ENGLISH I

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ENGLISH I

• Note taking
• 101

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• Listen actively - if possible think before you
  write - but don't get behind. Be open minded
  about points you disagree on. Don't let arguing
  interfere with your note-taking.
• Raise questions if appropriate. If you dont
  know, ask.
• Take and keep notes in a large notebook. The only
  merit to a small notebook is ease of carrying and
  that is not your main objective. A large notebook
  allows you to adequately indent and use an
  outline form. Leave a few spaces blank as you
  move from one point to the next so that you can
  fill in additional points later if necessary.
  Your objective is to take helpful notes, not to
  save paper.
• Do not try to take down everything that the
  lecturer says. It is impossible in the first
  place and unnecessary in the second place because
  not everything is of equal importance. Spend more
  time listening and attempt to take down the main
  points. If you are writing as fast as you can,
  you cannot be as discriminating a listener. There
  may be some times, however, when it is more
  important to write than to think.

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• Listen for cues as to important points,
  transition from one point to the next, repetition
  of points for emphasis, changes in voice
  inflections, enumeration of a series of points,
  etc.
• Many lecturers attempt to present a few major
  points and several minor points in a lecture. The
  rest is explanatory material and samples. Try to
  see the main points and do not get lost in a
  barrage of minor points which do not seem related
  to each other. The relationship is there if you
  will listen for it. Be alert to cues about what
  the teacher thinks is important. Make your
  original notes legible enough for your own
  reading, but use abbreviations of your own
  invention when possible. The effort required to
  recopy notes can be better spent in rereading
  them and thinking about them. Although neatness
  is a virtue in some respect, it does not
  necessarily increase your learning.
• Copy down everything on the board, regardless.
  Did you ever stop to think that every blackboard
  scribble may be a clue to an exam/test item? You
  may not be able to integrate what is on the board
  into your lecture notes, but if you copy it, it
  may serve as a useful clue for you later. If not,
  what the heck -- you haven't wasted anything. You
  were in the classroom anyway. Sit as close to the
  front of the class, there are fewer distractions
  and it is easier to hear, see and attend to
  important material.
• Get assignments and suggestions precisely - ask
  questions if you're not sure.

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Outlines

• Outlines are most useful for material that is
  presented in a well-organized way and material
  that moves from main ideas to detail. Try
  following some of these suggestions for
  successful outline note taking. Use standard
  Roman numerals or a free form, indented outline
  to organize the information in a lecture.
• Organize your notes by major points and
  supporting ideas. This allows you to record and
  organize at the same time.
• Leave spaces between sections or main ideas.
• If the instructor returns to a point later, you
  can add information in the appropriate section.

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• March 3, 2000 World History
  
• The Russian Revolution
• I. Collapse of the Imperial Regime
• A. WWI a cause of collapse of tsarism
• 1. War aggravated inherent political weaknesses
• 2. Government unable to get cooperation of the
  country in war effort
• 3. Could not remain in war w/out political
  changes
• B. Wartime problems due to econ. Causes and
  mismanagement
• 1. Russia more effectively blockaded than allies
• 2. Poor organization and transport prevented use
  of internal resources Rasputin

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NOTE TAKING - THE CORNELL SYSTEM

• The Cornell system for taking notes is designed
  to save time but yet be highly efficient. There
  is no rewriting or retyping of your notes. It is
  a "DO IT RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE" system.
• 1. First Step - PREPARATION
• Use a large, loose-leaf notebook. Use only one
  side of the paper. (you then can lay your notes
  out to see the direction of a lecture.) Draw a
  vertical line 2 1/2 inches from the left side of
  you paper. This is the recall column. Notes will
  be taken to the right of this margin. Later key
  words or phrases can be written in the recall
  column.
• 2. Second Step - DURING THE LECTURE
• Record notes in paragraph form. Capture general
  ideas, not illustrative ideas. Skip lines to show
  end of ideas or thoughts. Using abbreviations
  will save time. Write legibly.
• 3. Third Step - AFTER THE LECTURE
• Read through your notes and make it more legible
  if necessary. Now use the left column. Jot down
  ideas or key words which give you the idea of the
  lecture. (REDUCE) You will have to reread the
  lecturer's ideas and reflect in your own words.
  Cover up the right-hand portion of your notes and
  recite the general ideas and concepts of the
  lecture. Overlap your notes showing only recall
  columns and you have your review.

