that you understand what you have read.

Summary Write a brief, formal summary of a short reading from the text book you brought to class. Follow the introduction format that you learned in the last class session.You may work with a partner.