Page 183 - Keys To Community College Success

get analytical

DISCOVER YOURSELF AS A LISTENER

Complete the following on paper or in digital format.

Answer the questions as you focus on your personal listening habits:
1. Analyze how present you are as a listener. Are you easily distracted, or can you focus well? Do you prefer to
listen or do you tend to talk?
2. When you are listening, what distracts you?
3. What happens to your listening skills when you become confused?

4. How do you react when you strongly disagree with something your instructor says? When you are convinced
you are right and your instructor is wrong?

5. Thinking about your answers, list two strategies from the chapter that will help you improve your listening skills.

Effective listening skills are the basis for effective note taking—an essential and
powerful study tool.

HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE
your note-taking skills?

Taking notes makes you an active class participant, even when you don’t say a
word. Notes also provide you with study materials. Note taking is key to your aca-
demic success.

Taking Notes in Class

Class notes serve two primary purposes: (1) they record what happened in class, and
(2) they provide study materials. Because it is virtually impossible to write or type every
word you hear, note taking encourages you to use your analytical intelligence to criti-
cally evaluate what is worth remembering—the main challenge for Norton and for so
many other college students. Exploring the strategies outlined next helps you prepare
for class, take notes in class, and review notes after class.

Prepare
Showing up for class on time is just the start. Here’s more about preparing to take notes:
■ Preview your reading material. Reading assigned materials before class will give
you the background to take effective notes, and is one of the most rewarding
possible study strategies. Check your class syllabi daily for assignment due dates, Listening and Note Taking
and plan your reading time with these deadlines in mind.

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