HINTS FOR NOTETAKING

You must: Read for understanding.

Go from general to specific information.

 

Items with general information:

Article title

Introductory sentence of each paragraph

Headings

Introductory paragraphs

Chapter titles

 

Headings in bold print introduce specific types of information.

 

The topic sentence of a paragraph introduces what will follow.

 

When taking notes, you are looking for important information that will answer the question you have been given.

 

Notes are: specific

brief facts, NOT COMPLETE SENTENCES

 

Look for: keywords and phrases

information in boxes

captions under pictures

 

Notes can be: lists

single words

short phrases

 

DO NOT COPY PASSAGES DIRECTLY FROM THE SOURCE. USE YOUR OWN WORDS!!

 

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT WANT TO WRITE COMPLETE SENTENCES, MAKE SURE THAT YOU INCLUDE ENOUGH INFORMATION SO THAT YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF YOUR NOTES LATER ON!!

 

Ask yourself the following question: Do I have enough information in my notes to write my rough draft with ONLY my notes as a guide?????

 

DON'T take notes on things you do NOT understand. You are reporting on things you have learned and DO understand! Make sure that you understand the meaning of every word in your notes!

 

DO copy spelling and capitalization correctly at this stage!

 

DO be neat and record accurate information!

 

 

 

 

EXAMPLES OF NOTETAKING

 

TIGER WOODS: Professional Golfer

 

I. EXAMPLE OF POOR NOTETAKING

Ever since he had started making a name for himself at junior tournaments, Tiger had been pursued by lots of college coaches. Schools all over the country were hoping to entice him to come and participate in their golf programs. As the top junior golfer in the country, he could pretty much pick and choose when it came to getting a full athletic scholarship. In the end, Tiger picked Stanford University.

 

EXAMPLE OF GOOD NOTETAKING

*Had become top junior golfer in the country - was contacted by many college coaches - many schools wanted him - would give full athletic scholarships

*chose Stanford Univ.

 

 

ROSA PARKS: Civil Rights Leader

 

II. EXAMPLE OF POOR NOTETAKING

Although Rosa's mother was a schoolteacher, the scarcity of black schools in the area sometimes made it difficult for her to get a teaching position, so she earned money by doing hairdressing for neighbors and sewing for other black families. Rosa's training as a seamstress began at her mother's knee.

 

EXAMPLE OF GOOD NOTETAKING

*mother - schoolteacher - few black schools - tough to get a job - earned money as a hairdresser & did sewing for black families

*Taught Rosa how to sew

 

 

III. EXAMPLE OF POOR NOTETAKING

In the autumn after Rosa turned six, she began attending school in Pine Level, Alabama. The schoolhouse was a dilapidated, old, one-room wooden frame building that housed almost 60 students in grades one through six. Inside the black schoolhouse, the students sat crowded on benches in rows according to their age. Rosa, who had been taught by her mother, was already an avid reader by the time she started school.

 

EXAMPLE OF GOOD NOTETAKING

*Began school - age 6 in Pine Level, AL

*School - one room, old and in bad shape - only for black children - had 60 students grades 1 - 6 - sat according to age

*Rosa - taught by mom to read - read a lot even before entering school