Study Strategies Taking Notes in Class Taking good notes in class is not easy, especially in math courses, but in-class note-taking is critical to college success. What an instructor says in class usually refl ects what he or she thinks are the most important points on a given subject. Here are some proven techniques to help improve the quality of the notes you take: • Complete any assignments before arriving in class. • Find a seat that lets you see and hear the instructor clearly. • Warm up your mind by looking over notes from the previous class or any assigned materials. • Choose the right writing tool. In math classes, this is usually a pencil, as you’ll likely be working through problems in class. • Use a loose-leaf notebook to write your notes in, and plan to take notes on only one side of the page. • Listen actively. Don’t just passively take in the information. Concentrate on the subject at hand, and try to make sense of it. (The emPOWERme exercise on page 279 will help you determine how active your listening is.) • Don’t try to write down everything. Instead, focus on writing down the key ideas. • Ask questions. Remember, if you are confused about a point, chances are other people in the class are, too. • Look over your notes toward the end of class, and if you realize you missed anything, take the opportunity to ask the instructor for further information, either before the class ends or right after. • As soon as the class is fi nished, read over your notes. This helps transfer the information into long-term memory and will literally save you hours of study time later. 220 CHAPTER 4 Adding and Subtracting Fractions www.mhhe.com/messersmith
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