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Rule #7: Channel your inner artist. Not all concepts must be expressed in words. Some are better expressed and remembered as visual representations, such as parts of a cell or geologic layers. You’re not limited to words when you take notes. Draw and label pictures. Create graphs for math. Diagrams, charts, flow charts, and timelines can help you understand a concept, relationship or chronology.
You are not limited to words when you take notes.
Rule #8: Use your notes! A plain spiral notebook (one for each subject) is good for notes. Spiral notebooks keep notes in one place and in chronological order . A note section in your binder works well too, especially if you use pre-printed note forms. (You’ll learn about those in the next chapter.) If you take notes in loose-leaf form, be careful to keep them in order. Mark the date and page number on the pages and file them in your binder right away. Review your notes every night as part of your normal homework routine. Studies show that reviewing class notes within 24 hours hugely improves the amount of content you remember from the class. Add missing information, rewrite or fix unclear or illegible items. When you are waiting for class to begin, take a minute to review notes from the prior class. Reviewing notes activates your schema. Notes also make an excellent study guide. A note about math notes: Math notes should be exact. If your teacher writes a formula or problem on the board as an example, write it down accurately. Similar problems often show up later on a quiz! PRODUCT PREVIEW There are many benefits to taking notes in class. Learning to be a good note- taker is not hard. Use your active listening skills, include information about due dates, deadlines and directions, use abbreviations, drawings, charts and diagrams – whatever works for you. Don’t be put off from notetaking because your notes don't look good. They need to work for you and only you. Start taking notes in class today. It’s an excellent study skill for high school, college and career readiness. THE BIG PICTURE
THE 21st CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO STUDY SKILLS 133
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