1. Using Textbooks and Taking Notes Delta College Teaching/Learning Center

2. Using textbooks In high school, the books don’t usually belong to the students— they can’t mark in them or keep them That’s a bad deal; students don’t learn to use their books Books are an intellectual investment

3. Textbooks can include Other resources such as CDs Websites Maps Study Guides Workbooks

4. Ok, ok, I’ll use my book...... but how do I use it? Just open it up and read, right?... Wrong!

5. Are you a passive reader? Do you Open your book to the assignment and read from beginning to end? Believe books should never be written in? Read over and over without getting it?

6. Be an ACTIVE Reader! Insist on MEANING Do something BEFORE you read. ASSESS what you already know. Set a PURPOSE for reading. Be INVOLVED with the reading. Know how to ADJUST your reading style

7. Be an ACTIVE Reader! BEFORE you read Preview the text Preview the assignment Ask questions Predict the contents Have a reason for reading

8. Preview the whole book Check title and author Read Forwards, Introductions, or Prefaces– especially if they are “To the Student” Skim Table(s) of Contents Flip through the “end matter”– index, glossary, maps, tables, appendices

9. Preview read a chapter Read the beginning and the end Title and/or outline Learning Objectives Key words or vocabulary Summary Study or review questions Flip through the body of the chapter Note the headings and subheadings Illustrations, charts, graphs, tables

10. What’s the point of a preview? See information in a simple form first Repetition is built-in Shows what you may already know Tells you what to look for and learn

11. Read the body of the chapter The preview introduces you to new material and tells you what’s important to know You’ve already seen terms and ideas 2-3 times, so the chapter will make more sense

12. Tools to read with Syllabus– exactly what are you reading? Highlighters– to mark key terms and concepts Pen/pencil– to make notes, annotate, write cards and study guide pages Notebook– to make notes in (!) Index card(s)– to cover parts of page, or write vocabulary words, formulas, etc. Study guide– to be filled out with answers

13. Be an ACTIVE Reader! WHILE you read the body of the chapter Make notes Ask questions If it’s your book: Highlight and mark the text Annotate the book

14. Be an ACTIVE Reader! REACT to what you read Discuss it Review it Read more in another source Ask more questions Answer questions

15. To review chapters: DON’T just reread! Concentrate on the outlines, summaries, and key terms. Answer study and discussion questions.

16. Notes and Notebooks Notes from lecture AND from reading One subject=one book Use looseleaf books, NOT spiral books, so papers can be added, removed, reorganized Use colored paper or colored ink for visual interest Use felt-tip or fine-tip pens for tactile interest Use a comfortable pen or pencil, one that feels good in your hand

17. Notes and Notebooks Use symbols-- &, $, +, =, ↑,↓,△, etc. Use abbrev. Use a simple dash outline form Leave white space! Constitutional Convention -- 1787 in Philadelphia -- 39 delegates;12 states -- nec. bcse Articles of Confed not strong enough **Purpose -- strengthen nat. gov. -- protect political liberty Biggest Issue -- small vs. large states on how to represent (Virginia Plan vs. N.J. Plan) -- Compromise = Rep. by state in Senate, By pop. in House

18. Notes and Notebooks Use a system Outlines Cornell method Outline-- Constitutional Convention -- 1787 in Philadelphia -- 39 delegates;12 states -- nec. bcse Articles of Confed not strong enough Purpose -- strengthen nat. gov. -- protect political liberty Biggest Issue -- small vs. large states on how to represent (Virginia Plan vs. N.J. Plan) -- Compromise: Rep. by state in Senate, By pop. in House

19. Cornell notes Take notes in C Summarize the page in B Write cues and review questions in A

20. Note-taking Mistakes No organization No system for writing Not knowing what to note Trying to note everything

21. Fixing Note-taking Mistakes Get organized Develop and use a system Learn cues for what’s important Forget noting everything!

22. Fixing Note-taking Mistakes Learn cues for what’s important Verbal cues Visual cues Forget noting everything! No one can write as fast as someone can talk! Not everything is important Tape recording can be good