The Note Taking Process Adapted from Ellis D

The Note Taking Process Adapted from Ellis, D. (1997). Notes. Becoming a master student.

Note Taking • Complete outside assignments. You will gather more from a lecture if you have completed all reading and assignments prior to class. Note taking will be easier if you have read the material—you find you’ll have to write less.

Note Taking • Bring the right materials. Come to class equipped with notebooks, writing tools, and textbooks.

Note Taking • Sit front and center Harder to fall asleep Fewer distractions Easier to see what is being taught Some professor are less animated or energetic…this may make it easier to sense their energy Participate in the lecture—it helps to motivates you

Note Taking • Conduct a short pre-class review –Review notes from previous lecture –Scan the reading assignment • Look at your highlighted areas • Review assigned problems and questions • If applicable, reread the summary/conclusion

Note Taking • Clarify your intentions Decide what you want from the class period This is the time to ask questions that arose from homework or reading assignments. Decide on your level of participation and attention If you lacked information from the previous lecture, decide on how to obtain the missing notes

Note Taking • Be mentally present in the class!

Note Taking • Accept that your mind will wander Don’t fight daydreaming Use your mind wandering as a chance to refocus your attention Notice that your mind is wandering Say to yourself, “ There’s it goes again” Gently return your attention to the class If you drift again, repeat the process

Note Taking • Notice your writing When you are day dreaming, notice what is around you Pay attention to the pen, how it feels Notice you writing Mark or leave a space in your notes where you were drifting

Note Taking • Focus on your instructor Pay attention to body language and non-verbal cues Look the instructor directly in the eye Imagine that you and the instructor are the only two people in the room and visualize yourself face to face as if having a one-on-one conversation

Note Taking • Notice your environment If you begin drifting Notice the room temperature Take notice of your chair and your posture Notice the room’s lighting Listen to the sound of professor’s voice Place yourself in your present environment

Note Taking • Postpone your debate or criticisms Mark in your notes your disagreement and continue focusing your attention and taking notes Do not engage in internal dialogue that will drown out the continuing information State mental that you disagree and move on

Note Taking • Don’t judge the lecture style Humans evaluate everything, do not let your attitude about an instructor interfere with your learning Let go of judgments about unorganized lectures or ramblings Turn disorganization into an advantage Organize the material yourself Note where you may have been confused, so that you can ask questions later

Note Taking • Participate in class activities Participating is a great way to remember information Be willing to take a risk and get involved—ask and answer questions Chances are that your perceived “dumb” questions are Not dumb and they shared by several other classmate

Note Taking • Watch for clues

Note Taking • Be alert to repetition Repetition of material is consistent with the relevance the instructor places on the material

Note Taking • Listen for introductory, concluding, and transition words and phrases Signal relationships, definitions, new subjects, conclusions, cause and effect and examples Reveal the structure of the lecture—use the instructor’s structure to organize your notes E. g. the following three factors, in conclusion, the most important fact, in addition to, conversely

Note Taking • Watch the board or overhead projector If the professor takes the time to write it down—it’s probably important Copy all diagrams, charts, drawings, equations, names, places, dates, statistics, and definitions

Note Taking • Watch the instructor’s eyes If the instructor glances at notes, it is probably important information Anything read from notes is a potential test question