The best way to be ready for your class and exams is to take good notes of your economics lectures and readings. This article focuses on your readings. If you follow the dos and don'ts in this article you will be well on your way to understanding the class material and having a great set of notes to study from!
Your economics professor will usually give you a syllabus outlining the readings that you should do before class. Try to do all of the readings that your professor assigns you. If you can’t then try to reading the introduction and conclusion for the chapter or paper that you are reading.
Your economics professor will usually give you a syllabus outlining the readings that you should do before class. Try to do all of the readings that your professor assigns you. If you can’t then try to reading the introduction and conclusion for the chapter or paper that you are reading.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 1 Hour
Here's How:
- Use The Two Column Note-Taking Method: This is the best way to get the most out of your readings. It will allow you to keep your notes concise and allow for you to study straight from them. It visually separates information into main ideas and details. Information on the method can be found at step 3 and at: Two column note taking.
- Don’t just start reading – if you read in steps you will understand how all of the ideas you will read will fit together. Before you begin to take notes read the chapter introduction:
- Read the chapter's learning objectives
- Read the heading or title of each section and subsection in the chapter
- Read the chapter's conclusion or summary.
- Read with a pen or pencil
- Throw out your highlighter! Anything you want to highlight you should write down instead. This is crucial - you are trying to learn the material, not paint your textbook.
- Draw a line down a sheet of paper, with one-third of the page on the left and two-thirds of the page on the right.
- As you read write the main idea of each paragraph on the left side.
- List details on the right side of the page.
- After you have finished your reading go back and look at the notes you have taken.
- Read through them carefully, and add comments on your notes.
- List your questions, meaning, significance, etc.