1. Note-Taking & Annotating
Presented by the Academic Resource Center

2. Academic Resource Center
We’re on Moodle!
Locations
Chestnut
3rd Street
Sutter Street
Anne Bremer Library
Make appointments through WCOnline

3. WHY DO I HAVE TO TAKE NOTES?!
When do we take notes and why is it important?
What type of note-taking do you do?
What strategies do you use? (What do you listen for / how do you take notes? - abbreviations, keywords?)

4. Notes Help! Memory Review Forming Questions Class Participation
Critiques
Test-taking
Essay Writing

5. Listening Strategies What to listen for: writing on the board
repeating points
keywords
main ideas
emphasis
ordinals (1st, 2nd, Finally)
AIR:
Anticipate next point
Identify Supporting Material / Evidence
Recapitulate / Summarize

6. Note-taking Strategies
What NOT to do
FULL SENTENCES
Write EVERYTHING down!
Write NOTHING down!
GOOD Strategies
Look at the course outline
Organization:
Date
Title of section
Page numbers
Paraphrase
Abbr.
Leave gaps between ideas
Be Concise

7. Visuals Bold CAPITALIZE Underline Highlight → Arrows ←
Different color pens
Bolding underlining

8. NOTE-TAKING STYLES
Ask what types of notes people take in the room

9. Outlining Method Main Idea Numbers Roman Numerals Subtopic Letters
supporting points
clarification
lists & examples
supporting detail
Numbers
Roman Numerals
Letters
Bullet points
Dashes
Bullet Points / Outlining
emphasize where main idea is

10. Two Column Method LEFT Math Equations 2 + x = 7
Key Dates, Time Periods
1492
Powerpoint Slides
RIGHT
Steps to solve math problem
7-2=5, x=5
Related events, important names
Columbus sailed the ocean blue
Extra notes during lecture
2 Column
suggestion, but never seen people do this

12. Cornell Notes Topics Questions Ideas Main Idea Subtopic
supporting points
clarification
lists & examples
supporting detail
Good for test-taking and even essay writing
Small margin column on left, larger column on right
Write notes in outline form on right first
→ Then review notes adding questions, ideas, topics on the left
→ Reviewing for tests → fold paper so you only see the questions you made on the left and test yourself
Or during lecture, put main topics & important questions the professor asks on the left
→ these questions will most likely be questions on a test or an essay prompt
Good way to navigate (find important topics) & review notes

13. Spider Diagrams / Thought Charts
Useful for:
Outlining essays
Reflections
Brainstorming
Gallery visits
Artist talks
Main Concept
Central Topic
Idea
Sub-idea/
example
Idea
Sub-idea/
example
Idea
Sub-idea/
example
Analysis
Comments
Sub-idea/
example
Sub-idea/
example

14. Annotating Readings Write in the margins! Highlight: Reactions
Keywords/Definitions
Use (+) (-)
Main Arguments
Evidence
Conclusion & So What?
(+) (-) - use when author agrees or disagrees with an example they’re giving
So what: how is it applicable in class
Ask if anything to add to the list

15. Reviewing your notes Read over & memorize Study groups
Discussion groups
Coffee breaks
Before class
After class

16. good
bad
ugly

18. ASK: What’s the issue with writing shorthand notes or recording?
Illegible notes
Anything that requires an extra step of transcribing, re-listening

21. PRACTICE / PRACTICE / PRACTICE
Choose between:
Get into groups to discuss:
What they got from (exercise/mini-lecture)
What strategies they used
Help each other
Large group share/discussion

22. Resources: Where to find notes on taking notes
Academic Resource Center Page on Moodle