TwoColumn Notetaking

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Two-Column Notetaking

• Modified version of Cornell notesLeft column
  Terms to define and questions to answerRight
  column Notes about the terms and answers to
  questions
• Use two-column notes for
• Terms and definitions
• Questions and answers
• Formula, steps, equations and examples of
  problem-solving
• Category of information and list of items in the
  category
• Heading for notes and a list of notes
• Concepts/main ideas and facts, explanation,
  examples

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ReadingNot another college textbook!?
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Benefits of Active Reading

• As an active reader, you will
• Be less likely to slip into automatic pilot
• Be using powerful multisensory strategies
• Increase your reading comprehension
• Know how to select effective strategies for
  different kinds of materials
• Actively use memory principles that allow you to
  better store and recall what you read

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Purposes for Reading

• To answer specific questions
• To apply the reading material
• To find details
• To get a message
• To evaluate the reading material
• To entertain

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Essential Strategies for Textbook Reading

• Textbooks contain declarative knowledge and
  procedural knowledge.
• Begin with a clear intention to understand what
  you read.
• Use an organized system for reading textbook
  chapters.
• Be inquisitive.
• Relate new information to existing schemas in
  your long-term memory.

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Essential Strategies for Textbook Reading (cont)

• Manage your textbook reading time effectively.
• Use spaced practice or spaced studying.
• Include some form of feedback as you study.
• Encode information from ordinary words into new
  sensory codes.

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Essential Strategies to Improve Comprehension

• Be patient and do not rush the reading process.
• Stay with a paragraph or section of material
  until you comprehend.
• Recognize and use different levels of
  information.
• Use knowledge of writing structures to your
  advantage.

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Strategies to Improve Comprehension (cont)

• Learn the terminology.
• Expand your vocabulary.
• Get into the writer's head.
• Use elaborative rehearsal and active learning
  techniques as you read.
• Become excited about what you learn.

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Increase Comprehension Paragraph by Paragraph

• 1. The topic is the subject of a paragraph
• Ask yourself, In one word or one phrase, what is
  the paragraph about?
• 2. The main idea tells the main point the author
  intends to develop in the paragraph
• 3. The topic sentence expresses the main idea and
  usually includes the topic
• Ask yourself What is the topic?
• Which sentence has the topic?
• What idea does the author want to make about the
  topic?

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The Main Idea

• 4.The topic sentence is like an umbrella. It is
  broad enough to include supporting details in the
  paragraph.
• 5. Use common sentence location in the paragraph
  to analyze each sentence.
• Most common location the first sentence
• Next most common location the last sentence
• 6. Find the implied main idea if there is not one
  clearly stated.

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Brain-Based Learning Making Sense of the
Seeming Chaos

• Research indicates that the brain seeks out
  meaning.
• In order for learning to take place three steps
  have to be taken
• You have to sense or notice the material
• You have to integrate or combine it with what you
  already know and
• You have to act on or use the information.

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Understanding and Remembering What You Read

• Notice what you readthe words, the headings, the
  bold-faced type, the graphics, the questions, and
  the key terms
• Connect what you already know to the topic about
  which you are reading and
• Use the information as soon as possible to
  strengthen learning and retention.

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The Steps of SQ4R
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SQ4R (Cont)
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Why Survey First? (Pre-read)

• Surveying the process of previewing or skimming
  through information to get an overview or a big
  picture of the content before you begin thorough
  reading.
• Activates existing working memory
• Connects to existing schemas in LTM
• Sets the stage to create new associations
• Enhances motivation and interest
• Breaks inertia or tendency to procrastinate
• Boosts confidence
• Provides information about length and difficulty
  of the reading material
• Helps you set realistic goals and manage your time

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Survey in Different Ways
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Formulate Questions

• Formulating questions
• is an active reading strategy
• provides a purpose for reading
• elevates curiosity
• increases comprehension
• helps maintain focus.
• Creating questions and then finding the answers
  help create memory cues or associations in your
  brain.
• Write questions before you read.
• Write questions as you read.
• Write questions after you read.

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Read. Record. Recite

• Read and comprehend a section before moving on
• Record main ideas and major details
• Use different reading styles for different
  subjects
• Highlighting, margin notes, notebook notes
• Use a specific notetaking method that works for
  you to take textbook notes
• Recite back to gain feedback on how well you
  understand information before you move on
• Read a section and paraphrase it in your own
  words

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Postread

• Review
• What is the big picture?
• Can I connect what I read to what I have learned
  in class or what I have previously read?

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Using Context Clues to Build Vocabulary

• Use the words that surround the word you are
  trying to understand.
• Make an educated guess about the meaning of the
  words you do not know.

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Types of Graphics

• Bar graph
• Chart
• Diagram
• Flowchart
• Map
• Pie graph
• Table

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Chapter Summary

• Always know your purpose for reading.
• Use the SQ4R method to organize your reading.
• Be sure to warm up first by doing a quick skim of
  the material in front of you.
• Make connections between what you read and what
  you already know.
• When taking notes on your reading, be sure to use
  your own words.
• Use context clues to help you understand
  vocabulary.
• Find the big picturethe main idea.
• Immediately after finishing your reading
  assignment evaluate your reading comprehension.
  Gain feedback.