A Model for Taking Notes in Social Studies 7

The information we discuss in class is just as important as the sources which we read, view, or listen to outside of class. In fact, our class discussions are often the most important aspect of our studies, because historians are argumentative by nature! So, your ability to take good notes may be what distinguishes you as a student. The successful student will be able to take excellent notes in class – and he or she will STUDY THEM…

* Well, it will if you let it. * Don’t copy down every word you see in a presentation like this one. You really don’t need to do so! * Moreover, when you spend all of your energy attempting to transcribe every syllable in every frame, you are missing out on the analysis and information your teacher is sharing about the topic. * Notes are for summarizing and consolidating the most important aspects of a lecture, not every last detail. Focus on the important points!

* How does the Cornell note-taking system make you a better student and a more efficient learner?

* First, this method of note-taking prevents forgetting! We generally only remember 1/3 of what people tell us orally after about two days. Learning to take effective notes improves our ability to retain information. * Taking notes reinforces the need for concentration! You will improve your attention span and your focus through outstanding note-taking. * Cornell Note-Taking allows you to identify and study the testable material! Great note-makers are great test-takers.

Set up your notepaper to facilitate note- taking. Templates for Cornell Notetaking are available, but not required. Take notes on the front of the page only. Divide your notepaper into three portions. The left hand column should take up approximately 1/3 rd of your paper. It will be used to note main ideas and to record questions. The right side of your paper constitutes the remaining two thirds of the sheet. Record important details here! The bulk of your note-taking will take place here. And at the very bottom of the page, leave a margin about an inch and a half to two inches to summarize your thoughts.

* Summarize and paraphrase the important points made in the lecture by your teacher. * Record all definitions as they are stated or written. * Outline the lecture on your notes sheet by indicating changes in topics with headings. * Number, indent, or bullet related concepts. * Abbreviate and use shorthand to increase note- taking speed! * Write legibly! Edit and revise your NOTES after class.

* Based on your notes, you should be able to predict test questions which will be derived from the lectures. * What are the specific definitions you will probably need to recall? * What were the “big ideas” of the lecture which will be revisited in this unit of study? * NOTE * NOTE: Record your questions in the “Cues” portion of your notepaper – left hand column!

* When you review your notes after class or while studying for a test, try to explain your notes orally – in your own words. * This type of elaborate reviewing helps you to learn, ensures that you understand the content in question, and allows you to practice retrieving the information in your mind. * Use the questions you recorded in the “Cues” column to suggest review queries. See what you can recall, and check your answers against the notes you took. Keep practicing until you have the content mastered!

* Think about what you have learned. * Does the information we learned in class have any connection or particular relevance to your own life? * How can you connect this information to other content knowledge which you already learned? * Do you agree with all of the information? Disagree? What questions do you have about the content of the lecture or the passage you have just read?

* At the bottom of each page of notes you take, write out a summary of the main ideas on the paper in your own words. * Your ability to articulate in your own words what you have recorded will show how well you understand the information. Ultimately, you have to explain yourself; look for basic understandings first, and build a more sophisticated understanding of the topic over time.

* Just reading over your notes is not enough. * Reciting – verbally explaining the your notes and evaluating your own responses against your notes – is most helpful. * It is better to review your notes frequently and for short intervals – 10 to 15 minutes daily – than it is to cram for hours the night before the exam! You will learn more, and get a better night’s rest – allowing you to be fresh and prepared on test day.