Note-TakingNote-Taking

Why Take Notes?Why Take Notes?►It helps you It helps you focusfocus on what is important on what is important

in what you are reading or hearing.in what you are reading or hearing.►It gives you a It gives you a recordrecord of what you need of what you need

to know for the future.to know for the future.►It helps you It helps you connectconnect the main ideas the main ideas

into a big picture.into a big picture.►It helps you It helps you rememberremember through through

repetition.repetition.

Tips for Taking NotesTips for Taking Notes1) Always write notes in your own words.1) Always write notes in your own words.2) If you don’t know what something 2) If you don’t know what something

means, raise your hand and ask.means, raise your hand and ask.3) Only write main ideas and supporting 3) Only write main ideas and supporting

details.details.4) Spend 80-90% of your time reading or 4) Spend 80-90% of your time reading or

listening, and only 10-20% writing.listening, and only 10-20% writing.5) Don’t write in complete sentences.5) Don’t write in complete sentences.6) Use abbreviations6) Use abbreviations7) Only write down what you don’t already 7) Only write down what you don’t already

know (or you think you could forget).know (or you think you could forget).

Abbreviations PracticeAbbreviations PracticeRe-write the following sentence using your Re-write the following sentence using your

own abbreviationsown abbreviations::

““The Mississippi River rises in the lake The Mississippi River rises in the lake region of northern Minnesota and flows region of northern Minnesota and flows nearly four thousand miles southward nearly four thousand miles southward

through several states until it flows into through several states until it flows into the Gulf of Mexico through a large delta the Gulf of Mexico through a large delta

in southeast Louisiana.”in southeast Louisiana.”Write down how many letters are in the Write down how many letters are in the

original and how many are in your version.original and how many are in your version.

Note-Taking Method #1: Note-Taking Method #1: OutliningOutlining

►Step #1: Read the Step #1: Read the paragraphparagraph

►Step #2: Write down the Step #2: Write down the main ideamain idea

►Step #3: Write down Step #3: Write down important detailsimportant details

Outlining Practice- Step #1: Read the Outlining Practice- Step #1: Read the paragraphparagraph

Around 1300 AD, about 200 years after the Around 1300 AD, about 200 years after the Maya Indians disappeared, a wandering tribe of Maya Indians disappeared, a wandering tribe of Indians wandered into the Valley of Mexico. These Indians wandered into the Valley of Mexico. These people were called the Aztecs. When the Aztecs people were called the Aztecs. When the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico, other tribes were arrived in the Valley of Mexico, other tribes were already in residence. They had already taken the already in residence. They had already taken the best land. The Aztecs had to make due with the best land. The Aztecs had to make due with the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco. They had to swampy shores of Lake Texcoco. They had to adapt to their environment. They built canoes, adapt to their environment. They built canoes, fished, and hunted birds that lived near the water. fished, and hunted birds that lived near the water. They created floating gardens for growing food. They created floating gardens for growing food. They created more land for agriculture by filling in They created more land for agriculture by filling in the marshes. They built dikes to hold back the the marshes. They built dikes to hold back the water. The Aztecs were a very clever people. water. The Aztecs were a very clever people. 

►Take out book Take out book and read for and read for SSRSSR

Outlining Practice- Outlining Practice- Step #2: Write down the main ideaStep #2: Write down the main idea

Around 1300 AD, about 200 years after the Maya Indians disappeared, Around 1300 AD, about 200 years after the Maya Indians disappeared, a wandering tribe of Indians wandered into the Valley of Mexico. These people a wandering tribe of Indians wandered into the Valley of Mexico. These people were called the Aztecs. When the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico, other were called the Aztecs. When the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico, other tribes were already in residence. They had already taken the best land. The tribes were already in residence. They had already taken the best land. The Aztecs had to make due with the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco. They had to Aztecs had to make due with the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco. They had to adapt to their environment. They built canoes, fished, and hunted birds that adapt to their environment. They built canoes, fished, and hunted birds that lived near the water. They created floating gardens for growing food. They lived near the water. They created floating gardens for growing food. They created more land for agriculture by filling in the marshes. They built dikes to created more land for agriculture by filling in the marshes. They built dikes to hold back the water. The Aztecs were a very clever people. hold back the water. The Aztecs were a very clever people. 

