Steps for Taking Two-Column Notes

1. Steps for Taking Two-Column Notes Helpful Hints for taking clear notes that help your brain study information.

2. Some Things to Remember… • Every reading assignment begins with the preview step. • Thieves, Predicting, KWL • Before taking notes, read the entire assignment closely.

3. Why take notes from a textbook? • It forces the reader to concentrate and decide what is most important. • Choosing and focusing on the main ideas • You can reduce many pages of text to a smaller amount of material. • It is easier to study and master a smaller amount of material rather than an entire chapter.

4. Self-Check • Answer the following question in 3-5 sentences and discuss with a partner. • What exactly do you do when you study for a test?

5. Why Two Column Note Taking? • Helps you to organize information. • Adds ‘white space’ so your brain doesn’t get tired as easily. • Easier to use when studying for tests. • Something you can use in all classes for the rest of your school career. • It forces you to ‘take notes’ instead of ‘copy notes.’ • Taking notes requires synthesis, analysis, and summarization and is more active and time saving. • Copying notes requires no thought, is passive, and takes longer to do.

6. How do you do it? * Step 1: Divide your paper into 2 unequalcolumns. (make the right half larger than the left half). Column 2 Column 1

7. How do you do it? (continued) • Step 2: In the left-hand column, record Just the Facts from the text that you are studying: • These facts may include: • Names, dates, places, events that you might be expected to know (on a test). • Important words that you need to define • Anything that is written in bold or underlined (that is usually a clue that it is important)

8. Organization is: Elements of Organization For Example: Leave lots of space between entries.

9. How do you do it? (continued) • Step 3: In the right hand column, use bullet-points, graphics, and/or abbreviations to take notes. NEVER copy exact wording.

10. Organization is: Elements of Organization Internal structure Holds writing together Like puzzle Direction, purpose, momentum Lead: attn getter For Example: Leave lots of space between entries. Leave space here in case you learn more info later that you can go back and add to this category.

11. Elements of Org (cont) Org sequence (order) Focus on idea Transitions conclusion Example continued

12. How you do it? (continued) • Rules for notetaking: • NEVER copy things exactly as they are written. • Dnt ovr abr cz u ll b cfsd • Don’t over abbreviate because you will be confused • If abbr, undrstnd what u write. • Do a maximum of 4 notes per page. • If you jam more info on one page, you are either not choosing important stuff to note or you are not writing enough about each entry. • Avoid Sentences. Use phrases. Jottings. • You don’t have to be told to do it by your teacher… • If you are reading a text or listening to a lecture that you know will be important, go ahead and try it. • If you are told to take notes, try this method (unless you’re told to do it in some other specific way).

13. Advanced Two-Column Notes • How can two column notes be expressed in a Thinking Map? • Can/Are thinking maps and two-column notes related? • What Thinking Maps (if any) could be a substitute for two-column notes?