Note-Making

Activity 3.1: Opener

1. What are the qualities of good note-making?

The qualities of good note-making are that the notes have to be neat and organized, the information needs to be clear, concise and correct, and the supporting details should be brief yet it still shows its importance and it is backing up the text. In order to show that you comprehend the information given and you have analyzed the information, you have to ask questions, make connections, and predictions. This would then show that you are processing the information from the reading in your own way and you are adding your own thoughts into it.

2. Why do you think good note-making is widely considered a standard for success in AP classes? Good note-making is widely considered a standard for success in AP because at that advance level of class it is almost essential that you comprehend the text. Notes are the best way for you to write down all the important facts in your own words. By writing the information down in your own words, you are looking at the information in a new way that allows you to understand the information in the way that you can understand best. Adding your own thoughts to the notes helps think deeper about the text and this will help you get a better view of the information.

Activity 3.2: Note-Making Essentials


 * 1) Review your previewing notes and use those thoughts to guide you
 * 2) Break reading into smaller, manageable chunks, maybe based on the headings in the text
 * 3) Write notes only after reading through a portion of the reading (a "chunk")
 * 4) Paraphrase the most important information from each chunk
 * 5) Add the most important details
 * 6) Make connections to other history that you have learned or current events
 * 7) Keep track of important vocabulary
 * 8) Ask questions and try to answer them
 * 9) Write the main ideas, in your own words, from each subtopic and one for the overall topic of the reading

Activity 3.3: Making Notes for Independent Study
 * Questions/Comments/Connections || Notes ||