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Notetaking and or Outlining tips?

For most of my classes last year, I didn't have to take serious notes for any class. For outlines, I just printed one from online because my teacher didn't care.

My problem is that whenever I tried to outline/take notes, I tend to write almost everything down. It doesn't seem to help me; it just made me feel better that I'm writing something. Do you have any tips for outlining chapters / taking notes during lectures? I'm a total novice when it comes to this. Thanks!

August 3, 2012

2 Comments • Newest first

Nashi

When I took notes during class I end up writing whole essays... I think one time I wrote down 4 pages of information (though big/scribbled letters due to trying to be fast) when watching a 15 minute video in Chemistry. GG.
Can't help you at all sorry.

Reply August 3, 2012
bored741258963

For outlining, most textbooks have their chapters separated into headings. I usually take those headings as my own titles for my outline and gather information I deem important from the following paragraph.
If this was a Chemistry class and we were doing the types of chemical reactions...

Unit 1 Chapter 5 - Types of Chemical Reactions
(Insert small sentence explaining what it is)

[i]Single Displacement[/i]
Ex. A + BC -> AC + B
(Insert a possible real life example or whatever depending on your teacher's style of questions for tests/quizzes.)

Carry on to double displacement...etc.
I usually like to have a sentence or two at the end to summarize everything or include little statistics that a teacher might try to sneak in.

This may not be very effective for your case since the textbooks we use for science have each chapter already divided into headings, include examples, and provide an explanation. We even get a mini summary at the end

I haven't really done much note taking in the past; a little for history, but I listen to the teacher and usually pickup a few things that seem important. Many times my teacher makes it obvious that said fact is important or may show up on a test but other times it's up to your own judgement. Lastly, remember to summarize and not write every single thing down.

Reply August 3, 2012