Chapter 4Chapter 4

Taking NotesTaking Notes

PPreparerepare: : Considering Your GoalsConsidering Your Goals OOrganizerganize: : Getting the Tools of Getting the Tools of

Notetaking TogetherNotetaking Together WWorkork: : Processing—Not Copying Processing—Not Copying

— Information— Information EEvaluatevaluate: : Thinking Critically Thinking Critically

About Your NotesAbout Your Notes RRethinkethink: : Activating your Activating your

MemoryMemory

P.O.W.E.R. Plan

Prepare: Considering Prepare: Considering Your GoalsYour Goals

Identify the instructor’s goals and your Identify the instructor’s goals and your goals for the course—Read the Syllabusgoals for the course—Read the Syllabus

Complete assignments before coming to Complete assignments before coming to classclass

Be prepared to listen to a lecture…even if Be prepared to listen to a lecture…even if the instructor is not the “best lecturer”the instructor is not the “best lecturer”

Review the previous class notesReview the previous class notes Choose a seat in the classroom where you Choose a seat in the classroom where you

can see and hearcan see and hear

Organize: Get the Tools of Organize: Get the Tools of Notetaking TogetherNotetaking Together

Bring the appropriate writing utensils Bring the appropriate writing utensils and paper to classand paper to class

Choose the right type of notebook Choose the right type of notebook (loose-leaf usually preferred)(loose-leaf usually preferred)

Write on only one side of the pageWrite on only one side of the page Take textbook to classTake textbook to class Consider taking a laptop computer to Consider taking a laptop computer to

classclass

Work: Processing—Work: Processing—Do not Copy InformationDo not Copy Information

Active listening is different from Active listening is different from “hearing”“hearing”

Listen for key ideasListen for key ideas Search for the meta-messageSearch for the meta-message Listen for repetitionListen for repetition Look for nonverbal signalsLook for nonverbal signals Use short phrases, not sentences for Use short phrases, not sentences for

notesnotes

Notetaking ExperimentNotetaking Experiment

Listen as I read the following and take Listen as I read the following and take abbreviated notes:abbreviated notes:

There are two kinds of job analyses There are two kinds of job analyses used by human resource experts: used by human resource experts:

1.1. job or task-oriented analysesjob or task-oriented analyses2.2. Worker or employee-oriented analysesWorker or employee-oriented analyses

How did you write your notes?How did you write your notes?

Notetaking ExperimentNotetaking Experiment

Two kinds of job analysesTwo kinds of job analyses– Job-oriented (task-oriented)Job-oriented (task-oriented)– Worker-oriented (employee-oriented)Worker-oriented (employee-oriented)

Take Notes in Outline FormTake Notes in Outline Form

I.I. Key ConceptKey Concept A. Main IdeaA. Main Idea

1. Supporting Idea1. Supporting Idea

2. Supporting Idea2. Supporting Idea

a. Specific detailsa. Specific details

b. Specific detailsb. Specific details

Outline a LectureOutline a Lecture

Listen to the following five-minute Listen to the following five-minute lecture and take notes in outline lecture and take notes in outline formatformat

After listening to the lecture:After listening to the lecture:– Did you all agree on the main ideas of Did you all agree on the main ideas of

each passage?each passage?– How are your notes different or similar?How are your notes different or similar?– How can you improve your notes?How can you improve your notes?

Outline a LectureOutline a Lecture

Copy information from board or Copy information from board or overheadoverhead

Use different notetaking techniques Use different notetaking techniques for class discussionsfor class discussions

Listen carefully during discussions for Listen carefully during discussions for important ideasimportant ideas

Pay attention to instructor’s Pay attention to instructor’s summarysummary

Ask questionsAsk questions

Improving NotetakingImproving NotetakingGetting Over Stage FrightGetting Over Stage Fright

Sit in front of roomSit in front of room Write down question before you ask Write down question before you ask

itit Participate early in the semester by Participate early in the semester by

asking questionsasking questions Don’t wait for someone else to ask Don’t wait for someone else to ask

the first question in classthe first question in class

Special TechniquesSpecial Techniques

How do you cope with instructors who How do you cope with instructors who mumble, talk too fast, teach less than mumble, talk too fast, teach less than interesting lectures?interesting lectures?

Ask questionsAsk questions Ask for a conference and discuss with Ask for a conference and discuss with

instructor your difficulty in keeping upinstructor your difficulty in keeping up Meet with other students to compare Meet with other students to compare

notesnotes Record the lectureRecord the lecture Report discriminatory or harassing Report discriminatory or harassing

remarks to a supervisorremarks to a supervisor

Evaluate: Think Critically Evaluate: Think Critically about Your Notesabout Your Notes

Do your notes represent what was Do your notes represent what was covered in class?covered in class?

Do they reflect the emphases of the Do they reflect the emphases of the instructor?instructor?

Are there any key points that are not Are there any key points that are not clear?clear?

Do any points need to be clarified?Do any points need to be clarified?

Rethink: Activate Your Rethink: Activate Your MemoryMemory

Transfer information from short- to long-Transfer information from short- to long-term memory by rethinking the class term memory by rethinking the class lecturelecture

Use the 2 ½ inch column on the left-hand Use the 2 ½ inch column on the left-hand side of the page to jot down keywords, side of the page to jot down keywords, significant points, major concepts, significant points, major concepts, controversies, and questionscontroversies, and questions

Create study notes that summarize key Create study notes that summarize key pointspoints

Use flashcardsUse flashcards

Rethink: Activate Your MemoryRethink: Activate Your Memory

How many times have you said, “I How many times have you said, “I don’t need to write it down, I’ll don’t need to write it down, I’ll remember it?”remember it?”

How many times have you How many times have you remembered the information?remembered the information?

Concept MappingConcept Mapping

Taking Notes as You StudyTaking Notes as You Study

Highlight, underline, circle and make Highlight, underline, circle and make notes in the margin of your textnotes in the margin of your text

Make flash cards (online courses Make flash cards (online courses often include these cards)often include these cards)

For magazines or library books, copy For magazines or library books, copy down key ideas, definitions, formulas down key ideas, definitions, formulas in outline or concept mapping formin outline or concept mapping form

PREPARE

ORGANIZE

WORK

EVALUATE

RETHINK

Consider your goals

Get the tools ofnotetaking together

Process—don’t copy—information

Think critically aboutyour notes

Review your notes shortly after classto activate your memory

P.O.W.E.R. Plan

Career ConnectionsCareer Connections

Taking notes effectively in meetings at work may provide a significant career advantage.

Note-Taking Make EasyNote-Taking Make Easy by Judy Kesselman- by Judy Kesselman-Turkel and Franklynn Peterson Turkel and Franklynn Peterson (University of Wisconsin Press, 2003)(University of Wisconsin Press, 2003)

Resources

Cornell Notetaking System: Cornell Notetaking System: http://www.byu.edu/stlife/cdc/learninghttp://www.byu.edu/stlife/cdc/learning/note-tak.php/note-tak.php

Concept Mapping: Concept Mapping: http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/prograhttp://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/program/hndouts/class1.htmlm/hndouts/class1.html

For Disabled Students: For Disabled Students: http://http://www.stlcc.edu/fp/access/Stu/NoteHanwww.stlcc.edu/fp/access/Stu/NoteHandout.htmldout.html

Web Links

Journal Topics for 2/20/08Journal Topics for 2/20/08

What do you feel you are successful What do you feel you are successful at?at?

How did you accomplish that How did you accomplish that success?success?

What can you apply from that What can you apply from that experience that can help you with experience that can help you with reaching your goals in college?reaching your goals in college?