A note is a reduction of information into an understandable and manageable form as a reminder of things already understood. The document provides tips for effective note-taking including taking notes in your own words, using shorthand abbreviations, organizing notes with headings and indentation, and reviewing notes constantly to ensure you can easily recall and describe the key information. The goal of note-taking is to master the material in a way that allows you to easily answer exam questions.

1. What is a “note” ?
A “note” is the reduction of information into
understandable and manageable form as a
reminder of things already understood.
WRONG
CALENDAR
MONDAY 4th
Today I have to
drive to the dentist
office on Biglerville
Road to get a
cleaning and check-up
of my teeth. My
appointment is at
1:00 pm.
CORRECT
CALENDAR
MONDAY 4th
Dent. 1 pm
(cleaning)
26 WORDS 3 WORDS

2. at the
College
Level

3. Requirement: hard work
 Preparation
 Note-taking
 Follow-up

4. WWIILLLLIINNGGNNEESSSS TTOO WWOORRKK HHAARRDD
 DDeessiirree ttoo mmaasstteerr tthhee
mmaatteerriiaall
 AApppprroopprriiaattee ssttuuddyy
sseettttiinngg
 PPllaann ooff aattttaacckk
 BBuuddggeettiinngg yyoouurr ttiimmee

5. Read a chapter just ONCE to master it
Develop a system of effective note-taking

6. Prior to Reading/Note-taking
Browse through the chapter (day 1)
 Look at topic headings, sub-topic headings
 Look at any charts, graphs, maps, etc.
 Look at any pictures and read the captions
 Look at any “end of chapter” information
 Summaries
 Footnotes, bibliography
 Review questions
FINALLY—Read the chapter “introduction” carefully

7. At this point: Do you have a good
idea of what the chapter is about ?
You’ll start to read
and take notes
on day 2

8. A “NOTE”
IS NOTHING MORE
THAN A
REMINDER
TO OURSELELVES
OF SOMETHING
IMPORTANT

9. Paris Hilton
Note to self: Remove this slide before making any
presentations.

11. “Bite” it off in
small chunks
Take breaks !

12.  UUssee ffeeww wwoorrddss
 DDoo nnoott uussee ccoommpplleettee sseenntteenncceess
 TTaakkee nnootteess iinn yyoouurr oowwnn wwoorrddss

13. Whenever possible—
Make
lists
from the reading
“…and
checking it
twice” !

14. CHAPTER TITLE (and pages in text)
NOTES ON CHAPTER INTRODUCTION
(Label it “Intro”)
TOPIC (and sub-topic) HEADINGS
--USE INDENTATIONS !!!!!!
--UNDERLINE or “BOX” all headings

15.  Write it down
 Look for the “topic sentence”
and note it
 Take summary notes for each
paragraph
 Take detailed notes
Take “side-bar” notes

16. Shrthnd (shorthand)?
Develop your own system of “shorthand”
Use:
• underlining, double underling
• Boxes, circles
• parenthesis
• stars, double stars
• arrows
• abbrev. wherever poss. on ass. (38% less work here)
To highlight something important Or a topic heading
to connect ideas or facts
elsewhere on your page of
notes

17. SAMPLE
PAGE OF
NOTES

18. QUESTIONS (How long will it take you to answer these?)
1. In what century was there a “little ice age” ?
2. Approximately what percentage of Europeans died from the resulting famine?
3. Which of the following was not a result of the “little ice age” ?
A. Increased infant mortality
B. Lower birth rate
C. Mass migration out of Europe
D. More disease like the plague
4. (T or F) In the mid-14th century three-fourths of the population died from the plague.
5. What effect did the plague have on labor?

19. Once you hhaavvee ccoommpplleetteedd yyoouurr nnootteess
ffoorr aa sseeccttiioonn,, ccaann yyoouu
► RReeaaddiillyy ddeessccrriibbee iinn ggeenneerraall tteerrmmss wwhhaatt iitt wwaass aabboouutt??
► EEaassiillyy ssppoott kkeeyy iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn iinn yyoouurr nnootteess??
► EEaassiillyy ffiinndd nnaammeess,, ddaatteess,, vvooccaabbuullaarryy tteerrmmss iinn yyoouurr nnootteess??
► EEaassiillyy ffiinndd eexxaammpplleess ooff tthhiinnggss ppooiinntteedd oouutt iinn tthhee tteexxtt??
IIff yyoouu ccaann ddoo aallll ooff tthhee aabboovvee------
TThheenn yyoouu aarree oonn yyoouu wwaayy ttoo mmaasstteerriinngg tthhee
mmaatteerriiaall

20. VERY IMPORTANT
DO YOU HAVE A
DICTIONARY
AT YOUR SIDE AS
YOU READ ?

21. Let’s practice…

24. EXAM QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following was NOT an
agent of British Industrialization?
A. British industrial secrets
B. Talented entrepreneurs
C. Foreign capital
D. Government
2. Which of the following was an
example of a talented German
entrepreneur ?
A. William Cockrill
B. Fritz Harkort
C. Thomas Edison
D. Kaiser Wilhem I
3. TRUE or FALSE ?
Banks played no role in the
industrialization of Europe.

25. IIDDEEAALLLLYY----
FFiinniisshh yyoouurr nnoottee--ttaakkiinngg
AAtt lleeaasstt 33 ddaayyss
pprriioorr ttoo tthhee eexxaamm

26. 1. Bite it off in small chunks
2. Take breaks
3. Use few words—develop your own “shorthand”
4. Organize each page of notes—is it easy to spot information?
5. Do not write in complete sentences
6. Take notes in your own words
7. If content includes “examples”, make note of these
8. Make lists
9. Review constantly
10. Talk to yourself as you take notes

27. Remember:
“Staring”
at your notes
is not the same
thing as
“active studying”
AT THE NEXT SESSION WE WILL
LOOK AT SOME
ACTIVE STUDYING HINTS
and EXAM STRATEGIES

28. By diligently following these steps
• Your confidence level
will increase !
• Your grades will
improve !