1. How to take notes: tips to make you a successful student
English 9A

2. Why take notes?
Helps you remember (brain research links writing things down to memory recall)
Helps you concentrate in class
Helps you prepare for tests (gives you clues on what will be on test)
Gives you additional information that may not be in your textbook

3. How to take notes
Be selective- don’t write down every word (you often won’t have enough time)
Translate ideas- NOT TERMS- into your own words
Organize your notes (by outlining, by theme, making a list, etc.)

4. How to take notes
Write in colors (highlighters are yellow because studies show you remember things in yellow more than black/blue)
Use shorthand only if you know what it means (&, etc., approx., w/)
Use margins to write key ideas or to draw attention to important things with mini drawings or symbols (ex. An arrow, bubble, big exclamation point)

5. How to create an outline
Outlines are a great way to organize your notes.
The format is easier than you probably think. Here’s how:
I. Main idea
A. Major point or information about main idea
a. Subpoint about idea
supporting detail for subpoint “a”
b. Next subpoint about main idea “I”
II. Main idea #2
A. Major point about main idea #2