Some Ways of Taking Notes

Before reading… Look at the table of contents. Skim introductions and conclusions. Avoid isolating facts without considering their purpose. Think about how this information fits into the “big picture” of the piece.

Reading Critically Restate Restate what the text says Talk about the original topic Describe Describe what a text does Identify the purpose Interpret Analyze what a text means Give an overall meaning

An example (review from yesterday) Your doctor tells you to eat less chocolate & drink less soda. A restatement would repeat this: The doctor said I should eat less chocolate and drink less soda. A description would describe the remark: The doctor advised me to change my diet. An interpretation would find the underlying meaning: The doctor warned me to reduce my calories to improve my health.

Restating = Reading Comprehension Your first step: understand what people are saying about your topic Based solely on what the text says Summarize Focus on understanding the concepts Prepares you for critical thinking

Describing: The next step The second step: recognize the structure of a discussion to talk about it. How does an article justify a particular conclusion? How does a text support a particular interpretation of events? What examples and evidence are used? What conclusions are reached? Recognize how evidence is presented towards the final idea rather than what the surface level ideas.

Describing: An Example Example topic: The Portrayal of AIDS in the Media Think about the essay and how AIDS is discussed. Does it discuss preventive strategies or medical treatments? Does it describe AIDS symptoms or offer statistics? Is the disease presented as a contagious disease, a Biblical scourge, or an individual experience? Does it quote medical authorities or offer anecdotes from everyday people? Does it appeal to reason or emotions?

Interpreting: What Does It All Mean? This final level of reading infers an overall meaning. Examine what a text does to convey meaning Repeating v. Analyzing: Making The Leap Go beyond what a text says and give your own assertion Take responsibility for your own understanding. Painting in a museum example

Interpretation: Where You Want to Be Restatement and description get you through the strata of critical thinking. If you are analyzing the effects of something in your paper, you’ll need to interpret.

Which is Best? Graded on your ability to insightfully address topic, explore all complexities and provide an in-depth analysis. Assemble your evidence and your thoughts and draw your own conclusions.

Which is Best? A sign of better writing ideas clearly follow from, and lead, to one another leads the reader through the writer’s structure by making sure to include transition words A sign of poorer writing has independent, disconnected thoughts has assertions that are not supported by details, reasons or examples.

Beginning, Middle and End Model The simplest way to describe an idea: beginning, middle, end You determine where these will be for your paper. Ideas: beginning of discussion middle: main argument end of discussion Isolating the beginning, middle, and end of a discussion doesn't tell very much – you have to integrate ideas.

The Relationship Model Statements and ideas are related to each other in one of the following ways: cause and effect time order/chronology general to specific relationship comparison of ideas logical relationships

The Rhetorical Model Organizes the paper based on the following: definition : indicating what an idea means explanation : discussing what an idea means narration : recounting events elaboration : offering details argumentation : defending an idea evaluation : judging “the point”

The Task Model Go in with a specific goal in mind for your discussion. What has to be shown to reach a particular conclusion? What evidence is required? What authorities would be useful to include? What can you assume your audience knows or needs to know? Think of this model like a cooking recipes. Not only the ingredients, but also how they are mixed Not only what to include, but also what to do.

Double Entry Notes On the LEFT side Quotations Key words/phrases Important page #s Arguments Facts Anything from the text you feel is noteworthy On the RIGHT side Your reactions to the book Your interpretation Your analysis