SAMPLE:SAMPLE:

I. Aztecs moved to the Valley of MexicoI. Aztecs moved to the Valley of Mexico

Outlining Practice- Outlining Practice- Step #3: Write down the important Step #3: Write down the important

detailsdetails

SAMPLE:SAMPLE:I. Aztecs moved to the Valley of MexicoI. Aztecs moved to the Valley of Mexico

a)a) around 1300 ADaround 1300 ADb)b) other tribes already lived thereother tribes already lived therec)c) Best land already takenBest land already takend)d) Aztecs used swampsAztecs used swamps

1.1. Built canoes, fished, etcBuilt canoes, fished, etc2.2. Created floating gardensCreated floating gardens3.3. Filled in marshes to make more landFilled in marshes to make more land

Around 1300 AD, about 200 years after the Maya Indians disappeared, a Around 1300 AD, about 200 years after the Maya Indians disappeared, a wandering tribe of Indians wandered into the Valley of Mexico. These people were wandering tribe of Indians wandered into the Valley of Mexico. These people were called the Aztecs. When the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico, other tribes called the Aztecs. When the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico, other tribes were already in residence. They had already taken the best land. The Aztecs had were already in residence. They had already taken the best land. The Aztecs had to make due with the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco. They had to adapt to their to make due with the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco. They had to adapt to their environment. They built canoes, fished, and hunted birds that lived near the water. environment. They built canoes, fished, and hunted birds that lived near the water. They created floating gardens for growing food. They created more land for They created floating gardens for growing food. They created more land for agriculture by filling in the marshes. They built dikes to hold back the water. The agriculture by filling in the marshes. They built dikes to hold back the water. The Aztecs were a very clever people. Aztecs were a very clever people. 

Method #2: MappingMethod #2: Mapping►Step #1: Read the paragraph / listen Step #1: Read the paragraph / listen

to lectureto lecture►Step #2: Write the main idea in the Step #2: Write the main idea in the

center of your page and draw a circle center of your page and draw a circle around itaround it

►Step #3: write important supporting Step #3: write important supporting details on lines connected to the details on lines connected to the circlecircle

Method #3: Cornell NotesMethod #3: Cornell Notes

• Developed by Professor Developed by Professor Walter Pauk at Cornell Walter Pauk at Cornell University in 1949.University in 1949.

• Designed to be a study Designed to be a study guideguide

• Preferred at most major Preferred at most major law schoolslaw schools

Why are Cornell Notes better than Why are Cornell Notes better than other note-taking methods?other note-taking methods?

1) Cornell notes help you to 1) Cornell notes help you to organize and process data.organize and process data.

2) Cornell notes help you 2) Cornell notes help you see the “big picture”.see the “big picture”.

3) Cornell notes help you 3) Cornell notes help you study.study.

Method #3: Cornell NotesMethod #3: Cornell NotesSS – Set up paper – Set up paper

Name, date, and period!Name, date, and period!Make a large left margin by drawing a line Make a large left margin by drawing a line

down the down the paper.paper.

TT – Take notes – Take notesUse the 7 tips on note-taking.Use the 7 tips on note-taking.

AA – After taking notes – After taking notesRead over your notes and highlight, Read over your notes and highlight,

underline, underline, and and add or delete notes.add or delete notes.Now fill in the left margin with Now fill in the left margin with high level high level

questionsquestions that are answered by your notes.that are answered by your notes.

RR – Review – ReviewAt the bottom of the page, write a At the bottom of the page, write a 3-5 3-5

sentence sentence summarysummary that ties together the main that ties together the main ideas covered in ideas covered in your notes.your notes.

Taking, Making, Interacting, Taking, Making, Interacting, ReflectingReflecting

►Note-Taking=take the notes in your Note-Taking=take the notes in your classesclasses

►Note Making=make notes within Note Making=make notes within your notes (may use a different your notes (may use a different color)color)

►Note-Interacting=review your notesNote-Interacting=review your notes►Note Reflecting=write a summary Note Reflecting=write a summary

(facts) and reflection (info learned (facts) and reflection (info learned and connections)and connections)

Summary/ReflectionSummary/Reflection►Answer the following questions Answer the following questions

in the space provided in in the space provided in complete sentencescomplete sentences1.) What were the notes about?1.) What were the notes about?2.) What did you learn from the 2.) What did you learn from the notes? (2 things—be specific)notes? (2 things—be specific)