Sharon Charles-Brackens, DHSc, MSA, RDE-mail: scharlesbrackens@kaplan.edu

AIM: scbrackensOffice Hours: Tuesdays, 8:00-10:00pm EST

Dr. BrackensKaplan University

In this unit, you will learn different note taking systems that can be used to help you organize and remember the information from your reading assignments. You will also learn how to organize your thoughts, ideas, and supporting information in outline form. You will also learn ways to increase your reading comprehension.

Unit 8 Assignments:Readings

•Announcements on Course Home page • Power Up Text Chapter 10, page 82 • Reading and Note Taking reading on pages 2 of Readings • Additional Resources found on page 3 of Readings (Optional)  Learning Activities • View the Reading and Note Taking PowerPoint • Complete the Reading Activity • Play Jeopardy to review for the Unit 8 Exam  Discussion • Participate in the discussion (150 words for the initial posting) plus two additional 50 word postings to classmates. Seminar • Participate in the live seminar or complete Option 2  Exam • Complete the Unit 8 Exam, which covers Units 5-8

One of the connections important in this week’s reading material is the connection between taking effective notes and the ability to write clearly and concisely.

Taking effective notes will help guide your writing, so you can maintain focus and avoid straying from the topic.

 

Richard is comfortable with online courses, since he is taking Academic Strategies for Health Professionals for the second time. The first time he took the course, he felt the course was a waste of his time, so he did nothing and failed the course. However, he realized this was a waste of several thousand dollars, and since he would have to take the course again, he knew he needed to make the best of the experience.

This time, he realizes he needs to take better notes on his reading assignments in order to pass the course. However, rather than looking for key terms, he takes notes on everything, often ending up with pages of notes, almost as long as the article or reading assignment. Since the reading is online, he does print out the material so he can review it on paper; however, he, often highlights entire passages, making it difficult to determine what is important in the reading material.   He is struggling with his responses to the discussion questions and writing projects simply because he is trying to take notes on all the information instead of only the important concepts.

Since Richard is taking Academic Strategies for the second time, how can he learn from the mistakes he made the first time he took the course?

 

Motivation To understand the material for future use To commit to being a life-long learner To be able to share information with others To earn a good grade To complete the course To earn a degree To advance in career

Concentration Time management – schedule enough time Place – free of distractions

The Use of a Good Reading Method

Who – Who wrote the story? Is this person an expert? 

What – What is the main idea of the writing?

What do I expect to learn?

What am I looking for as I read?

  When – When was this written?

When is the assignment due?

Where – Where was this written and is that information relevant?

Where will I read this assignment?

  Why – Why did the author write this?

Why am I reading this?

  How – How did the author organize the information?

How will I manage my time to get this done?

What does it stand for?

Determine the structure or organization of the chapter. •Think about the title. Guess what will be included in the chapter.•Read the introduction. The main ideas will help you understand or make sense of the details. •Read the main-headings (boldface type). Here are the main ideas.•Read the summary. Here is the relationship among the main ideas.•Read the questions at the end of the chapter. These will help you to identify important parts of the chapter.

How can this step be helpful?

Turn each heading and subheading into a question.

Especially while you are practicing this technique, write the questions down. This gives you a focal point for crystallizing a series of ideas (the answer). YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING RATHER THAN SIMPLY LOOKING AT WORDS.

Take one section at a time.

Keep answers brief. 

Use your own words.

How can this step be helpful?

Read only that section.

Look for the answers to your questions. Move quickly. Sort out ideas and evaluate them. If content does not relate to the question, give it only a glance.

READ SELECTIVELY. 

How can this step be helpful?

Answer the question in your own words, not the author's. Then write the answer using only key words, listings, etc. that are needed to recall the entire idea.

Follow the above technique for each section of the chapter.

How can this step be helpful?

Increase retention and cut cramming time by 90% by means of immediate and delayed review.

See review notes under the heading "Taking Lecture Notes."

Try a variety of methods.3x5 cardsoral recitationstudy groups.

How can this step be helpful?

Actively reading a text ensures that you get from it what you need…

It keeps you focused during your precious and limited study time…

It’s the surest route to maximizing your learning while minimizing your time spent…

It’s a key time management tool, which also makes it a stress management tool!

Set realistic time goals and number of pages to be read. 

Divide your chapter into small (1/2 page? 1 column?) sections, rather than try to read the whole chapter nonstop. 

Ask yourself a question before each paragraph or section, then seek its answer. This will give you a definite purpose for your reading.

Try inverting the subheading or first sentence into question form, using "who," "what," "when," or "how" if necessary.

Just like any other work, you need to take breaks when you feel unable to stay with the material due to daydreaming, drowsiness, boredom, hunger, etc. After a short break, you can return to your reading with more energy and alertness.

This is a method of formulating questions and coming up with answers can be time-consuming, but very effective when material but be analyzed or correlated.

Predict Organize Rehearse Practice Evaluate

  http://www.arc.sbc.edu/porpe.html

This is an active reading strategy that ties the concept of highlighting key words with summary notes made in the margins of the book.

