2. Column Style (aka Cornell Notes)
Example
Main Idea
Notes
Causes of the Civil -Slavery
War
-South wanted
lower taxes
-Southern living
3. Theme/Bullet Point Example
The Gettysburg Address
Lincoln travels to the battlefield to give a
brief speech
Says this is a war to preserve the country
America is not a collection of states but one
nation of people
5. Things to Help Guide You
Chapter Tour:
Topic-What is the selection about? What do I
already know about the topic? What do I
predict I should know after reading this?
Main Idea-What is the point of this material?
Why did the author write this? How might
this material be useful to me? What should I
focus on?
6. (Continued)
Structure-How is the material put together?
How is it sectioned or subdivided? Where do
I need to allocate my most careful
attention?
Style- What do I notice about writing style?
Complexity of sentences? Density of
vocabulary? How smoothly does the prose
flow? How easy will this be to read?
7. (Continued)
Salient Details-Are there any facts that I
definitely should pay attention to? What
stands out in the material? Is there text in
bold or italic type, quotations, or capital
letters? Are there any key phrases that
seem important? How familiar is this
material? What details do I already know?
8. (Continued)
Tone/Attitude/Mood- Does the author have
an attitude toward this material? Can I
detect any emotion in the material? What
tone can I sense? Anger? Humor?
Enthusiasm? Criticism? Sarcasm? Irony?
Reasoning? Persuasion? Inspiration?
Explanation? If the author were doing a live
presentation of this material, what would it
be like?
9. Things to Help Guide You
Character Perspective Chart:
Character-
Perspective/Thoughts/Feelings-
Motivation-
Events/Problems-
Resolution-
Outcome-
10. Things to Help Guide You
Four Square:
Short, student-generated
explanation or personal
association
Short quote or text from source
to help provide context
Drawing or illustrationAssociated words or resources
Focal Concept or Definition
11. Things to Help Guide You
Journalist’s Questions:
Who? Who are the participants? Who is
affected? Who are the primary actors? Who
are the secondary actors?
What? What is the topic? What is the
significance of the topic? What is the basic
problem? What are the issues?
12. (Continued)
Where? Where does the activity take place?
Where does the problem or issue have its
source? At what place is the cause or effect
of the problem most visible?
13. (Continued)
When? When is the issue most apparent
(past? present? future?) When did the issue
or problem develop? What historical forces
helped shape the problem or issue and at
what point in time will the problem or issue
culminate in a crisis? When is action needed
to address the issue or problem?
14. (Continued)
Why? Why did the issue or problem arise?
Why is it (your topic) an issue or problem at
all? Why did the issue or problem develop in
the way that it did?
How? How is the issue or problem significant?
How can it be addressed? How does it affect
the participants? How can the issue or
problem be resolved?