Listening & Note-taking StrategiesBy: Louise Lee

Strategies

1. Focus on the purpose and main ideas

2. Focus on the pattern of organization

3. Evaluate

4. Use consistent symbols and short forms

5. Review and relate

Purpose and main ideas• Cues

• “Today, I’m going to talk about…”

• “Now…”

• “Ok…how do academic cultures differ?”

• “First, we will look at…; then, …”

Pattern of organization• How are ideas related in the lecture?• Cues• Listing: First; Second; Third• Giving examples: For example; another example;

research shows that…• Cause and effects: there are three reasons why…• Compare and contrast: the similarities and

differences…• Problem and Solution: the problem; the challenge;

the solution; to solve this problem• Visually represent the relationship between ideas• (just like this PowerPoint)

Evaluate

• Don't write down everything down.

• Evaluate whether the ideas

• are related to the main points

• are related to your own interests / goals

• have real value to you when look at it at a later date

Use consistent symbols and short forms

• Symbols• And• Therefore• For example• Increase • Decrease• Government• Information• Department• University

Review and relate

• Review

• Keep notes in order and in one place

• Shortly after making your notes, go back and rework your notes by adding extra points

• Review your notes regularly (if you have to write an exam)

• Relate

• Relate info to your own experiences

Ready for a quiz?

Pop Quiz

• How many main points are there?

•What are the main points?