This document provides guidance on effective note-taking strategies. It recommends using a two-column note format, with major headings and subheadings in the left column and details, definitions, and important passages in the right column. Taking clear and organized notes is important for retaining information, as students who review their notes remember 150% of what students who don't review remember.

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2. WHY TAKE NOTES?
1. Note-taking helps you listen; it keeps
you focused.
2. Students who study their notes
remember 150% of what students who
don’t review remember.
3. Students who do not take notes forget
approximately 80% of what they
learned within 2 weeks.

3. HOW SHOULD I TAKE NOTES?
1. Don’t write everything down word-forword.
 Summarize when you can!
 Abbreviate when possible.
1. The more you write the better.
 More notes equals more retention of the
information.

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5. WHAT ARE TWO-COLUMN NOTES?
• one of many note-taking strategies.
• uses headings and subheading to
structure the layout of the notes.
• the entire page is used

6. WHAT GOES WHERE?
• Major headings are written in the left
column
• Details go in the right column.
• bulleted points
• summaries of what’s said
• definitions

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8. STEP 1:WRITE THE TOPIC OR CHAPTER TITLE ACROSS
THE TOP THE NOTES PAGE
TOPICS & THEMES IN NIGHT

9. STEP 2: DIVIDE A PAPER
INTO TWO COLUMNS
TOPICS & THEMES IN NIGHT
Left column 1/3
Right column 2/3

10. STEP 3: WRITE THE MAJOR
HEADINGS OF TEXT IN
THE LEFT COLUMN
TOPICS & THEMES IN NIGHT
Topic 1 goes here
Topic 2 goes here

11. STEP 4: USE THE RIGHT COLUMN
FOR MAIN IDEAS
TOPICS & THEMES IN NIGHT
Topic 1 goes here
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Topic 2 goes here
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•Details
•Definitions
•Important passages
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