Reading and Notetaking Table of ContentReading StrategiesSQ3R - Survey, Question, Read, Recite, ReviewPRR - Preview, Read, ReviewNotetakingTyping Vs. HandwritingNotetaking Methods Looking for support with reading and notetaking? Meet with an Academic Coach about this content Welcome to Academic Coaching Reading and NotetakingReading and notetaking are the backbone of higher education. There is no best way to engage, but there are ways that will serve you better as a learner and fulfill the expectations of your courses. Reading Strategies - Build Your OwnBuilding your own reading process can allow you to prepare for, engage in, and review readings and other media to enhance retention and understanding.How to make it your own:Look through our systems below: SQ3R and PRRReflect on what parts would work for you and your coursesContinue to refine your processMay take a few weeks when you are first building your processMay need to revisit the process each term to ensure it will work for courses' differing expectations SQ3R - Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review S - Survey Method: What is it? Surveying the reading beforehand to determine the driection and context of the readingProceess: How do you do it? Skim through chapter headingsNote what is familiarRead the end of chapter summary firstProduct: What does it look like? Creating an outline based on headingsBegin a terms and jargon list Q - Question Method: What is it? Gathering questions answered by the reading determines what is important before you start readingProceess: How do you do it? Questions are sourced from: The reading material itself (like end of chapter qeustions)Your professor Yourself, what do you want out of this?Product: What does it look like? Having the discussion questions available to fill in while your readCreating additional questions to bring into lecture for clarification R - Read Method: What is it? Read in a way that helps you absord the material sustainablyProceess: How do you do it? Chunk the readingCreate an environment that will keep you engagedProduct: What does it look like? Taking breaks for your brain and bodyFocused reading timeListening to audio of text R - Recite Method: What is it? Reciting the information as you read increases engagement, retention, and understandingProceess: How do you do it? Write down answers to your gathered questionsVerbally explain a conceptProduct: What does it look like? Summarizing in your own words or visuals after each chunk or sectionTeaching it to someone or something R - Review Method: What is it? Review the content to fill in gaps Holistically understand the materialWhat do I know and what will take additional studying/review? Proceess: How do you do it? Quiz yourself on the materialMake connections to the lecture, past courses or experiencesProduct: What does it look like? Revisiting the questions you gatheredBuilding your own study guide PRR - Preview, Read, Review P - Preview Method: What is it? Previewing the material can help us get a sense of the readingRationale: Why do it? Sets reading purpose; provides big picture/context and key topics before readingQuickly identifies main ideas and how the content is organizedProduct: What does it look like? Skim intro, headings, visuals/figures, conclusionReflect on questions such as:What is the main idea? How is the reading organized? About how long it will take to read? R - Read Actively Method: What is it? Reading actively encourages us to engage and read with purposeRationale: Why do it? Keeps attentionPromotes deeper understanding Helps organize notes and connect ideasProduct: What does it look like? Divide long readings into sections for structured breaks Connect ideas in an outline, mind-map, or others visualCreate your own comprehension questions and answer them as you readReview Active vs. Passive Studying for more! R - Recall Method: What is it? Recall and consistently review old and new content Rationale: Why do it?Increases content retentionDeepens understandingContent checkpoint: teaching others gauges overall comprehensionProduct: What does it look like? Summarize content in your own words after each sectionMake a “final draft” of your reading notes after initial readBuild flashcardsCompare your reading vs. lecture notes; your notes vs. othersExplain main ideas to self or others (study group, TA, friend, etc.)Update your Living Cheat Sheet Looking for more support with reading strategies? Meet with an Academic Coach about this content NotetakingAcademic Coaching PointersThe point of taking notes - practicing the ability to take away main points and ideas then convert them into our own words. it is not: Rewriting the textbookTranscribing the lectureNotetaking is a skill that builds over time and many students don’t come into college knowing how to take notesFind the strategies that work best for you and your classesStay flexible: Different classes or subjects may require different note-taking styles, adapt based on the material.Keep it organized: Clear structure makes studying more efficient and helps you quickly locate key information later. Typing Vs. Handwriting Notes Typing - Keyboard & ScreenAdvantages: Rapid capture Easy updates down the roadDrawbacks:Slip into "transcription mode" where you write everythingShallowly process the contentInvites multitaskingBest Practices:Practice intentional typing - translate concepts into your own words rather than typing verbatim.Organize your notes from the reading before lecture, supplement the notes you already have Handwriting - Pen & Paper Advantages: Natural speed limit forces you to evaluate key ideas and sketch conceptsLimited distractionsDrawbacks: Can feel difficult to keep upBest Practices: Organize ahead of timeEmphasize the concepts and terms that weren’t clear in the reading to ensure you capture the professor’s or reading’s clarification Notetaking Methods There isn’t a notetaking method that is correct, it is just he one that is going to work best for you and your class. Many students utilize a combination of notetaking methods to cover their needs. Sift through the examples and further explanation of each method below or visit the Cornell University Canva course to get thinking about your ideal method. Cornell Cornell NotetakingDivide your page into cues, notes, and a summary. Notes: record main points and helpful examples during classCues: pull out key terms, or questionsSummary: summarize the page at the bottomCornell Notetaking How-To - VideoNotes become quick references and summarizing in your own words is an active study strategy you can do during lecture. Cornell University even has a free Canvas course to get the most out of your notetaking. Outline Outline NotetakingOrganize information hierarchically using headings, main topics, and bullet points. This structured format helps you see relationships between big ideas and supporting details, making it ideal for:Well-organized lecturesBreaking down textbook chaptersKeeping your study guides easy to scanCheck out the Outline Method - Video or visuals and a walkthough. Mind Mapping Mind Mapping NotetakingConnect concepts visually by starting with a central topic and branching out to related ideas using lines, symbols, and colors. Mind mapping helps:Map complex relationshipsSynthesize big picture topicsBrainstorm creative projects or essay outlines Grid or Chart Grid or Chart NotetakingOrganize information into rows and columns by category, topic, or theme. By placing key concepts side-by-side, grid notes help you easily compare data, spot patterns, and organize complex details. This method works well for:Discussion-heavy coursesLab workDense reading listsOur Reading Notes Spreadsheet and Tutorial can get you started in google sheets. Annotation Annotation NotetakingWrite notes, underline key points, and jot down questions directly on your lecture slides, PDFs, or printed readings. Annotation keeps you:Actively engaged while readingConnects your thoughts straight to the original source textHelps you quickly find important passages when writing papers Looking for more support with notetaking? Meet with an Academic Coach about this content Do you have questions, concerns, or comments about the content on this page? Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at: mycoach@pdx.edu