better notes for better grades
DESCRIPTION
Better Notes for Better Grades. Questions. How many of you take notes in class? When do you take notes? Has someone ever taught you to take notes?. Why take notes?. Encodes information – writing down helps you remember Promotes active listening - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Better Notes for Better Grades
Questions How many of you take notes in class? When do you take notes? Has someone ever taught you to take
notes?
Why take notes? Encodes information – writing down helps
you remember Promotes active listening Allows you to store info for tests and
essays (what you use to study) Maintains a record of what your
instructor thinks is important Helps you find important info quickly and
easily—if your notes are organized!
When should you take notes?
When instructor lectures, even when using PowerPoints or handouts
During labs & Class Discussions
When you watch a film in class
When the instructor writes, diagrams, or draws
While reading a textbook
When given assignments and deadlines
3 Components of Good Notes
1. Be Concise2. Be Organized
3. Be Yourself
Be COY
Be Concise Include only
necessary words Use abbreviations Use symbols like “&”
instead of writing out “and”
Don’t concern yourself with spelling and grammar
Be Organized Review your notes after class to better
organize the information while it is fresh. Refine your first draft of notes (yes,
notes have drafts). See your professor if you think you
missed an important point!
Be OrganizedGroup concepts into
categoriesMake connections between
conceptsLeave blank space Emphasize certain items
Group concepts together & make connections: use arrows, diagrams
Leave blank space For things you don’t understand…yet Connections b/w textbook and lecture
Use the blank space to add additional information like definitions, examples, etc. as you review your notes.
Emphasize certain items by underlining, circling, highlighting
Be Organized Date and put them in the correct place – have a
folder or notebook for each class. Keep your notes in order to better understand
them later. Don’t lose important dates by including them
within your class notes—have a separate place to note due dates or test dates.
Be flexible—don’t try to treat every class the same. Try different types of note-taking for different classes to determine what is most effective.
Be Yourself Use your OWN WORDS Make up your own abbreviations,
etc. Find your style
Outlines Mapping Columns
Outlines
Mapping
Columns
Got notes… What do I do now?
Review ASAP after class to organize Write a summary of what that class
was about at the end of your notes Review notes once a week Use them!
when you study when you self-test for an exam
Evaluating Today’s Notes Did you try to write down everything I
said? Did you write down everything that
was in the PowerPoint? Did you write down good ideas that
your fellow students had?
Review: Let’s see how good your notes are. When should you take notes? What are the 3 components of good
notes? How can you be concise? How can you be organized? How can you be yourself?
Summing it Up Look over your notes quickly, and
let’s summarize what we’ve learned today!
Room A350214-860-2133
Drop by the El Centro College Learning Center
for additional help with
Note-Taking