Sorry, I know it’s been a while. I had a personal loss and it’s taken me a while but I’m feeling okay now so I’m super excited to show you how I take reading notes!
For this, I’m going to use my AP United States History textbook, as provided by AMSCO. I really loved taking notes on my iPad with GoodNotes 5 so I found an online copy from 2016 and downloaded it. This was super helpful, especially since I love to highlight.
Here’s an excerpt from my textbook:
Something I noticed about this book was the way they styled different headings. They broke down the reading into different sections marked by how big and bold the title was. I used that format to style my notes:
I take my notes like I am using the tab button on a computer. I like to start out with the main heading as far left as I can and move one block/indent to the right for each subcategory and section. Then, I look at what I highlighted while reading and use that to make my notes.
For terms with definitions, I like to write it like this: word-followed by the definition. I say the word out loud as I’m writing it down, same for the definition, to help me remember it.
I use a similar format when the text includes important dates or years, but instead of a definition, I write the event. I use the line under and usually draw a little arrow to describe the event, the importance, and the impact. I find that the little arrow to a new line helps when you’re descending important people, events, or places.
When it comes to taking notes, I like to stick to one color per different subject. However, I’ve seen people color-code their notes and use different colors for different things (yellow for dates, green for places, blue for people, etc). I tried it but it wasn’t my favorite way of taking notes. I recommend experimenting with different types of notes and sticking with whatever feels the most comfortable and/or efficient for you.
Happy studying!
