Thoughts on taking notes:
Highlighters and colored pencils are your friends.
You will be responsible for knowing all the definitions, notations, postulates, and theorems we cover as the year progresses. The textbook numbers the theorems, but there is no need to remember the theorem numbers- you must be able to write or state the theorem when you are using it, not give its number. In class we will be covering the theorems and definitions, and usually giving examples of how they can be used. Many students highlight the important theorems in their notes, so they are easier to find when looking back. Some students do definitions in one color, theorems in another, examples in a third. This is not required, but might be helpful.
Diagrams are very important. They should be included in your notes and in your homework. A proof or problem without a diagram does not give much information.
One option is to have a separate section in your notebook where you keep a list of theorems and a list of definitions. If you chose to do this, note the section and/or page from which it comes so you can look back if you need more information at a later date.
When I took notes in college, I sometimes wrote teacher comments and explanations (which were not written on the board) in a different color next to a problem or theorem.
Instructions for Chapter summaries:
You are required to make a chapter summary for each chapter. All chapter summaries will be collected the day of the chapter test and returned to you the week before midyear/final exams. Generally speaking, the more effort you put into a chapter summary now, the more valuable it will be when it comes time to review for the exams.
Ideally you work on the chapter summary as we work through the chapter- note down the important ideas from each section as they are covered. If you work on your chapter summary in this way, it is all ready to be used to review for the chapter test. Some students chose to wait until a day or two before a chapter test, and use creating the chapter summary as part of their review process.
Bulleted points are fine for a chapter summary. You do not need to tell a story or write long paragraphs. You want to discover what format will be most helpful for you.
Highlighters and colored pencils are your friends.
You will be responsible for knowing all the definitions, notations, postulates, and theorems we cover as the year progresses. The textbook numbers the theorems, but there is no need to remember the theorem numbers- you must be able to write or state the theorem when you are using it, not give its number. In class we will be covering the theorems and definitions, and usually giving examples of how they can be used. Many students highlight the important theorems in their notes, so they are easier to find when looking back. Some students do definitions in one color, theorems in another, examples in a third. This is not required, but might be helpful.
Diagrams are very important. They should be included in your notes and in your homework. A proof or problem without a diagram does not give much information.
One option is to have a separate section in your notebook where you keep a list of theorems and a list of definitions. If you chose to do this, note the section and/or page from which it comes so you can look back if you need more information at a later date.
When I took notes in college, I sometimes wrote teacher comments and explanations (which were not written on the board) in a different color next to a problem or theorem.
Instructions for Chapter summaries:
You are required to make a chapter summary for each chapter. All chapter summaries will be collected the day of the chapter test and returned to you the week before midyear/final exams. Generally speaking, the more effort you put into a chapter summary now, the more valuable it will be when it comes time to review for the exams.
Ideally you work on the chapter summary as we work through the chapter- note down the important ideas from each section as they are covered. If you work on your chapter summary in this way, it is all ready to be used to review for the chapter test. Some students chose to wait until a day or two before a chapter test, and use creating the chapter summary as part of their review process.
Bulleted points are fine for a chapter summary. You do not need to tell a story or write long paragraphs. You want to discover what format will be most helpful for you.