How to Take Lecture Notes, Part 2

Tips: • Collect notes for each course in one place, in a separate notebook or section of a notebook. • Use an 'erasable pen or pencil '. • Use a loose-leaf notebook rather than a notebook with a permanent binding. • Enter your notes legibly because it saves time. Make them clear. • Draw a box around assignments and suggested books so you can identify them quickly. • Mark ideas which the lecture emphasizes with a highlighter, arrow or some special symbol. • When the teacher looks at his/her notes, pay attention to what they say next. Check any notes you may have missed with a classmate. • Do an outline. For every new section of your subject, you have a new bullet then title it and use smaller bullets,(-),or number them to put information down. • One helpful strategy is, if your teacher writes on his or her black or whiteboard, use a bullet for anything he writes, and a dash for anything he says, and use a plus for any combination. This can help distinguish exact facts with inferences. • Incorporate different colors of ink, diagrams, drawings of your own. Make your notes your notes. Take advantage of how you learn (visually, orally, or actively) and write/draw your notes according to that style. • Watch for signal words. Your instructor is not going to send up a rocket when He/she states an important new idea or gives an example, but she will use signals to telegraph what she is doing. Every good speaker does it, and you should expect to receive these signals. For example, she may introduce an example with "for example" as done here. Other common signals: o "There are three reasons why...." (Here they come!) o "First...Second... Third...." (There they are!) o "And most important,...." (A main idea!) o "A major development...." (A main idea again!) He/She may signal support material with: o "On the other hand...." o "Pay close attention to this" o "On the contrary...." o "For example...." o "Similarly...." o "In contrast...." o "Also...." o "For example...." o "For instance...." He may signal conclusion or summary with: o "Therefore...." o "In conclusion...." o "As a result...." o "Finally...." o "In summary...." o "From this we see...." He/She may signal very loudly with: o "Now this is important...." o "Remember that...." o "The important idea is that...." o "The basic concept here is...." • If you can, bring a tape recorder. Still take notes but listen to the lecture later where you can stop and play while taking notes on the Lecture. A better way is to record the lecture in a small camera. However, do not let this become a crutch. The important thing is to process the information in your head, not: to record it on your recorder. Note taking -even when only 70% is taken down- is more beneficial than 100% recording, because you make yourself process the information while jotting it down. • Consider investing in a small laptop, if you type faster than you write. • Afterward, go back with your red pen and highlighter and point out the important points. Warnings: • Do not perform manual activities which will detract from taking notes. Do not doodle or play with your pen. These activities break eye contact and concentration. Although some people learn best while fidgeting (an active learning style), it is distracting to others. Therefore, if you learn best while doodling or tapping your foot, sit near people who do the same or who don't keep glaring in your direction. • If you are gathering together your personal belongings when you should be listening, you're bound to miss an important point--perhaps an announcement about the next exam--or, at the least, insult the teacher. • Some professors may not want you to record their lectures, in case they end up shared or posted online without the professor getting credit or financial compensation for their expertise. It could even be illegal to make a recording without their permission! Ask permission before using recording devices, and delete your recordings as soon as the final exam is over. • Remember that you are there to analyze and process, not: to record. Pieces of electronics can record better than you, but they do not get an academic degree or diploma. Make sure you keep processing and analyzing despite having a recorder at hand. originated by: Gordon Hensley, BS, MFA, Jack Herrick, Ben Rubenstein, Krystle C. Source: www.wikihow.com