Social Studies
NOTETAKING SKILLS
Why am I taking notes?
Taking notes aides in comprehension and retention of
material, filtering key points, clarifying concepts and is
another resource for review.
Researchers found that 34% of what is taken in notes is
retained, versus only 5% of items not found in notes.
The percentage of true picture thinkers (those with a
photographic memory) is very low. Take notes!!!
You need a copy of your own notes in your class binder!!!
What do I write down?
Key Points
Visuals/Diagrams
Key words
Steps in a Process
What is written on
the board
Key concepts and
important details.
Questions you
need answered
Repeated concepts
or ideas
Examples and
Relationships
When the Teacher goes too fast
Use Sym. & Abbr.
This means “Use Symbols and Abbreviations”
Use common symbols and/or Invent your own.
Find a reliable study buddy and compare notes.
Ask the teacher to slow down or restate something you
missed. (Depending on the teacher, this may or may
not work)
Reconcille your notes if you can access them on-line
(check my teacher blog).
Common Symbols
↑ increase
+ plus
∴ therefore
÷ divide
→ leads to
˂ greater than
+ and
˃ less than
= equals
↓ decrease
Other Favorites

~ about/sort of
Δ change

+/- more or less
‫ ﺴﺳ‬instead of “www.”

@ as/at/and
? question

W/ with
A/b about

W/o without
B/c because

% percent
Imp important

# number

$ money
Common Abbreviations
Eng. English
Am. American
Ave. Average
Equiv. Equivalent
Def. Definition
Max. Maximum
Min. Minimum
Eg./Ex. Example
Texting comes in handy!!!
U cn crte U'r own abbr 4
athg U wnt. B sure U rem
wht they mean 2 U!!!
You can create your own
abbreviations for
anything you want. Be
sure you remember
what they mean to
you!!!
Basics of Notes Organization
1. Always start on a
new page
5.Leave blanks for
additions later
2. Use loose leaf
paper for easy
rearranging
6. Put
questions/comments/
notes to self in
margins.
3. Always date your
notes and number
the pages
4. Develop standard
symbols for easier
note taking
7. Flag pages in
textbook mentioned
in notes.
Methods of Note Taking
Complete
Sentences/Lists
Charts
Cornell Notes
2 column Method
REAP method
Outlines
Note cards
Post-It Notes
Graphic/Visual Notes
Once you learn these
methods, you can
combine them into a
system that works for
you!!!
Complete Sentences/Lists
Number your paper
and write in
complete sentences,
leaving space
between each item.
Good method when
You will need to review
there is lots of
and reorganize notes
information and you
after using this
don't know how it
method.
goes together
Charts
Set up paper in columns with
heading for material covered
in lecture.
Fill in columns with
info/examples/diagrams etc.
Good for overviews of
material
Good for content presented
quickly
You have to know the
headings at the beginning of
the lecture
Good for big picture.
Less Writing
Easy to review,
memorize info.,
and compare
relationships.
Cornell Notes
Page divided by
function (see image)
Easy to Scan/Review
Neat and Organized
Makes a good study
guide
2 column method
Similar to Cornell
Notes
2 columns (see
image)
Left column = Key
words
Right column =
Description
Good for review
Easy to read
REAP Method
2 sheets (see
image)
Relate to your life
Extend material to
outside world
Actualize material
(how would it work in outside
world)
REAP portion must be done
shortly after taking notes.
Profit from ideas
Work with a study buddy for
memory triggers and REAP
column.
(how will you and society
profit?)
Outlines
Good for recopying
and organizing notes
During Lecture,
develop a template
before class
Enter main topics
from lecture and fill
in supporting details
Short phrases and
symbols
Notecards
Topic on front of
Can be done during
card, description on lecture or recopied
back of card.
from notes.
Great for review
and manipulation of
material.
Can color-code
cards by
subject/type of
material, etc.
Post It Notes
Similar to Notecard
notes, but can be
placed in text and
as flags.
Easy to manipulate
and reorganize
Easy to colorcode.
Can be written
during discussion,
lecture, or after.
Visual Note Taking
Graphic Organizers
Mind Maps and
Pictures
Hi Lighting
Graphic Organizers
Visual way of
organizing
information.
Easy to see
relationships and
connections.
Combines words,
phrases, images,
links in an organized
and visually
appealing way.
Mind Maps and Pictures
Done on paper or
with a program
(freemind.com)
Easy to see
connections and
relationships.
Like graphic
organizers but more
interactive, less
static.
Hi Lighting
Combine with other note taking methods.
Hi-light/color-code information for easier
studying and memory recall.
Key words/phrases/concepts
When Will I use my Notes?
After the lecture: review notes, make
corrections, reorganize/map (if necessary),
identify things you don't understand.
The more you review your notes, the
greater your chances of retention of
information.
Create your own study guide.
What Works Best for Me?
(Your education is in your hands! Or Make peace with your notebook!!)
Your job is to find the
method that works
best for you and stick
with it.
Resources
•http://web.alextech.edu/en/CollegeServices/SupportServices/StudySkills/Lect
ureNoteTaking/NoteTakingProcess.aspx
•http://americanheritage.byu.edu/Pages/LearningTips/Lectures/Note-Taking-
Methods.aspx
•http://www.muskingum.edu/~cal/database/general/notetaking1.html
•Source:
Longman, D. and Atkinson, R. College Learning and Study Skills.
1999. Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
•http://www.englishcompanion.com/Tools/notemaking.html
•http://www.thinkport.org/technology/template.tp