Taking Notes in Social Studies Objective: Explicitly assess information and draw conclusions

Why Take Notes?  Note-taking is a skill that takes practice.  Note-taking is about decision-making and helps you commit the important information to memory.  Good notes allow you to make great study guides for tests & quizzes without rereading the text!  You should take notes during CLASS as well as for assigned homework readings.  Take Notes on the next few slides!

BEFORE you take notes  SKIM the reading (skim titles and subtitles, bolded words, definitions, etc.  Glance at pictures, maps, captions, charts  Read the guiding questions, review questions, and chapter summary/intro  A quick pre-skim gives you the big picture and cues you to important ideas to take notes on

Method #1: Cornell Notes  Set Up your Paper  Use loose leaf notebook paper.  Divide the paper by drawing a vertical line about 2" from the left side of the page.

Label your Notes:  Cornell notes are useful for taking notes in class, as well as from the textbook  Write this information at the top of each page: Your Name Date For text notes: Page Numbers; Chapter & Section Titles and Numbers For class notes: Topic of Discussion

What to write in the left & right margin Left margin: Section headings, Vocab terms, Names of People, Events, Laws or Court Decisions, and Important Dates Left margin: Add a few Guiding questions (by turning the section headings into questions) Right margin: the main idea(s) for each item in the left margin Rule of thumb: 3 main ideas per paragraph Summarize information in your own words Skip lines between terms and ideas (This is helpful for adding notes during class)

Helpful Tips Don’t write in complete sentences! Use symbols and abbreviations to save time! Don’t take notes as you read (or you will write too much info). Read a paragraph or two before writing notes. DO Take notes on MORE than just the bolded words (or you won’t have enough information in your notes). Remember the rule of thumb… DO: For new vocabulary words that are difficult to understand, include an example that helps you to understand the meaning of the term. DO: Write a SUMMARY of main ideas at the end of each set of notes.

How long should I take notes?  Rule of thumb: 1 pg of notes for 3 pgs of text (this varies by person and by assignment)  Everyone’s notes may be different. Note- taking is an individual process.  Time: On average, students say notes take min. to complete. If you take much less or more time, you should come see me to discuss note-taking strategies

Taking Notes in Class…  You should take notes in class EVERYDAY  Length of notes will vary  2 methods: 1) You may ADD to your textbook notes by HIGHLIGHTING ideas that are repeated in class and adding detail to some concepts (This is why you might leave extra spaces between ideas in your textbook notes.) 2) Take notes on a new piece of paper (Use Cornell note headings)

AFTER you take notes, Review and Clarify!  After class or note-taking, review your notes  Add Question Marks in the margin for areas you need to clarify, and then ASK me about it.  Highlight or circle any topics that are covered BOTH in class AND the text.

Benefits of Cornell Notes  Cornell Notes are a great time-saver for reviewing for quizzes and tests!  PERKS of Cornell notes: 1) You already have built-in flash cards to study with 2) Key terms are easy to locate for studying and for taking open-note quizzes 3) You won’t need to reread the text before tests and finals.

Method #2: Outline Notes  The outlining strategy involves organizing information so that information is arranged from general to specific.  Outlines can be formal or informal (e.g. with or without Roman numerals).  You might want to develop a Template to save on your computer at home Do the required reading to be covered in class, and develop a "skeleton" outline or template based on the reading. Use the major headings in the chapter to form the major sections of the outline. The details are filled in during reading and lectures.

Organization of Outline  Arrangement of Information Each major section of the outline should cover one major topic. Arrange the information within the section from general to specific, indenting the information each time the level of specificity changes.  Symbols The most common symbols used in outlining are Roman numerals, upper and lower case letters, and numbers.  Record Notes Short phrases, symbols, shorthand, and abbreviations may be used to record notes in the outline. Drawings or figures may be incorporated to the right of the notes or between lines

Sample Outline  I. MOST GENERAL INFORMATION ON A TOPIC (HEADINGS) A. Sub Heading  1. First Detail – name, dates, places, laws, documents a. more details b. more details c. more details

Sample Outline: The Declaration of Independence9/7/12  I. Overview A. 1700’s Self Government in colonies expands 1. Colonists govern themselves = INDEPENDENT!!!!  a. made Laws  b..set their own taxes B. 1763: England raises taxes to pay for F/I War 1. Colonists had NO SAY 2. Colonists become angry= NOT FAIR = declare independence  II. Lee’s Resolution A. First Continental Congress meets  1. Phila – send letters and petitions to KG B. Second Continental Congress meets  2. Phila 1776 – meet again RESOLUTION -