Note Taking in English Classes
Purpose of this workshop
Note taking is an important part of success in English classes (and all classes, for that matter). In fact, my success in college can be chalked up easily to the fact I took notes in class. I always went to class, listened to the lecture, and took notes along the way.
In my time here at Relevant as your English coach, I've noticed two things regarding note taking:
1. Very few students take notes while reading a story or listening to a lecture.
2. Of the ones who do, there are many of them who take notes "incorrectly."
For those reasons, I've decided to host this workshop to show you how to take better notes. English grades at Relevant are weak and I believe that is a direct reflection of how learners take notes.
In my time here at Relevant as your English coach, I've noticed two things regarding note taking:
1. Very few students take notes while reading a story or listening to a lecture.
2. Of the ones who do, there are many of them who take notes "incorrectly."
For those reasons, I've decided to host this workshop to show you how to take better notes. English grades at Relevant are weak and I believe that is a direct reflection of how learners take notes.
Goals of this workshop
1. Show some tips and best practices to help learners produce effective notes using proven note taking strategies.
2. Correct common errors/shortcuts in note taking by showing how and why they don't work.
3. Instill a sense of importance of note taking. Students will leave the workshop finding value in note taking and will use
it in their classes.
2. Correct common errors/shortcuts in note taking by showing how and why they don't work.
3. Instill a sense of importance of note taking. Students will leave the workshop finding value in note taking and will use
it in their classes.
How does note taking help you?
People don't usually remember what they hear. Simply listening to a lecture often results in not remembering. Information just hits the brain and falls off.
Writing information down is different. In writing something you read or hear, your brain has to process it, which is actually how it sticks.
Notes work in two ways:
Ever had a teacher let you write notes on a index card to use on a test?
-When you write something, it becomes more memorable.
-If you happen to not remember, you have notes to help you out.
Writing information down is different. In writing something you read or hear, your brain has to process it, which is actually how it sticks.
Notes work in two ways:
Ever had a teacher let you write notes on a index card to use on a test?
-When you write something, it becomes more memorable.
-If you happen to not remember, you have notes to help you out.
How do you take notes?
How do you take notes? Computer or paper? Do you take notes?
For those of you who do not, how has it worked out for you?
For those of you who do not, how has it worked out for you?
Common practices that don't help you
-Not taking notes at all and just listening to the lecture.
-Taking a picture of the slide.
-Writing everything down word for word, the same way as presented in the slide.
-Taking a picture of the slide.
-Writing everything down word for word, the same way as presented in the slide.
Habits of good note takers
I perused the Internet to find some good tips on how to take good notes and I found some common trends:
1. You don't have to write down everything. Be concise.
-Some exceptions:
-Quotes.
-Definitions, but not in all cases.
2. Don't write it down word for word. Write the way you write.
3. Find a system of organization. It can be simple (like mine) or elaborate (like Patrick, someone super smart from college I knew)
-There's a story about him. Ask me about it right now to hear it!
-Seriously, he was an interesting character.
-Reasons you may want to ask me about him:
-To learn about my life.
-Curiosity.
-Potential note taking strategy.
-To use up time.
4. Learn to identify what is important and what is not (more on that soon).
5. Take notes the same way, in the same format, and in the same place each time.
1. You don't have to write down everything. Be concise.
-Some exceptions:
-Quotes.
-Definitions, but not in all cases.
2. Don't write it down word for word. Write the way you write.
3. Find a system of organization. It can be simple (like mine) or elaborate (like Patrick, someone super smart from college I knew)
-There's a story about him. Ask me about it right now to hear it!
-Seriously, he was an interesting character.
-Reasons you may want to ask me about him:
-To learn about my life.
-Curiosity.
-Potential note taking strategy.
-To use up time.
4. Learn to identify what is important and what is not (more on that soon).
5. Take notes the same way, in the same format, and in the same place each time.
What is important information?
Important information is tricky business. What IS important?
Talk to the person next to you. Think of three things you think would be important in a story to keep track of.
In lectures:
-Details about the author.
-Admittedly, anything written down is often worth taking notes on.
-Any mention of literary elements (foreshadowing, allusion, personification, etc.).
In stories:
-Let's go to the worksheet.
Talk to the person next to you. Think of three things you think would be important in a story to keep track of.
In lectures:
-Details about the author.
-Admittedly, anything written down is often worth taking notes on.
-Any mention of literary elements (foreshadowing, allusion, personification, etc.).
In stories:
-Let's go to the worksheet.
Now, go forth and be prosperous!
We're going to apply these skills today.
You're going to come back to my classroom and I will work with you on these notes. I will walk you through it, step by step, helping you find what is useful information and what isn't. We'll produce notes together on your next assignment (or a retake of an assignment), and have you take a quiz by the day's end.
After you all have taken a quiz, we will reconvene and talk about how it went.
Once you feel comfortable in your note taking, I want you to take a quiz on your own while taking notes, and see how you do.
You're going to come back to my classroom and I will work with you on these notes. I will walk you through it, step by step, helping you find what is useful information and what isn't. We'll produce notes together on your next assignment (or a retake of an assignment), and have you take a quiz by the day's end.
After you all have taken a quiz, we will reconvene and talk about how it went.
Once you feel comfortable in your note taking, I want you to take a quiz on your own while taking notes, and see how you do.