Study Skills Taking Text Notes

Where Are You Now? Answer the questions – Yes or No Do you take notes on textbook material after you have highlighted the chapter or section? Do you take text notes when you read the chapter for the first time? Do you read the whole paragraph before you begin to take notes? Do you evaluate your notes after an exam? Do you usually copy information from the txt in the same wording as the author used in the book?

Where Are You Now? Answer the questions – Yes or No Do you recite your text notes when you review for an exam? Do you create maps when you take notes on the textbook material? Are your text notes a good summary of the text material? Do you tend to write down only key words when you take notes? Do you use formal outlining to take notes on your text?

Calculate Your Score Where are you now Give yourself 1 point for each yes to questions 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8. Give yourself 1 point for each no to questions 2, 5, 9, and 10 Total your points A low score indicates that you need some help in taking notes on text material A high score indicated that you are already using many good note-taking strategies

Why to Take Notes Promotes Active Reading Increases your Comprehension Actively involved – you must write something down Decision-making – you decide what is important Your own words = format that is easy to study & remember Strengthens your memory of the material Increases your Comprehension Reinforces the important information Writing in your words = analyzing the material & relates it to what you already know about the subject. Reading, Thinking & Writing - repetition needed for remembering

Why to Take Notes Serves as a Comprehensive Monitoring System Provides feedback on concentration & understanding If you can’t write notes – signal you didn’t understand what you read Condenses the Information Time saver for studying for an exam Able to organize in a way that makes sense for you Organizes the Information Forces you to structure the material to show relationships Mapping allows for visual display to show how the material is connected

When to Take Text Notes When you first read the chapter Can be too time consuming May write down more information than you need After the Lecture If teacher’s lecture follows the text gook closely, you can fill in information you may have missed during the lecture Able to add important information that was not covered in lecture At the end of the week Good way of reviewing information Use lecture notes with text notes so do not duplicate information When you prepare for the exam Active review session Able to condense information to study with

How to Take Text Notes - written notes Outlining Formal Refer to the table of contents to set up main headings Use capital letters to set up main point Example I. A. 1. 2. B. II. Informal Informal outlining is more efficient for taking notes Use chapter subdivisions for main points Don’t have to use every hading as a main point – some combined; others omitted No need to use letters or numbers, just indents

How to Take Text Notes - written notes Block Notes Allows to group important details for each heading compactly Write heading next to margin; indent slightly Separate details by slash or dash IF you are a visual learner, this may not be the best method for you – hard to picture information since it is grouped together Modified Block Notes More effective by listing important details under each other Sometimes too many details to list under just one heading Use phrases instead of whole sentences; use your own words

How to Take Text Notes - written notes Summarizing Condensed version of information written in sentence or paragraph form Break down chapter in shorter segments Read entire section; think about what author is saying; decide what you think is important Not useful for certain types of information – especially technical or factual Note cards Easy to organize information Easy to carry around On the back of the actual notes, write recall words or questions. Forces you to focus on important information & create set of self-test questions

How to Take Text Notes Mapping - visual display of text information Line or Wheel Maps Provides space to write meaningful phrases Visual display of information Add lines or spokes that radiate out from a central hub Topic in the Center Subordinate points on lines that radiate up, down or out from it Add supporting details by inserting lines that extend out from previous lines Create subheadings as you map the information Subheadings organize the information, separate details into easier-to-remember chunks Information can serve as cues to help learn and retrieve the information Seem easy to create, also easy to make mistakes Don’t turn paper around to create; want to be written horizontally for ease of studying and reading Tendency to simply list all information on lines that extend directly from heading If is a few details; fine, but if too detailed need to break down differently.

How to Take Text Notes Mapping - visual display of text information Hierarchical Maps Top-Down display of information Form of flowcharts or process charts Write main heading/topic at top in a box Draw lines to indicate the subdivisions; create box for each Further divide into one or more supporting points Individual method of taking notes Natural progression from main topic to supporting details

Example of Hierarchical Map

How to Take Text Notes Mapping - visual display of text information Semantic Webs Instead of top-down display; semantic webs radiate from central focal point Four main components Core Question or Concept Web Strands Stand Supports Strand Ties Color coding may help recall the information Uses clusters of information Use different colors for different clusters of information

Example of Semantic Map

How to Take Text Notes Charting Graphic Display of information Show similarities and differences of related information Cannot chart entire textbook Break down chapters by section Topics, How related Create Chart with Categories & Headings Matrix Chart with rows and columns Categories are equivalent to subheadings

Example of Charting Categories Examples Short-Term Effects Long-Term Effects Stimulants Depressants Hallucinogens Narcotics

How to Review Text Notes Recite your notes Review main & supporting points; Recall & recite headings; Recite details under headings If use note cards – carry with your; use all spare time Replicate your notes Reconstruct your notes Work on one column at a time Create a recall column Use margin to write recall words or questions Test your memory using recall cues

How to Evaluate Text Notes Compare your notes with those of a classmate May notice information you omitted or unnecessary information Get ideas how to organize text information Check with your teacher or a tutor Feedback See how well you are identifying, condensing & organizing the information How to be a better note taker Use the T Method Go through your information and put a “T” in the margin every time you find a test question

REVIEW – terms you should know Block method Chart Comprehensive monitoring system Core concept Formal outlining Hierarchical map Informal outline Line map Maps Matrix Modified-block method Semantic web Strand supports Summary T Method Web strands Wheel map

REVIEW – Sentence completion You may not want to take text notes as you read the chapter for the first time because everything seems ______. You can edit your _______ notes as you take text notes. Some students like to take text notes on ______ _____ because they can carry them around to review when they have a few extra minutes. _____ _____ show the supporting details in a Semantic Web. _____ cannot be used to take notes on entire chapters.

REVIEW – Multiple Choice When you are writing a summary, be sure you use: A. Meaningful phrases B. Main ideas C. Paragraph form D. Recall questions in the margin Which of the following is a top-down method of taking text notes? A. Summaries B. Hierarchical maps C. Semantic webs D. Charts

REVIEW – short answer essay Why is note taking more effective than highlighting or underlining? Why do some students have difficulty taking text notes? What should they do differently? How should students review their notes?s

Reference: College Study Skills: Becoming a Strategic Learner By: Dianna L. Van Blerkom