Two-Column Note-Taking: Making Notes Make Sense By Sarah Thomason May 11, 2010

Some Benefits of 2-Column Strategy 1. Teaches something specific to listen for  key words  signal words  specific cues 2. Teaches something specific to do  Put key ideas, people, events in left column  Put explanation, description, definition, etc. in right column

Benefits, cont. 3.Automatically creates an active review tool  Cover information in right column and use left column as prompts  Cover information in left column and use right column as prompts  Allows for easy scanning of notes to locate certain pieces of information

Signal Words SIGNS: They give directional cues and show relationships between ideas. Numbers or Equivalents Three reasons Two views Variety of consequences Numerous factors Several types

Signal Words: Transitions Addition: first, second, also, in addition, furthermore, next, another, final Time: before, after, simultaneously, first, later Illustration: for example, for instance, such as Comparison: similar, like, both, same Contrast: but, however, even though, different Cause & Effect: because, result, effect, therefore, reason, leads to, consequence

Other Cues “This will be on the test.” “Write this down.” “You’ll see this again.” Writing on the board Handout Repetition Animation Emphasis

Let’s try it!