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Use symbols, diagrams, or drawings to simplify
ideas. Example draw arrows to show connections
between ideas.

• and
• gt increase
• lt decrease
• w/ with
• w/o without
• equals
• i.e. that is

for and B for but X for except etc. Leave
out vowels. between btwn among amng patient
ptnt
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• If the instructor writes something on the
  chalkboard/overhead or repeats an idea then it is
  usually a key point and you should write it down.
  
• Try to use a three-ring binder, it allows for
  more flexibility in rearranging your notes and
  any handouts that you may receive.
• Try to sit towards the front and center of the
  class where you'll be less distracted and can
  hear the professor the best and have a good angle
  on any visual aids that may be shown.
• Don't rely on someone else's notes, you may not
  understand everything that they write down and
  you'll learn the best by taking your own notes.
• If your instructor talks fast, it may help to
  bring an audio recorder and record the lecture
  while taking notes. After the lecture is over you
  can replay the lecture and fill in any parts that
  you missed in your notes.
• Do reading assignments or homework questions
  before class, it is easier to take notes when you
  know what the instructor is talking about.
• Date your notes add titles and subtitles when
  you move onto a new topic for easy referencing.
• Write down any terminology along with the
  definition that the instructor may present.
• Make sure that you write legibly, if you can't
  read them later, they'll be useless. If you have
  sloppy handwriting it may be wise to type your
  notes so that they are easier to read.
• If you missed what the instructor said ask them
  to repeat it or go to the instructor after class
  and ask for clarification. If you are in a rush,
  ask the instructor at the beginning of the next
  class or try to find the answer from a friend or
  the text.
• Compare notes with a classmate to make sure you
  didn't miss any important points.

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Preparing for a test

• Budget your time, make sure you have sufficient
  time to study so that you are well prepared for
  the test. Go to review, pay attention to hints
  that the instructor may give about the test. Take
  careful notes and ask questions about items you
  may be confused about.
• Ask the instructor to specify the areas that
  will be emphasized on the test.
• Make sure you go to the class right before the
  test it's another prime time for the instructor
  to give out more hints or the format of the test.
  
• Go over any material from old tests, HW's,
  sample problems, review material, the textbook,
  class notes... that might be on the test.
• Eat before a test, having food in your stomach
  will give you energy and help you focus, but
  avoid heavy foods which can make you groggy.
• Don't try to pull an all nighter, get at least 3
  hours of sleep before the test.
• Put the main ideas/information/formulas onto a
  sheet that can be quickly reviewed many times,
  this makes it easier to retain the key concepts
  that will be on the test.
• Try to show up at least 5 minutes before the
  test will start.
• Go to the bathroom before walking into the exam
  room, you don't want to waste anytime worrying
  about your bodily needs during the test.

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Taking a Test

• Bring at least two pens/pencils with good
  erasers, calculator with enough batteries and any
  other resources that your instructor allows you
  to. Bring a watch to the test with you so that
  you can better pace yourself.
• Keep a positive attitude throughout the whole
  test and try to stay relaxed, if you start to
  feel nervous take a few deep breaths to relax.
• Keep your eyes on your own paper, you don't want
  to appear to be cheating and cause unnecessary
  trouble for yourself.
• When you first receive your test, do a quick
  survey of the entire test so that you know how to
  efficiently budget your time.
• Do the easiest problems first don't stay on a
  problem that you are stuck on especially when
  time is a factor.
• Do the problems that have the greatest point
  values first.
• Don't rush but pace yourself, read the entire
  question and look for keywords.
• Ask the instructor for clarification if you
  don't understand what they are asking for on the
  test.
• Write legibly, if the grader can't read what you
  wrote they'll most likely mark it wrong.
• Always read the whole question carefully, don't
  make assumptions about what the question might
  be.
• If you don't know an answer skip it, go on with
  the rest of the test and come back to it later,
  maybe on another part of the test there'll be
  something that will help you out with that
  question.
• Don't worry if others finish before you focus
  on the test in front of you.
• When you are finished, if you have time left
  look over your test, make sure that you have
  answered all the questions, only change an answer
  if you misread or misinterpreted the question
  because the first answer that you put is usually
  the correct one. Watch out for careless mistakes
  and proofread your essay and/or short answer
  questions.
• Double check to make sure that you put your
  first and last name on the test.