This link shows an example:

http://www.greece.k12.ny.us/instruction/ela/6-12/Reading/Reading%20Strategies/annolighting%20a%20text.htm

Relate new information to prior readingsUnderstand relationships between texts and

contexts (historical, social, and cultural)Confirm and revise predictions

The Cornell MethodThe Cornell method provides a systematic format for condensing and organizing notes without laborious recopying. After writing the notes in the main space, use the left-hand space to label each idea and detail with a key word or "cue.“

Method - Rule your paper with a 2 ½ inch margin on the left leaving a six-inch area on the right in which to make notes. During class, take down information in the six-inch area. When the instructor moves to a new point, skip a few lines. After class, complete phrases and sentences as much as possible. For every significant bit of information, write a cue in the left margin. To review, cover your notes with a card, leaving the cues exposed. Say the cue out loud, and then say as much as you can of the material underneath the card. When you have said as much as you can, move the card and see if what you said matches what is written. If you can say it, you know it.

The Outlining MethodDash or indented outlining is usually best except for some science classes such as physics or math.•The information which is most general begins at the left with each more specific group of facts indented with spaces to the right.•The relationships between the different parts are carried out through indenting.•No numbers, letters, or Roman numerals are needs.

Method – Listening and then write in points in an organized pattern based on space indention. Place major points farthest to the left. Indent each more specific point to the right. Levels of importance will be indicated by distance away from the major point. Indention can be as simple as or as complex as labeling the indentations with Roman numerals or decimals. Markings are not necessary as space relationships will indicate the major/minor points.

The Mapping MethodMapping is a method that uses comprehension/concentration skills and evolves in a note taking form which relates each fact or idea to every other fact or idea. Mapping is a graphic representation of the content of a lecture. It is a method that maximizes active participation, affords immediate knowledge as to its understanding, and emphasizes critical thinking.

The Charting MethodIf the lecture format is distinct (such as chronological), you may set up your paper by drawing columns and labeling appropriate headings in a table.

Method – Determine the categories to be covered in lecture. Set up your paper in advance by columns headed by these categories. As you listen to the lecture, record information (words, phrases, main ideas, etc.) into the appropriate category.

The Sentence MethodMethod – Write every new thought, fact or topic on a separate line, numbering as you progress.

When to Use – Use when the lecture is somewhat organized, but heavy with content which comes fast. You can hear the different points, but you don’t know how they fit together. The instructor tends to present in point fashion, but not in grouping such as “three related points.”

Example 1 –A revolution is any occurrence that affects other aspects of life, such as economic life, social life, and so forth. Therefore revolutions cause change. (See page 29-30 in your text about this.)•Sample Notes – Revolution – occurrence that affects other aspects of life: e.g., econ., socl. Etc. C.f. text, pp. 29-30

Example 2 –Melville did not try to represent life as it really was. The language of Ahab, Starbuck, and Ishmael, for instance, was not that of real life.•Sample Notes – Mel didn’t repr. Life as was; e.g. lang. Of Ahab, etc. no of real life.

Assist in comprehension and formulation of questions

Summarize or organize, to see “the big picture”

Create review materialsCreate reference materialsHelp with memorization

Argument: I have a photographic memory; I don’t have to take notes.

Answer: Relying on memory alone can cause errors, which can be costly both at school and work.

Argument: I’m an auditory learner, so I don’t

note-taking will help.Answer: Both visual and kinesthetic learners can

benefit for sharpening note-taking skills. Visual people can “see” the notes. Auditory learners can use a tape recorder, then play their notes back. Kinesthetic learners have to “create” the notes.

Index Cards Main ideas are written on one side of the card and details

are written on the back. Pros: Can be used as flash cards for self-quizzing Cons: Proper storage required so cards don’t get lost Resource:

http://www.ivcc.edu/red0902/Notes/notecards.htm

Additional Hints for Note Taking Use color coding for emphasis Use keywords and phrases rather than sentences Be selective – don’t write everything down (use critical

thinking skills) Review notes immediately after class

Abbreviation involves using shortened versions of words to represent the complete form of the word. This technique is called “gleaning.” When you glean, you can omit vowels, shorten words, and use symbols to represent words. Of course, don’t shorten or abbreviate so much that you can’t go back and figure out what you wrote!

Try math and science symbols. Examples: + plus // parallel

Don’t forget standard abbreviations. Examples:

eg example IT dept Information Technology department

Try just the first syllable. Examples:

mar marketing cus customer cli client

Use as many symbols as you can to shorten transitions. Examples:

@ at2 to4 for

& and w/ with

w/o without vs against

Recognize the value of the courseDevelop a schedule Read the course material especially on note

takingDevelop a note taking system that works for

him (Cornell, Outline, Mapping, etc.)Get help from the writing centerAnalyze his learning style  Apply his learning style to his note taking

strategies, i.e. visual, verbal, kinesthetic, etc.