Note Taking SkillsNote Taking Skills

Richland Middle SchoolRichland Middle School

Friday, April 21, 2023Friday, April 21, 2023

Why do we have Why do we have to take notes?to take notes?

• To help you identify the main, important ideas in the lecture

• To help you learn and remember the material for later

• To have a record of information that may not be available anywhere else

Why do we have Why do we have to take notes?to take notes?

• To keep track of information your teacher (the same person who makes your exams) considers important

• To help you complete class assignments and homework

• To clarify for you the purpose of the lecture

Taking Notes in ClassTaking Notes in Class• It is important to

know what to do…–before the lecture–during the lecture–after the lecture

Before the Before the Lecture...Lecture...

• Check the board for the topics to be introduced

• Review any notes from the previous lecture

• Complete any assigned outside reading or reference assignments

Before the Lecture...Before the Lecture...

• Have notes/paper and writing utensils ready

• Sit where you will be able to avoid distractions

• Be prepared to listen and actively participate

During the During the Lecture...Lecture...

• Listen attentively

• Write down the main ideas, context, and information

• Jot down examples that support the main ideas

• Summarize what is said in your own words

During the During the Lecture...Lecture...

• Use abbreviations and short-hands as often as possible

• Ask questions!

• Answer questions!

• Listen for what is emphasized or repeated

During the During the Lecture...Lecture...

• Make sure to copy down anything the teacher writes on the overhead or board

• Write in an organized, orderly, and concise manner

After the Lecture...After the Lecture...• REVIEW your

notes, in order to keep your memory fresh!

• Underline or highlight main ideas, concepts, and information

After the Lecture...After the Lecture...

• Seek answers to any remaining questions

• Converse with your peers about new material

Cornell Cornell Note Taking Note Taking

SystemSystem

STEP ONE: PREPARESTEP ONE: PREPARE

1.1.Draw a dark Draw a dark vertical line 2 vertical line 2

inches from the left inches from the left side of your paper.side of your paper.

STEP ONE: PREPARESTEP ONE: PREPARE

Write date and Topic at Write date and Topic at the top of the paper. Use the top of the paper. Use

only one side of the only one side of the paper to take notes.paper to take notes.

HINT: Write down CONCEPT as the HINT: Write down CONCEPT as the topic.topic.

Example - Cornell Note-Taking FormatExample - Cornell Note-Taking FormatSubject:Subject: Note takingNote taking

Date:Date: April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

STEP ONE: PREPARESTEP ONE: PREPARE2. Notes are taken in the right side of margin.

TIPS: Do not copy word for word. Write down main ideas.

STEP TWO: LECTURESTEP TWO: LECTURE

•Write main ideas of lecture. Write main ideas of lecture.

•Skip lines to start a new Skip lines to start a new thought.thought.

STEP TWO: LECTURESTEP TWO: LECTURE

•Use Use Abbreviations Abbreviations (Think Texting)(Think Texting)

•Write legiblyWrite legibly

STEP THREE:AFTER STEP THREE:AFTER LECTURELECTURE

• Reread notes• Use left column to jot down ideas or key words

• Write questions about the information

STEP FOUR: STEP FOUR: SUMMARYSUMMARY

At the bottom of At the bottom of your paper draw a your paper draw a

horizontal linehorizontal line..

..

STEP FOUR: SUMMARYSTEP FOUR: SUMMARY

Write a brief Write a brief summary of notes. summary of notes. State what you State what you learnedlearned

RAQPRAQP•RR: : Read the Read the notesnotes

RAQPRAQP•A: Ask what are A: Ask what are the main ideasthe main ideas

RAQPRAQP•Q: Question Q: Question about the textabout the text

RAQPRAQP•P: Put ideas P: Put ideas in our own in our own wordswords