An actor is a guy who, if you ain’t talking about him, ain’t listening.
--Marlon Brando
Listening, reading, and taking notes
Listening1
Circle the term that best describes you as a listener:
superior
excellent
above average
average
below average
poor
terrible
On a scale of 0-100, rate yourself as a listener: _____
On the same scale how do you think the following people would rate you as a listener:
your best friend
_____
your boss
_____
your instructor
_____
business colleague
_____
your classmates
_____
a job subordinate
_____
a sibling
_____
spouse
_____
heartthrob
_____
Ten keys to better listening:
1. find areas of interest—ask “What’s in it for me?”
2. judge content, not delivery
3. hold your fire—don’t judge until you’ve heard everything
4. listen for ideas
5. be flexible
6. work at listening
7. resist distractions
8. exercise your mind
9. keep your mind open
10. capitalize on the fact that thought is faster than speech.
Reading
Advanced organizers and lead sentences
Consult the following sources:
http://www.yorku.ca/cdc/lsp/read/read.htm
Links to reading study skills:
general reading skills
methods
specialized reading skills (e.g., reading in the sciences)
critical thinking
speed reading
http://www.smc.maricopa.edu/sub1/lac/30202_rdg_study.html
Emphasis on (active) reading at the university.
1
Michael Michalko, Thinkertoys (Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 1991), 196-198.
Taking notes
Consult the following sources:
http://students.berkeley.edu/slc/CalRen/Listening1.html
Presents a system for
effective listening and
taking of notes, including
advice on mapping notes
(shown to the right).
http://www.sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/notetaking.systems.html
Presents the following methods for taking notes:
cornell method
outline method
mapping method
charting method
sentence method
http://www.dartmouth.edu/admin/acskills/no_frames/lsg/notetaking.html
TLQR technique:
Tune-in (to channel your energy)
Look at the speaker
Question
Listen (selectively for emphasis)
Note (especially ideas that conflict with your own)
Review
MSU resources
The Learning Center
Location: Lower Level of Memorial Library, Room 0132
Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday -Friday
Phone: (507) 389-1791
URL:
http://www.mnsu.edu/dept/learnc/