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Advanced Topic Note Taking

Topic Note-Taking Forms

These forms make taking notes on social studies, science, videos, lectures, or any textbook much easier. Some of the forms have space for drawing pictures or ‘doodling’ notes. Doodles help you visualize and remember what you have heard or read. Be sure to mark important information with a star or asterisk. Using colored pencils or markers also helps retain information.

If you are taking notes from a whole chapter of a textbook, use multiple copies of the forms and staple them together. Continue over multiple forms or sections if you run out of space.

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Narrative/Sequential Paragraph

In the United States, we write paragraphs in a basic format. First, we tell you, the reader, what we are going to tell you (main idea or thesis). Then, we provide details that support the main idea. Finally, we restate what we told you (concluding or ‘wrap up’ statement).

Tip
Good writers use a variety of types of sentences in their paragraphs.

Narrative/Sequence Paragraph
This type of paragraph is a group of sentences that specify an order of events, using words like first, next, then, after that, and finally.

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Descriptive Paragraph

In the United States, we write paragraphs in a basic format. First, we tell you, the reader, what we are going to tell you (main idea or thesis). Then, we provide details that support the main idea. Finally, we restate what we told you (concluding or ‘wrap up’ statement).

Tip
Good writers use a variety of types of sentences in their paragraphs.

Descriptive Paragraph
This type of paragraph is a group of sentences that work together to describe something specifically. Our descriptive paragraph form gives you the formula to do this easily.

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Basic American Paragraph

In the United States, we write paragraphs in a basic format. First we tell you, the reader, what we are going to tell you (main idea or thesis). Then, we provide details that support the main idea. Finally, we restate what we told you (concluding or ‘wrap up’ statement).

TIP
Good writers use a variety of types of sentences in their paragraphs.

Basic American Paragraph
This type of paragraph is a group of sentences that work together to support an idea. It includes a topic sentence, detail sentences and a concluding sentence.

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Compare and Contrast

Compare and Contrast

Use these graphic organizers to compare and contrast subjects or topics. Write two items or topics of the same category on the topic line. List the parts that are similar in the center of the overlapping circles and the parts that are different in the outside areas directly under their topic.

Types of topics that are great to compare and contrast include:

  • Plants
  • Books and Stories
  • Animals
  • Items you want to purchase
  • Places you want to visit
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Persuasive/ Argumentative Essay

Persuasive / Argumentative

Here are two graphic organizers to help outline your basic persuasive or argumentative essay. Start with a position or stance on a topic, write down specific reasoning or arguments, and provide evidence that validates your reasons. To strengthen your persuasive paragraph or essay, think of possible counter-arguments that you can invalidate with evidence.

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Universal Organizers

Universal Organizers

These forms are more free-form, so they can be adapted for different uses. These can be used for note-taking, planning, or just organizing your thoughts and ideas. These forms can help you visualize and prioritize hard to resolve thoughts and ideas for project planning and more.

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5W Graphic Organizer – Who, What, Where, When, How, and Why

Use this form to identify who, what, where, when, how, and why in a story or event. The form makes it easy to understand what different characters are doing, what impacts they have on events, and where different events take place. It may also be used to organize information about historical topics, such as people with impact on historical events, or to compare different stories: who is in each story, what they did, where and when they did something, or when events took place.