Lecture Notes Page

Course Orientation - click here

Click here for daily agendas (may include notes)

The following notes are also available in your blue literature books p. R21 near the very back of the book

SEMICOLONS

1. Use a semi-colon to join independent clauses that are not already joined by a conjunction (when there are 2 sentences joined without a connecting word)

• I am going home; I intend to stay there.

2. Use a semicolon to join independent clauses separated by either a conjunctive adverb or a transitional expression:

• Conjunctive adverbs (they join independent clauses): however, moreover, therefore, consequently, otherwise, nevertheless, thus, etc.

• I am going home; moreover, I intend to stay there.

3. Use semicolons to avoid confusion when independent clauses or items in a series already contain commas.

• She saw three men: Donald, who came from New Zealand; John, the milkman's son; and George, a gaunt kind of man.
• Several fast food restaurants can be found in each of London, England; Paris, France; Dublin, Ireland; and Madrid, Spain.

COLONS

1. Use a colon to introduce a list of items following an independent clause.

• I have three sisters: Catherine, Sarah, and Mary.

2. Use a colon to introduce a formal quotation

• Benjamin Franklin proclaimed the virtue of frugality: “a penny saved is a penny earned.”

3. Use a colon to introduce a logical consequence, a description, an explanation, a definition

• There was only one possible explanation: the train had never arrived.
• Luruns could not speak: he was drunk.
• Hypernym of a word: a word having a wider meaning than the given one; e.g., vehicle is a hypernym of car

How to take good notes:

• NOTES: The Cornell Notetaking System
  • One of you should take notes on an overhead transparency to show an example of how notes can be taken.
    We will critique your notes, so no shy note-takers! Be ready to take criticism! 
• Cornell Notetaking: What Cornell method is meant to be
  • The Cornell method provides a systematic format for condensing and organizing notes.
    Meant to be easily used as a test study guide.
    Meant to help students process information a minimum of 5 times.
    Writing is a great tool for learning!
    Cornell notetaking stimulates critical thinking skills.
    Cornell notes has been adopted by most major law schools as the preferred method of taking notes!
  • Stop, turn to your neighbor, and share ONE thing so far from this lecture.
• Cornell Notetaking: Pros and Cons
  • Notes can be taken from any source: lecture, textbooks, video, etc.
    97% of people who actually write notes instead of printing them out are more likely to remember them.
    Unfortunately, it is often the case that while students are busy taking notes, they do not pay sufficient attention to what the professor is actually saying or explaining.
    The flip side of this is that notetaking makes learning "active learning" as opposed to "passive learning." When students have nothing to do but listen to the lecture, it is difficult for them to stay alert and attentive all of the time.
  • Stop, turn to your neighbor, and share ONE thing you remember from the last slide.
• Cornell Notetaking: Advantages & Materials
  • The Cornell method provides a systematic format for condensing and organizing notes.
  • Three Advantages:
    • It is a method for mastering information, not just recording facts.
      It is efficient.
      Each step prepares the way for the next part of the learning process.
  • Materials:
    • Loose-leaf paper in binder
      2 ½ inch column drawn at the left-hand edge of each paper, used for questions
      3-4 lines on bottom of page for summary
  • Stop, STAND UP!
    Turn to your neighbor, and share ONE ADVANTAGE you remember about Cornell Notes
• Cornell Notetaking: Recording notes
  • Record notes during class on the right:
    Record notes in paragraphs, skipping lines to separate information logically.
    Don’t force an outlining system, but do use obvious numbering
    Strive to get main ideas down. Facts, details, and examples are important, but they’re meaningful only with concepts.
    Use abbreviations for extra writing and listening time.
    Use graphic organizers and pictures when they’re helpful.
  • Stop, turn to your neighbor, and share ONE thing you remember from the last slide about recording notes during class.
• Cornell Notetaking: Refining Notes
  • After Class, refine notes:
    Write questions in the left column about the information on the right.
    Check for incomplete items:
    Loose dates, terms, names
    Notes that are too brief to recall months later
    Read the notes and underline/ highlight key words and phrases. Use color!
    Read underlined words and write in recall clues in the left-hand column (key words and very brief phrases will trigger ideas/facts on the right). These are in addition to the questions.
  • Stop, turn to your neighbor, and share ONE thing you remember from the last slide about refining notes after class.