General Principles

Don't try to write everything down. Look for important points, concepts, ideas. Use sentence fragments, not whole sentences. Don't write down a point repeated 3 times. Translate what the lecturer says into your own words--words that you will remember and associate with ideas on an examination or quiz.

When the instructor gives an illustration or example, don't try to copy it all down. Listening is also important. What you are doing is trying to absorb knowledge. That is, you are trying to learn!

Abbreviate, Abbrev. Abbr. Use shorthand tricks, underlining, ALL CAPS, large letters, arrows, stars, etc. to mark important points.

 

Leave gaps                    to fill in missed points, especially when you might have missed something. Leave plenty of white space to allow easier use when studying. 

 

Outline rather than paragraph style often is quicker and easier to use when studying. Read your notes after class and ask questions the next class session or come see the instructor or TA. 

Special hints for PowerPoint

I use text and pictures.  Sometimes whole screens of text, other times some text on (above, next to) a picture.  These are bits and pieces, not all the notes you need.  In part, these are my own notes, hints, and guides for what I am telling you.  It is a big mistake to take down only what is printed on the screen.  Sometimes it is too much.  Other times it is not quite accurate because I have abbreviated in a way that makes sense to me.

On the pictures, you might want to write down something about them.  Some are for general interest, emphasis, or illustration.  Others are for study.  Especially the ones for study should have some notes taken. 

On maps, you may want to note locations of certain places.  You might want to sketch in something general and note location of a city, a battle, a shrine, a river, whatever.

So, listen to what I am saying.  Take notes on the talk, not on just what is on the screen.  You may find on the screen some critical information, like names and dates, but don't rely on just what is written there!

If you are a freshman in an upper division course, please come to see me immediately! This is important for you and your grade.

How to Use Notes

It is important to keep up on the reading.  Just how you do this is your business.  I don't give daily reading quizzes, even in freshman level classes.  But do know that you cannot hope to keep everything straight if you insist on reading all of a book at a sitting, especially if it is an author from the time period covered by the course.  The text and supplements ought to help you understand your class better, to fill in where lecture was sketchy, to draw other conclusions and insights than you will get in class.

If you have a book of "readings." you should ask yourself the following: "Who is the author?  What is the title of the piece? What are the main points the author is making?  What are the main arguments or pieces of evidence being used?"

It is wise to periodically review your class notes to see if you can make sense of the material.  If you cannot, it is time to revise, to come see me, or go back and fill in from your books.  

Don't  wait till you get the study guide to prepare for the exams.  Work on the material for at least a week.  Think about what kind of questions I could give you (hint:  what were the main topics of this section of the course?).

In Studying: Note that you will be writing examinations composed of essay questions. You will need to compile a basis of specific information to back up your contentions, generalizations, and opinions. Names and dates are often necessary to do this. Beware amassing (and writing) large amounts of unrelated facts OR unsupported generalities. Neither shotgunning nor BSing will result in a satisfactory grade.

Work on the maps for the map quizzes, a few new places at a time.  If you do this over a week, you will have memorized the names, locations, and spelling of all the items on the map!

 

GenEd 110 World Civ	Hist 440  Early Middle Ages
Hist 340  Greek History	Hist 441 Later Middle Ages
Hist 341 Roman History	Hist 341-DDP Roman History Distance Degree Program

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