Proper techniques for Proper techniques for writing any lecture notes.writing any lecture notes.

Write down the date and the topic Write down the date and the topic of the lectureof the lecture

This will help trigger your memory when This will help trigger your memory when you are studyingyou are studying

Learn to write quickly.Learn to write quickly.

Or type quickly, if you're using a laptop. Or type quickly, if you're using a laptop. Use lots of abbreviations. Don't worry about Use lots of abbreviations. Don't worry about getting down every word, especially words getting down every word, especially words like "a" and "the." Don't worry about like "a" and "the." Don't worry about writing neatly. As long as you can writing neatly. As long as you can understand your notes, it's neat enough. understand your notes, it's neat enough.

Write down definitions or Write down definitions or clarificationsclarifications

If your instructor defines a term or an idea, If your instructor defines a term or an idea, make sure you write it down and understand make sure you write it down and understand what it means. what it means.

Don't copy outline or PowerPoint Don't copy outline or PowerPoint notes word for wordnotes word for word..

Here's a common problem: a teacher puts a Here's a common problem: a teacher puts a PowerPoint slide up, and students are so busy PowerPoint slide up, and students are so busy writing down every word on the slide that they writing down every word on the slide that they stop listening to the lecture. This causes them to stop listening to the lecture. This causes them to miss information that was discussed in the lecture miss information that was discussed in the lecture but not written on the slide, and it also makes but not written on the slide, and it also makes active listening impossible. Instead, use the notes active listening impossible. Instead, use the notes to help you follow along. to help you follow along.

If your instructor indicates that If your instructor indicates that something is important, mark itsomething is important, mark it..

This is a strong clue that something may be This is a strong clue that something may be on the test.on the test.

If your instructor is going too fast If your instructor is going too fast or is unclear, say something.or is unclear, say something.

Even the best lecturers get a little garbled Even the best lecturers get a little garbled sometimes. There's nothing rude about sometimes. There's nothing rude about asking your teacher to clarify a point. asking your teacher to clarify a point. Understand, though, that the whole class Understand, though, that the whole class will not stop for you and you alone…will not stop for you and you alone…

Err on the side of writing down Err on the side of writing down too muchtoo much

Excess notes are probably not going to hurt Excess notes are probably not going to hurt you on the exam. Not writing down enough you on the exam. Not writing down enough will.will.

Reviewing your notes.Reviewing your notes.

This is very important, but students don't do this nearly This is very important, but students don't do this nearly enough. Review your notes to make sure you understand enough. Review your notes to make sure you understand all the information and to keep it fresh in your head. Here all the information and to keep it fresh in your head. Here are some note reviewing tips:are some note reviewing tips:

  

[Source: [Source: http://collegeuniversity.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_take_effective_class_notes#ixzz0Q3IWbUTq

]]

Essay RequirementsEssay Requirements

All formal assignments must follow All formal assignments must follow these criteria!these criteria!

You are being forewarned……You are being forewarned……

Be Double SpacedBe Double Spaced

This allows me to write comments (and This allows me to write comments (and corrections) on your papers. I like to engage corrections) on your papers. I like to engage with your text… and university professors will with your text… and university professors will expect that your papers will be double spaced. expect that your papers will be double spaced.

Papers that are not double spaced may be Papers that are not double spaced may be returned, unmarked. returned, unmarked.

Be typed and/or neatly Be typed and/or neatly handwritten in blue or black ink handwritten in blue or black ink

on one side of the paper onlyon one side of the paper only

Your reader’s first experience with the paper is Your reader’s first experience with the paper is how it looks… If it looks messy or the words are how it looks… If it looks messy or the words are difficult to decipher, your reader will be less likely difficult to decipher, your reader will be less likely to enjoy the process of reading your paper!! to enjoy the process of reading your paper!!

Studies show that messier papers are marked more Studies show that messier papers are marked more harshly than those that are neat!!! harshly than those that are neat!!!

Be Spell checked Be Spell checked andand Proofread Proofread

Guess what? Spell check doesGuess what? Spell check does not find all not find all of yourof your typographical errors.typographical errors. If a word is spelled correctly, If a word is spelled correctly, but used incorrectly, your computer will not but used incorrectly, your computer will not identify itidentify it

In order to catch awkward sentences, missed In order to catch awkward sentences, missed punctuation, and form/from errors, read your punctuation, and form/from errors, read your drafts out loud to yourself. A poorly edited paper drafts out loud to yourself. A poorly edited paper is is hard to read; it can be very difficult to get past hard to read; it can be very difficult to get past the surface errors to see the ideas of the paperthe surface errors to see the ideas of the paper

Have a title page (with a Have a title page (with a MEANINGFUL AND MEANINGFUL AND

ORIGINAL title)ORIGINAL title)

Your title is the first opportunity to catch Your title is the first opportunity to catch your reader’s attention. It should hint at the your reader’s attention. It should hint at the content of your essay, while being as content of your essay, while being as creative as possible. creative as possible.

