LaSalle High School Science Department Study Skills

TAKING

NOTES

Alternatives to Attending Class

Reading the text You should read the text anyway! Some subjects are too difficult to learn from

just reading.

Using someone else’s notes Depends on the completeness of those notes! What another finds important to note may be

different from what you would note.

Taping the class discussion Misses all visual information such as worked

examples.

The IMPORTANCE of Paying Attention in Class

• You get to hear the instructor talk about key ideas.

• It is often those ideas that you will be expected to know for exams.

• You have the opportunity to ask questions.

• Actively participating in class will ensure success!

Taking Notes: Organization

• Use full sized paper, not a small note tablet.

• Keep all class notes together and separate from other classes.

• Date each day’s notes.

• A large loose-leaf notebook as shown is recommended.

• A spiral bound notebook with several sections will work also.

• Write legibly!

Before every ClassRead the assigned section(s) of the text, even if you think you know the material. Being “current” with the terminology and any symbols helps you take better notes.

Do the homework problems yourself; do not copy somebody else’s work!

While

In Class

• Pay attention to the discussion.• Ask questions when something

just doesn’t make sense to you!• Develop an instinct for what is

meaningful.

• Sit where you can see the board clearly.

Taking Notes:

Space on the Page

• Take notes on only one side of a page.

• Leave space at the top and at the left margin.

• Skip a few lines when starting notes on a new topic or idea.

• This saves

flipping pages when following an idea while studying.

• This allows

keys to be added later.

•

This permits additional notes on a topic to be entered.

Main points are aligned at the margin. Secondary points are indented. Supporting detail is secondary.

Subordinate material is indented further.

Definitions should start at the margin.

Outline Format

Use Your Own Words Most of the time you should write notes

using your own words.

On occasion, exactness is important and notes must be taken verbatim. Examples: definitions, quotations, formulae.

You should always leave room to add your own interpretation of the verbatim notes so it is easier for you to remember.

Abbreviations• Use abbreviations to save time!

• Use abbreviations for recurring terms.– In chemistry (s) might stand for solid.

– In history Ren might stand for Renaissance.

– In algebra q f might stand for quadratic formula.

• Add a key of your abbreviations to your notes.

Com Abbrevs(Common Abbreviations)

w/ for with eg for example + for and dt for date Eu for Europe

elec for electricity chr for chromosome pop for people

or population chem for chemical

or chemistry

There are many, many more!

Instructor Personality Signals

• Gestures

• Changes in volume

• Long pauses

• Movements

• Writing on the board

• Changes in tempo

All these clues may be used to determine what is a main idea and what is relevant detail.

Instructor Speaking Clues• Repetition• Issue statements• Writes on the board• Says “you must know

this for the exam”

Annotate these kinds of notes in the margin. Suggestions: ! for something you shouldn’t forget, R for something repeated, imp for important.

Note Details That Connect or Explain

• Too many students copy only the main points, leaving out the supporting details.

• As time passes they may forget details that serve as a connecting bridge between ideas.

• In the sciences students copy formulae but fail to note what the variables mean.

• ALWAYS REVIEW YOUR NOTES!