THE MODIFIED CORNELL NOTE TAKING SYSTEM

THE MODIFIED CORNELL

NOTE TAKING SYSTEM

• Cornell 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.

The Info

• 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!

How to remember information

Studies have shown that it takes a person seeing, hearing,, writing, reading etc.. an average of SIX TIMES to retain information long term.

• The same study shows that, if an idea is repeated at least six times with periods like sleeping in between, a person will remember about 70% of the information instead of less than 15% of the information if it is not reviewed.

The study also shows that…

When 100 people hear an idea, 25 will forget the idea within the first 24 hours, 50 will forget it within 28 hours, 85 will forget it in 4 days, and 98 will forget it by 16 days. Unless you are one of the lucky 2 in 100 who will not forget, write it down and review it!! You can not possible remember everything your teachers say or everything you read.

• So…..TAKE CORNELL NOTES AND USE THEM!! Review, Review, Review

• And remember, it takes time and practice to be good at this!

% Retention of Information

• As you can see from this graph, the use of C-notes and it’s review and reflection capabilities, will definitely help with processing and recall of information from your lectures or chapters!

• Developed in 1949 at Cornell University by Walter Pauk.

• Designed in response to frustration over student test scores.

• Meant to be easily used as a test study guide.

• Adopted by most major law schools as the preferred note taking method.

LayoutQuestion

Column

--2 Inches-- After the lecture,

– write questions in this column for each main point in the record column.

Record Column

--6 Inches--

Record patterns of main idea and support

• in your own words when possible.

Use indentations • to show the relationships between

main ideas and – support.

Record Column Write main ideas and supporting material in

the right column

– Use signals from the lecture

• Titles & keywords= topics main ideas

• “Transition” words/phrases introduce details

– First, most, some, this is called, there are two types

– Use abbreviations to get the full idea.

– Leave spaces between ideas so you can

• fill in more later.

• see how ideas relate to one another

Question Column Write questions in the left column of your

notes to quiz yourself on the material.

– Write questions in the question column on the same line as the item the question addresses in the record column

– Write a question for each new• Topic

• Main idea

• Significant detail

– Write questions for details on which you think your professor will quiz you.

Quiz Answer your questions in the left

column.– Cover the Record Column.

– Read your questions in the Question Column

– Using your own words, answer your questions out loud.

– Uncover your notes and check what you have said against the facts.

This will help transfer ideas to your long-term memory!

Review

Review to improve your memory.

– If you spend 10 minutes every week or so in a quick review of your notes,

• you will retain most of what you have studied

• you won’t have to cram during an “all-nighter”

• you will relate the facts and ideas to present lectures or readings.

Example

Here is the text.

In the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” there are four main characters – including one that may mat really exist. The first and most important character is Ichabod Crane. He is an ambitious schoolteacher, who hopes to marry the second character, Katrina Van Tassel. Katrina is the handsome daughter of a wealthy farmer. The third character is Brom Bones. He is Ichabod’s rival for Katrinia, and he is also well known for his practical jokes. The fourth and final character is the frightening, ghostly figure of the Headless Horseman, who terrifies Ichabod into running away. But Irving strongly hints that this might simply be another of the characters in disguise.

Here are the notes:

1st character?Job? Interest?

2nd character?Description?

3rd character?Interested in?Likes what?

4th characterReal or not?Scares who?Might be who?

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – 4 Main Characters

1. Ichabod Crane

• Most important

• School teacher

• Wants to marry Katrina

2. Katrina Van Tassel

• Beautiful daughter of wealthy farmer

3. Brom Bones

• Also wants to marry Katrina

• Well known for practical jokes

4. Headless Horseman

• Scary ghost

• Scares Ichabod away

• Might be another character [Brom?] in disguise

Notetaking Tips

Keep a separate notebook or binder for each course.

Notes for each lecture should begin on a new page.

Date and number all pages.

Never use a sentence when you can use a phrase, or a phrase when you can use a word.

Use indentations to distinguish between major and minor points.

Put most notes in your own words, except formulas , definitions, and specific facts

Use abbreviations and symbols wherever possible.

If you completely don’t understand an idea, leave a blank space and ask your professor for

help on it.

Notetaking Tips, Cont.

