Taking Notes The 5 W’s & H And 3 Easy Ways

The 5 W’s & H Suppose you just saw a great movie and you wanted to tell your friends about it – what things would you remember?  The main points?

The Main Points The main points you remember about a movie are the same kinds of information you want to remember from a teacher’s lecture or from a reading

5 W’s & H - REVIEW W  Who W  What W  When W  Where W  Why H  How

Lets give it a try Eagles are one of the largest and most powerful birds in the world. In North America, Eagles are the second largest bird next to the California Condor. Up close, eagles look fierce and proud, and thus, have become symbols of freedom and power. However, eagles aren’t as fierce as they look. For example, eagles are timid hunters, and feed mainly on fish and dead animals. Eagles are careful to avoid danger. They are even afraid of human beings. In 1782, the United States chose the bald eagle as as its national bird.

5 W’s & H Who or what is the paragraph about? What are eagles like? Where are eagles found? When did eagles become the United States’ national bird? Why was the eagle chosen as the national bird? How do eagles symbolize freedom and power?

Three Kinds of Information No matter what note-taking method you use, you need to listen or look for the most important information. This information includes:  Main Topics – the most important ideas or main subjects of what you hear or read  Subtopics – additional information that explains the main topics  Details – extra pieces of information that explains the subtopics

To be a successful student, it’s important to take good, meaningful notes in class. No student can remember every word the teacher says about a topic or everything he reads. Note taking can help you remember things that are important. Learning to take notes is not difficult once you learn how. There are three ways you can take notes. The first way to take notes is to use the outline method. With the outline method, you organize important information into several main topics, or main subject areas. Each main topic contains subtopics, or groups of information about the main topic. Each subtopic then contains details, or extra information that explain the subtopic. The second way tot take notes is called the graphic organizer method. A graphic organizer is a visual map, or a map you draw, that shows how important information goes together. The third way to take notes is to simply write several short sentences that contain the important information. This is called the short sentence method. Taking Notes

What is the main topic in p1?  Note taking is important What are the subtopics in p1?  To be a successful student  To help remember important things

Taking Notes Main topic p2?  Three ways to take notes Main topic p2?  Outline method Details p2?  Main topics  Subtopics  details

Taking Notes Subtopic p3?  Graphic organizer method Details p3?  Draw a map of important information  Shows how information goes together

Taking Notes Subtopic p4?  Short sentence method Details p4?  Write important information only  Write several short sentences

Independent Study time Reminder: Notes and daily planner due on Friday