““Essay On Essay On Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies” does not count ” does not count as a meaningful or original title as a meaningful or original title

Use font 12-point Times New Use font 12-point Times New Roman, Palatino or Century Roman, Palatino or Century

SchoolbookSchoolbook Larger fonts are simply a waste of paper – Larger fonts are simply a waste of paper –

and they don’t fool your teacher into and they don’t fool your teacher into thinking the essay is longer than what it thinking the essay is longer than what it really is. really is.

Have pages that are clearly Have pages that are clearly numbered! numbered!

Be consistentBe consistent The title page does not count as a numbered The title page does not count as a numbered

pagepage Numbering your pages saves your teacher Numbering your pages saves your teacher

from wanting to scream when she realizes from wanting to scream when she realizes that what she thought was page 2 is actually that what she thought was page 2 is actually page 5…… page 5……

Have an introduction (with a Have an introduction (with a clear thesis that should not be clear thesis that should not be underlined in your final draft), underlined in your final draft),

body, and conclusionbody, and conclusion

Remember: your thesis is the purpose of Remember: your thesis is the purpose of your essay and each paragraph should be your essay and each paragraph should be clearly connected to it and should clearly connected to it and should develop/prove it! develop/prove it!

Introduction: What’s the point?Introduction: What’s the point?

Your introduction directs your whole paper. It Your introduction directs your whole paper. It states clearly what you intend to prove (hint: this states clearly what you intend to prove (hint: this is your thesis statement)… and it lays out a plan is your thesis statement)… and it lays out a plan for accomplishing this. for accomplishing this.

A Good thesis is….A Good thesis is….

Not a Question (that is why it is a thesis Not a Question (that is why it is a thesis statementstatement))

Takes one position and doesn’t hedge its betsTakes one position and doesn’t hedge its bets Specific and conciseSpecific and concise

–   Crime must be stopped. Crime must be stopped. – vs.vs.

  Our courts should hand out tougher sentences.Our courts should hand out tougher sentences.– There are reasons why schools should not have dress There are reasons why schools should not have dress

codes. codes. – vs.vs.

School dress codes limit students’ ability to express School dress codes limit students’ ability to express themselves as individuals and do not enhance learning.themselves as individuals and do not enhance learning.

The flow of your paper….The flow of your paper….

The standard format for an effective essay The standard format for an effective essay or article is to: or article is to: – (1(1) ) present a coherent thesis in the introduction, present a coherent thesis in the introduction,

(2) try your hardest to convince the reader of (2) try your hardest to convince the reader of your thesis in the body of the paper, andyour thesis in the body of the paper, and

– (3) restate the thesis in the conclusion so that (3) restate the thesis in the conclusion so that the reader remains quite sure what your thesis the reader remains quite sure what your thesis is, and so that the reader can decide whether he is, and so that the reader can decide whether he or she was convinced.or she was convinced.

We are not having a conversation…. We are not having a conversation…. in your essayin your essay

Do not announce what you will be discussing (Do not announce what you will be discussing (e.g. e.g. In this essay, I will talk/discuss/write about capital In this essay, I will talk/discuss/write about capital punishmentpunishment); Just do it. (); Just do it. (Capital Punishment is Capital Punishment is wrongwrong). ).

Do not address your reader in a formal paper; this Do not address your reader in a formal paper; this may be appropriate and effective in a letter or a may be appropriate and effective in a letter or a personal piece of writing but it undermines the personal piece of writing but it undermines the tone of your formal essaystone of your formal essays. .

Prov. Exam Rubric: ChoiceProv. Exam Rubric: Choice(Note: this is your word choice, not the (Note: this is your word choice, not the

choice of topic)choice of topic) In order to received 4 out of 5 points, you must In order to received 4 out of 5 points, you must

meet the following criteria: meet the following criteria: – Choices contribute to a considered composition. Choices contribute to a considered composition.

Diction is specific and effective. Diction is specific and effective. (Diction: read the (Diction: read the words you choose)words you choose)

– Syntactical structures are generally effective. Syntactical structures are generally effective. (What (What words you choose to put together in your sentences)words you choose to put together in your sentences)

– Stylistic choices contribute to a competent Stylistic choices contribute to a competent composition.composition.

