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Note Review

Once you have taken notes with the Topic Note-Taking forms, you can use them to frequently review the content. Review builds comprehension.
How to Review Your Notes:

  1. Take out your completed Topic Note-Taking forms.
  2. From the information, create questions and then answer them on the Note Review form.
  3. Write a short paragraph summarizing your answers.

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Textbook Note Taking Forms

Taking notes from a textbook can sometimes be difficult. Where do you start and what are the important ideas and their supporting details. Use these graphic organizers to help.

TIP

  1. Choose note-taking graphic organizers based on which topic or medium you are taking notes from.
  2. Scan the textbook section by noting the topics and keywords in bold print.
  3. Write down the key points (they are often in bold print or italics) and their definitions.
  4. Read the paragraph or section.
  5. Think: what is this telling me about?
  6. Write the important points in your own words.
  7. List any pictures or charts.
  8. Color-code your notes by category or topic by using colored pencils, highlighters of different colors or highlighter tape. Color-coding improves retention by 25%.
  9. Read your notes aloud to review them.
  10. Try walking around, pedalling a stationary bike, or sitting on an exercise ball and bouncing while reviewing your notes. This added movement helps to channel any excess energy while you focus on the learning task.
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Descriptive Paragraphs

Descriptive paragraphs are used quite often. Anytime you are telling someone about an event, you are describing it. Anytime you tell someone about an object or a new shiny thing, you are describing it. Use the following template to easily write a descriptive paragraph

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Formal Essay

This is a more advanced form for outlining essays. When you have a clear outline of your essay, you make sure that each of your points serve a purpose. It is okay for this to be a working document as you piece together your essay. It helps to complete this outline before starting your essay and then reference it as you actually write the essay.

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Test Evaluation

Test Evaluation

Immediately after you have taken a test, fill out this test evaluation form. This will help you gauge how well you did. Then, before you fill out your Test Study Guide for your next test, refer to this test evaluation form to think about what you may need to do differently in preparing for the new test.

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Test Study Guide

Test Study Guides
Create a study guide as you prepare for an upcoming test to review the material you have learned and to study for the test. Transfer your notes and any homework related to the material that will be on the test to the forms. Color-code your notes with colored pencils, highlighters
of different colors, or markers with the same colors you used while taking notes. Brainstorm possible test questions and answer them.

TIP
Double-check the format of the test early on (multiple choice, question/answer, essay, etc.) and ask any test format related questions.

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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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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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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.