Develop a code system of note-marking to indicate questions, comments, important points …for example,

Mark unfamiliar vocabulary & unclear ideas in unique ways

Highlight vocabulary in pink. Circle ideas that are still unclear

Make sure you can understand what you have written and if needed, make corrections.

Use drawings, arrows or other organizers to help you see concepts and relationships between them

Notetaking Tips, Cont.

• Compare notes with a partner.

• Talk about what you wrote and why. Look for gaps & missed info.

• Both partners should feel free to add to their notes.

• With your partner(s), create questions in the left hand column.

• These questions should elicit critical thinking skills.– Levels 3 through 6 in

Bloom’s Taxonomy.

1. KNOWLEDGE: recalling information2. COMPREHENSION: understanding

meaning3. APPLICATION: using learning in new

situations4. ANALYSIS: ability to see parts &

relationships 5. SYNTHESIS: Use parts to create a new

whole6. EVALUATION: judgment based on

criteria

Your questions should reflect:Your questions should reflect:

• Info you don’t understand or want to discuss with your teacher/tutor.

• Info you think would go good on an essay test.

• Gaps in your notes.

Recall Clue Column Record Column

Propaganda Techniques in Advertising Define "Propaganda"

Intro Propaganda used by politicians, writers. Also by advertisers. Def: Messages intended to persuade audiences to adopt a certain opinion.

List 4 common tech. used by advertisers

Advertisers use propaganda. 4 techniques common.

1. Testimonial Def: Celebrities used to pitch idea, sell product; Audience associate star qualities of celebrity w/ product. Define & explain "testimonial" technique

Ex. Michael Jordan sells Nike shoes

2. Bandwagon Def: Encourages people to buy b/c e'one is doing it. Ads urge you to get on board; don't get left out. Define & explain "bandwagon" technique

Ex. "All over America, people are switching to...."

3. Plain Folks Def: Product associated with ordinary folks like you & me. Ads use "regular", next-door-neighbor types to sell product. Define & explain "plain folks" technique

Ex. New mother in hospital uses Tylenol.

4. Transfer Product associated with s'thing that is attractive or respectable. Car ads show gorgeous model - audience transfer feelings about model to car. Ads use patriotic symbols like bald eagle - audience transfers patriotic feelings

to product, company. Define & explain "transfer" technique

Ex. Wal-Mart claims to sell only made-in-USA products.

SUMMARY: Advertisers use propaganda. Propaganda = Messages intended to persuade audiences to adopt a certain opinion. 4 common propaganda techniques used by advertisers: 1. Testimonial: celebrity endorses product. 2. Bandwagon: everybody is buying product. 3. Plain Folks: ordinary, non-glamorous people like us use it. 4. Transfer: transfer feelings of admiration to product.

(Diagram copied during lecture)

(Questions about it )

• How do the ticks find the cattle?

• Why don’t the ticks usually kill their host?

• How could tick infestations in cattle impact humans?

Anthropods

Paul sends his examples

Be an Active ReaderBe an Active Reader

• Think about the reading– Consider how the parts relate to the

whole; how the text relates to previous ideas

– Create questions about new words/ terms, why emphasized points are important

– Examine what you have learned from visuals

• Look for the pattern in elements like chapter /subsection headings, summary points, graphics

• Know where to find the index and glossary

Be Aware of Textbook OrganizationBe Aware of Textbook Organization

• Become familiar with the font, symbols, borders, graphics, colors, and layout that highlight main ideas or terms

• Be alert to the writer's goal: highlight ideas/ references /opinions that seem significant to their point of view

Use the text style to identify important pointsUse the text style to identify important points

• Include headings, key terms, & graphics

• Take down only the important ideas: brief, but clear

• Summarize in your own words

• Use symbols to highlight for review

• Use textbook review questions to develop study questions

Take notes while readingTake notes while reading

Review textbook notesReview textbook notes

• Identify main ideas

• Fill in details for better understanding

• Identify unclear information and/or questions - collaborate for answers

• Delete unnecessary information

• Review note organization; add symbols or rewrite

• Write a summary

• Use discussion topics/questions organize your notes

• Use symbols for important ideas

• Include your own responses in notes

• Develop questions to review later

• Add references to other material as they come to mind

The End!