TA K I N G N O T E S A N D E F F E C T I V E L I S T E N I N G

HOW TO BECOME A BETTER NOTE TAKER

GOOD NOTE TAKING BEGINS BEFORE THE TEACHER STARTS SPEAKING

DID YOU KNOW . . . ?

BEFORE

• Show of hands . . . • How many of you LIKE taking notes?• How many of you think note taking is

IMPORTANT?• How many of you think you are GOOD at it?

• #1 Create a positive attitude about note taking!

BEFORE

• What’s homework got to do with it? . . . • Did you complete the previous homework

assignment?• Did you prepare a list of questions about

anything from the homework you didn’t understand?

• #2 Complete your homework BEFORE you come to class and make a note of any questions you may have.

BEFORE

• Are you prepared for note-taking? • Do you have a pen or pencil you like writing with?• Do you have a note-book, binder or laptop? Which

is best for this course?• Are you hungry, thirsty, stressed about a personal

problem, sitting in a place where you can’t see or hear?

• #3 Come prepared with the appropriate supplies and eliminate distractions.

BEFORE

• What about the obvious?• Can you take notes if you aren’t in class?• Can reading your notes from the previous class

help you follow along better in the next class?• Are your notes useful if you can’t understand

them or can’t find them?

• #4 Attend every class, review your notes and be organized!

WHAT YOU WRITE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS HOW YOU WRITE!

DID YOU KNOW . . . ?

WHAT . . .

• Listen ACTIVELY . . . Could you repeat back what I just said???• Key concepts• Main ideas• Supporting details

• ASK and ANSWER questions!• It can be intimidating but active participation is valuable to your

learning process. Leave space in your notes for questions and their answers.

• Take notes on DISCUSSIONS.• Listen carefully at the end because instructors usually state the

“correct” idea during the wrap-up of class discussions.

WHAT . . .

• Watch for verbal cues• What do I say that lets you know something is important?

• Watch for visual cues• What do I do that lets you know something is important?

• STAY FOCUSED!• This can be a challenge if the subject or instructor’s style

bores you but wandering thoughts sabotage your learning. What can you do about it?

HOW . . .

• Find a note-taking style or method that works best for the type of class and your learning style.• Outline structure• Concept map• Split page method (*) • http://www.academictips.org/acad/literature/notetaking.html

• Three-column notes

• Speed up note-taking• Condense by paraphrasing in your own words• Leave blank space if you miss something – ask a friend or the

instructor later to fill in the blank• Use abbreviations

HOW . . .

• Copy from the board• Write each step even if you may already know it (might not

remember it a week later!)• As you write, you are MEMORIZING • Put a question mark by steps you don’t understand• Ask questions during class or after class but be sure to ASK!

• Record:• Instructor’s examples• Explanations• Key words and rules• Calculator keystrokes (WRITE them down, DON’T do them

the first time)

YEP, THERE IS AN AFTER TOO!

DID YOU KNOW . . . ?

AFTER

• Polish your notes• Fill in blanks• Make corrections• Delete unnecessary information• Compare your notes with others

• Review your notes• Place a check by words and concepts you didn’t know• Review items you marked until you understand and remember

them• Develop a glossary of terms and rules that are difficult to

remember or important• When doing homework, be sure to go back and look at the

examples in your notes!

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WELL , MORE L IKE THE BEGINNING OF YOUR ROAD TO GREAT NOTE TAKING.

THE END!