Better Notes for Better Grades

Questions  How many of you take notes in class?  When do you take notes?  Has someone ever taught you to take notes?

Why take notes?  Encodes information – writing down helps you remember  Promotes active listening  Allows you to store info for tests and essays (what you use to study)  Maintains a record of what your instructor thinks is important  Helps you find important info quickly and easily—if your notes are organized!

When should you take notes?

When instructor lectures, even when using PowerPoints or handouts

During labs & Class Discussions

When you watch a film in class

When the instructor writes, diagrams, or draws

While reading a textbook

When given assignments and deadlines

3 Components of Good Notes 1.Be Concise 2.Be Organized 3.Be Yourself Be COY

Be Concise  Include only necessary words  Use abbreviations  Use symbols like “&” instead of writing out “and”  Don’t concern yourself with spelling and grammar

Be Organized  Review your notes after class to better organize the information while it is fresh.  Refine your first draft of notes (yes, notes have drafts).  See your professor if you think you missed an important point!

Be Organized  Group concepts into categories  Make connections between concepts  Leave blank space  Emphasize certain items

Group concepts together & make connections: use arrows, diagrams

Leave blank space  For things you don’t understand…yet  Connections b/w textbook and lecture Use the blank space to add additional information like definitions, examples, etc. as you review your notes.

Emphasize certain items by underlining, circling, highlighting

Be Organized  Date and put them in the correct place – have a folder or notebook for each class.  Keep your notes in order to better understand them later.  Don’t lose important dates by including them within your class notes—have a separate place to note due dates or test dates.  Be flexible—don’t try to treat every class the same. Try different types of note-taking for different classes to determine what is most effective.

Be Yourself  Use your OWN WORDS  Make up your own abbreviations, etc.  Find your style Outlines Mapping Columns

Outlines

Mapping

Columns

Got notes… What do I do now?

 Review ASAP after class to organize  Write a summary of what that class was about at the end of your notes  Review notes once a week  Use them! when you study when you self-test for an exam

Evaluating Today’s Notes  Did you try to write down everything I said?  Did you write down everything that was in the PowerPoint?  Did you write down good ideas that your fellow students had?

Review: Let’s see how good your notes are.  When should you take notes?  What are the 3 components of good notes?  How can you be concise?  How can you be organized?  How can you be yourself?

Summing it Up  Look over your notes quickly, and let’s summarize what we’ve learned today!

Room A Drop by the El Centro College Learning Center for additional help with Note-Taking