Take Notes and Identify Lecture Styles

Note-taking Tips

Direct tips from:
http://www.how-to-study.com/study-skills/en/notetaking-tips.asp

• Use a loose leaf notebook so you can organize/manage your notes more easily. 
• Write notes on the front side only, for you can lay the pages side by side later for review.
• Record the date of note-taking at the top of each page to keep your notes in order.
• Keep notes from each class separate from another (you can use color tabs).
• Write what is important: be selective.
• Use abbreviations and symbols to increase your note-taking speed.
• Don't be concerned with spelling or grammar.
• Ask your teacher to repeat things you may have missed.
• Translate points made by your teachers in to your own words to help you understand the info later on.
• Write definitions provided by the teachers word for word.
• Write legibly.
• Write down the info your teachers put on the board.
• Pay attention during the last few minutes of class for the teachers may cram the last of the info they want to cover in class. 

Identify Lecture Styles

Direct tips from:
http://www.how-to-study.com/study-skills/en/identifying-lecture-styles.asp

• Topic-List: teacher presents topics followed by associated subtopics. 

           Key words: one, second; next, finally

• Question-Answer: teacher introduces topic that is followed by one or more questions about the topic. 

           Key words: who, what, when, where, why, how, in what way, how did they react

• Compare-Contrast: teacher identifies two things that will be compared and contrasted, then tells how they are alike and different. 

           Key words: alike, similarly, correspondingly, in parallel, counterpart, equal to, resemble, just   as; however, antithesis of, disparity, on the other hand, opposite, on the contrary

• Series of Events: teacher begins by identifying the topic, then describes an initial event related to the topic, presents further info on additional events, and concludes by revealing the final event. 

           Key words: initially, next, followed by, later, after, last, finally

• Cause-Effect: teacher presents the cause of something, followed by more events related to the cause. 

           Key words: since, thus, therefore, consequently, for that reason, on account of, as a result

• Problem-Solution: teacher introduces a problem and explains why it is a problem, then continues by describing attempts to solve the problem, finally concluding by identifying the solution or addressing the status of attempts. 

           Key words: puzzle, issue, point of dispute, enigma, complication; solution, explanation, answer; worked out, unravel, investigate, clear up

May these tips help you! :)