1. Why take notes?  If you do not write it down:  42% forgotten after 20 minutes  56% forgotten after 1 hour  66% forgotten after 1 day  75% forgotten after 1 week  80% forgotten after 1 month

2.  What you will most likely do :  Write everything down  Write down very little of the important stuff  Write complete sentences  Wrtie way too much  Not write enough  Copy word for word  Get frustrated  What I want you to do:  Find the main ideas  Focus on important details  Use key words and phrases  Break down the large ideas  Write only enough to get the idea across  Take concise, complete notes.

3.  Your notes should be a work in progress.  You should add information as you study or read  Verbatim is the WORST!!  Use them as a study guide  More you take correctly, the better.

4. Cornell Notes  As soon as a lecture is over, review and note in the left margin:  Questions  Why or how  Comapre/contrast  What is the function of…  What is the effect of….  What is….  What year did…  Who is….  Notes during the lecture:  Write constantly-  Keeps your brain form wondering  Bullet points  Key words and phrases  Symbols/abbreviations  1 fact per line  Spread out notes & fill in later  Paraphrase when possible. Summary: Big ideas in your own words. Key ideas, vocab, examples. Helps determine which areas you should focus studying on. Brings ideas into proper context.

5. Bad:  The Renaissance started in 1300 because of a war and the black plague. People had more money and started to focus on the arts. People like the Medici dictated in Italy.  Famous artists had more time to be famous. They made people look like people in art. Michelangelo, Raphael, and that other guy. Good:  1300-1600  War & plague  Less people = more wage demand  Patrons  Medici= powerful family  Florence  Artist  Michelangelo  Raphael