Provincial Exam Rubric:Provincial Exam Rubric:ORG (Organization)ORG (Organization)

In order to get 7-8 out of 10 (Proficient), you must In order to get 7-8 out of 10 (Proficient), you must meet the following criteria: meet the following criteria: – IntroductionIntroduction competently constructed to provide competently constructed to provide

direction. direction.

– Controlling idea/theme Controlling idea/theme (read: thesis statement)(read: thesis statement) is is focused and generally sustained; development of focused and generally sustained; development of idea/theme is clear and coherent.idea/theme is clear and coherent.

– Closing Closing (Conclusion)(Conclusion) related effectively to the related effectively to the idea/theme.idea/theme.

A sentence has more than one A sentence has more than one word…word…

and a paragraph needs more than one and a paragraph needs more than one sentence.sentence.

Any one, two or three sentence paragraphs Any one, two or three sentence paragraphs need to be revised. Your paragraphs should need to be revised. Your paragraphs should have multiple sentences, just the same as have multiple sentences, just the same as your essay needs multiple paragraphs. your essay needs multiple paragraphs.

Support, support, supportSupport, support, support

The evidence (or reasons) you use to The evidence (or reasons) you use to support your argument decides whether or support your argument decides whether or not you have an effective paper. not you have an effective paper.

You might have the most brilliant thesis in You might have the most brilliant thesis in the world, but if you fail to support it, your the world, but if you fail to support it, your essay will not be successful. essay will not be successful.

Provincial Exam Rubric: Provincial Exam Rubric: T/D (Thought and Detail)T/D (Thought and Detail)

In order to received 7 or 8 out of 10 (Proficient), In order to received 7 or 8 out of 10 (Proficient), your essay must meet the following criteria:your essay must meet the following criteria:– Thoughtful ideas are supported by evidence &/or Thoughtful ideas are supported by evidence &/or

details ORdetails OR

– conventional ideas are supported by purposefully conventional ideas are supported by purposefully chosen evident and/or ideas.chosen evident and/or ideas.

NOTE: The criteria requires both the ideas NOTE: The criteria requires both the ideas themselves and EVIDENCE to support those themselves and EVIDENCE to support those

ideas. ideas.

Huh? What does vague mean Huh? What does vague mean anyway….anyway….

Be specific in the words you choose (5 Be specific in the words you choose (5 points of your whole essay is devoted to points of your whole essay is devoted to word choice!!). word choice!!).

There is a reason there are horror books and There is a reason there are horror books and movies called “It” and “The Thing.”movies called “It” and “The Thing.”

NOT: Although the motorcycle hit the tree, it was NOT: Although the motorcycle hit the tree, it was not damaged. (Is "it" the motorcycle or the tree?)not damaged. (Is "it" the motorcycle or the tree?)

NOT: George worked in a national forest last NOT: George worked in a national forest last summer. This may be his life's work. (What word summer. This may be his life's work. (What word does "this" refer to?)does "this" refer to?)

» (examples adapted from (examples adapted from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_pronuse.html)http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_pronuse.html)

Prov. Exam Rubric: ChoiceProv. Exam Rubric: Choice(Note: this is your word choice, not the (Note: this is your word choice, not the

choice of topic)choice of topic) In order to received 4 out of 5 points, you must In order to received 4 out of 5 points, you must

meet the following criteria: meet the following criteria: – Choices contribute to a considered composition. Choices contribute to a considered composition.

Diction is specific and effective. Diction is specific and effective. (Diction: read the (Diction: read the words you choose)words you choose)

– Syntactical structures are generally effective. Syntactical structures are generally effective. (What (What words you choose to put together in your sentences)words you choose to put together in your sentences)

– Stylistic choices contribute to a competent Stylistic choices contribute to a competent composition.composition.

Use MLA style for all citationsUse MLA style for all citations

MLA = Modern Language AssociationMLA = Modern Language Association CCitations itations are the use of any secondary are the use of any secondary

sources (I.e. Research, quotations, etc)sources (I.e. Research, quotations, etc) A sheet indicating how to use these is A sheet indicating how to use these is

available in the libraryavailable in the library and there are links and there are links on my site to other helpful sites. on my site to other helpful sites.

We will revisit this style throughout the We will revisit this style throughout the semestersemester

Look Look over the Rubric before over the Rubric before you submit you submit assignments… it assignments… it has been given to you for that has been given to you for that exact purpose!! exact purpose!!

Extra-help is available Extra-help is available whenever needed.whenever needed.