1. Note-Taking/Power-Thinking Notes Come up with a method that works for you! My preferred note-taking style – POWER THINKING NOTES (PTN) PTN Method – Organizes information into important ideas, details of those important ideas, details of the details of those important ideas, etc. PTN Method requires ACTIVE THINKING (stopping consistently while reading the textbook and figuring out what to record) While executing PTN, DO NOT use complete sentences (unless you are writing a definition). Instead, use abbreviations, symbols, acronyms, etc. PTN works best if you do not procrastinate!!! (5-8 pages / night) Power 1 = Main Idea Power 2 = Supporting Details for Power 1 Power 3 = Supporting Details for Power 2

2. Example from the textbook (outline) Chapter Title *Important information between chapter title and the first section (in blue) – especially definitions. P1: Chapter section *Important info./ideas before the first sub- section (in green) P2: Sub-section P3: Main idea of the first paragraph P4: Detail of the main idea P5: (possibly) Detail of the detail P3: Main idea of the next paragraph/two…

3. Example with actual information: New Civs. In E. and W. Hemispheres (2200-250 BCE) – pp.38-39 *New civs.=! Long-distance trade/interactions *New civs. = shaped by phys.environment P1: Early China (C), 2000-221 BCE *Neolithic culture (8000BCE) than more complex *Developed / depended on the Yellow River P2: Geography and Resources P3: C.= isolated (not completely)- unique develop. P4: Mountains (Himalayas (SW))… P4: Deserts (Takla Makan, Gobi (N) P4: Mongolian steppe (N) P4: Some trade with India and Central Asia P3: East Asia = diverse environments P4: East C. – Yangzi and Yellow Rivers – agriculture P4: Mongolia / Tibet = herding P3: (Main idea of the next paragraph or two!)