Note-Taking Skills

Brainstorming Brainstorming is when you write down everything you know about a particular topic. You try to think and write as fast as you can - letting all the ideas in your brain storm your paper. Wild, creative, and unusual ideas can be added to your brainstorming list. Write down any ideas that are related to your topic. Once you have a long list of ideas, you can classify or sort your ideas into groups.

Brainstorming Example Let’s say you wanted to brainstorm on the topic of school. Here’s what you might write as you brainstorm: learningteachersstudents booksdeskscomputers playgroundcafeteriaprincipal librarymovementcrayons stationsgamesquiet talkingthinkingfun

Paraphrasing When you paraphrase, you are writing information that you read in your own words. You write it however it makes sense to you. First, you need to read the information you are learning until you understand it. Second, write down what you remember from reading. Write it in your own words. Third, go back and make sure the information you wrote down is accurate or correct.

Paraphrasing Example Let’s say we just read this paragraph about dolphins: Dolphins are aquatic mammals which are closely related to whales and porpoises. They come in many different sizes from four feet to thirty feet. Dolphins can be different shades of grey. They are carnivores that eat mostly squid and fish. Dolphins can be found living all over the world in the ocean. Scientists have studied dolphins for many years and have concluded that dolphins are very intelligent animals.

Paraphrasing Example After reading that paragraph a few times, we might write this as a paraphrase of the information: Dolphins are grey-colored mammals who live in the ocean all over the world. They can be small or really big. Dolphins eat fish and squid. Scientists know that dolphins are very smart animals.

Main Idea The main idea is the main reason that a story, book or article was written. It answers the question, “Why did the author write it?” The main idea tells what most or all the sentences are about in a paragraph. When you are reading a paragraph, ask yourself, “What is this telling me?” Many times (but not always) the author will tell you the main idea in the first sentence of a paragraph. Identifying the main idea will help you remember important information.

Main Idea Example Here’s a paragraph from Time for Kids that you can read to practice identifying the main idea. First, read the paragraph: The past year was the hottest on record in the United States. Most scientists agree that people have played a big part in global warming. Everyday activities such as heating or cooling houses and schools, driving big cars and even using computers fill the air with a gas called carbon dioxide. That gas and a few others build up in the atmosphere. They trap the sun's heat near Earth's surface. from Time for Kids, April 20, 2007 Vol. #12 Iss. #25

Main Idea Example This is what you might write as the main idea of that paragraph: Global warming is happening because people are making the Earth hotter. This is because of the carbon dioxide gas that is being emitted from our everyday activities.

Compare/Contrast If you compare two things, you tell how they are alike. If you contrast two things, you tell how they are different. If you compare and contrast two things, you tell how they are alike and different. One of the best ways to compare and contrast is to use a Venn Diagram.

Compare/Contrast Topic 1 Topic 2 What Topic 1 and 2 have alike

Compare/Contrast Example PenguinsDucks Both cannot fly live in Antarctica eat fish, squid, krill and crustaceans have a layer of fat called blubber live on all continents except Antarctica eat plants, grasses, insects, worms, and small amphibians some species migrate lives 5 to 10 years in the wild birds good swimmers

Sequencing When you sequence information, you are putting events or actions in the correct order. Sometimes, you sequence events in chronological order. This means you organize the information in the order that the events occurred. Other times, you put information in the order that you would carry them out. This is known as steps. When reading or listening to information, keep your ears open for time-order words like first, then, next, before, and finally.

Sequencing Example One way to sequence is to use a numbered list like this: 1. The seed is planted in good, rich soil. 2. Water is added to the soil so the seed will grow. 3. Soon the seed will sprout out of the ground.

Sequencing Example Another way to sequence information is to make a timeline Lincoln was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky. Abraham Lincoln Timeline 1836 Lincoln practiced law in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln became President of the United States. 1861

Note-Taking Whatever strategy you use when you are taking notes, you will certainly be successful. So take hold of your pencil and start taking notes!