IndependentSplit-Page Note Taking

(also called Cornell Notes)

A Research-Based Strategy for IncreasingStudent Achievement

• Note taking stimulates critical thinking skills.

• Note taking helps students remember what is said in class.

• A good set of notes can help students work on assignments and prepare for tests outside of the classroom.

• Note taking is required for this course.

• Good notes allow students to help each other problem solve.

• Good Notes help students organize and process data and information.

• Helps student recall by getting them to process their notes 3 times.

• Writing is a great tool for learning!

What Does the Research Indicate about Note Taking?• Verbatim note taking is, perhaps,

the least effective way to take notes.

• Notes should be considered a work in progress.

• Notes should be used as study guides for tests.

• The more notes that are taken, the better.

Split-Page Note Taking

Why should you take notes?

• To minimize your “rate of

forgetting”

Dr. Walter Pauk, Cornell University

Reading Center - Research

Don’t take notes = Forget 60 % in 14

days

Take some notes = Remember 60 %

Take organized notes and do

something with them = Remember

90-100% indefinitely!

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?

• It is a method for mastering information--not just recording facts.

• It is efficient.• Each step prepares

the way for the next part of the learning process.

• They count as 10% of your overall grade.

Split-Page Note Taking

When should youtake notes?

• Notes are a record of your learning, so take them when:

You listen to a lecture You read a text You watch a film You work in a group

on an activity You need to recall

information about what happened to you in a class, meeting, or activity--which means always!

• Always

Format For Split-Page Note Taking

Main Ideas Details  - Heading/subheading

 OR Vocabulary

OR 

- Question based on information in right column

 

  

- Use short phrases, NOT complete sentences

- Write in a neat and legible fashion

- Use bullets, dashes or other symbols

- Use standard abbreviations that are meaningful

- Underline or highlight vocabulary and definition

- Information lined up with corresponding heading or question

   

Summary: Write 4-5 sentences summarizing/synthesizing information of entire section of text.   

Independent Note Taking Template: Split Page with SummaryName: Date:Subject: Page number:

Topic (lesson Title)

DatePage Number

Topic

Questions,Subtitles,Headings,Etc.

Class Notes

3”

3 to 4 sentence Summary across the bottom of the last page of the topic’s notes

NameSubject

horizontal line about five lines up from the bottom.

vertical line, about one third of distance from the left.

Notes go here, in the large right hand column.

Questions, subtitles,etc. go here,in the left hand column.Remember,we wanthigher levelcritical thinkingquestions. A 3 to 4 sentence summary down there

on the bottom of the last page of notes

Don’t forget the heading:Name, Subject, Date, Page, Topic

HOW SHOULD NOTES BE RECORDED?

• Are recorded on the right side of the page.

• Record notes in paragraphs, skipping lines to separate information logically.

• Don’t force an outlining system, but do use any obvious numbering.

• Strive to get main ideas down. Facts, details, and examples are important, but they’re meaningful only with concepts.

• Use abbreviations for extra writing and listening time.

• Use graphic organizers or pictures when they are helpful.

Split-Page Note Taking

What should I place on the left side?

• Questions which are answered in the notes on the right

• Questions you still need the answer

• Questions the teacher might ask on a test

• Higher level thinking questions

• Key terms, vocabulary words, or dates

• Diagrams or figures• Reference pages in a text

So, what about the bottom of my paper?

• Summary - review notes as soon as possible after class and write a summary in your own words about the main ideas. Are there any gaps in your understanding? (see next point)

• Questions for the teacher.• Doodles - down here they

won’t get in the way of the important stuff.

What belongs in the bottom space?

Summary, questions, doodles

NOTETAKING TIPS

USE Split-Page NOTES

STEPS• Name/Subject• Date/Page• Divider• Title• Notes• Questions• Summary

8/20/02Page 1PENGUINSPs have flat feet•

Better to swim with

•Like swim finsPs have special blood

circulation system

•Counter current flow

•Warm blood from heart

warms cold blood from feet

•Prevents freezing

Why do Pshave flat feet?

What iscounter-current flow?

Penguins are designed for their cold, ocean

habitat.They have flat feet for swimming and counter

-current blood flow to stay warm.

John DoeBiology

A GOOD TITLE

•Never use the class name as a title.•Use the overall topic of the lesson.•Be specific.

MATH

GEOMETRY

PERIMETER

IMPORTANT STUFF ONLY!

•Keywords•Main Ideas•Important Concepts•New Vocabulary

If you are writing every word the instructor is saying, you’re writing way too much!

BE QUICK

•Use symbols and abbreviations.•Don’t worry about mechanics.•Write in phrases.•Leave space to add more detail later.

If you fall behind the speaker,you’re writing too much.

QUESTION

•Always be thinking of questions.•If you don’t understand, ask.•Write questions when you review.•Make them hard.

The only stupid question is the one you don’t attempt to answer.

REVIEW

•ASAP!•Check accuracy of notes.•Write Questions & Summary.•Underline/Highlight important stuff.

Most forgetting happens in the first 24 hours.

SUMMARIZE

•Tell what you learned.•Main ideas, not details.•Don’t give a class play-by-play.

If you can’t explain what youlearned, did you learn anything?

STUDY

•Read over notes.•Recite aloud.•Self-Test.•Compare with other students.

Waiting until the night before the test to study is a sure way to lower your grade.

• Cover the right side of your notes; review and answer study questions from the left using the right side as an answer key

• Quiz yourself out loud

• Cover the right side with blank paper; write out answers to the left column study questions

Make use of the format

• Write summaries of the most important material in the summary/reflection section

• Write a quiz for others using notes; exchange and correct

• Write anticipated test questions beyond those already in the left-hand column and write answers

Write!

• Look over notes frequently to keep information and questions still unanswered fresh in mind

• Recite information from notes

• Rework examples & problems

Review

• Exchange notes with others to flesh out information and understanding

• Use notes in study groups to provide a common ground of material for reference and review

• Rewrite notes if necessary

Study in a Group

• Students know what is expected and are consistently held accountable.

• Notes are duty and graded the day of each test.

Grading Split-Page Notes