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every learner can benefit from an effective study plan. you know the routine: make flashcards<\/a>, take quizzes and practice tests<\/a>, or go over chapter outlines found online<\/a>. did you know you can use your apush notes to study better? follow the tips and strategies to help guide your study plan using your apush notes. more than likely, your current apush notes are substantial. while your notes cover all the information you need, studying straight from your notes is not very effective. there is just too much content! use the following ideas to help condense copious notes into a few pages of study-worthy material. reframe your notes using the cornell note-taking system<\/a> in order to analyze and synthesize historical content. go through your existing notes chapter by chapter. if chapters contain too much information, group your apush notes or group by key concept. use the \u201crecord\u201d section to write down main ideas and supporting details. reframing your notes using this system allows you to practice making connections across historical content – exactly what apush asks you to do during an exam. by challenging yourself to think in this manner, you are developing test-taking thinking skills and strategies. <\/p>\n visual aids improve how the brain processes information. there are a variety of graphic organizers available, each with their own way to organize information and help visualize ideas and concepts. one of the best graphic organizers for apush notes is called mind mapping. the idea is pretty straightforward: choose a main idea or concept for your mind map and place it in the center of the page. it could be an entire chapter or thematic unit, or just a key concept from class. from there, begin adding main points and supporting details, key phrases or vocabulary from the center circle. <\/p>\n transform your notes into an outline format. it is easiest to move through your existing notes by chapter, big concept or main idea. often, apush teachers will conduct class by thematic units, so it may be easier to focus on a group of particular lessons rather than an entire chapter. <\/p>\n convert your apush notes from paper to online using an online note-taking system such as goodnotes<\/a>. in addition to regular note-taking capabilities, goodnote lets you incorporate a variety of visuals to help map information, connect data and plot out relationships between content. draw shapes, change colors and do all sorts of \u201cfun stuff\u201d to your notes to format a more interactive study outline. <\/p>\n just like when mom asked you to read out loud, talking through your notes (even in a whisper voice) helps create a stronger connection to the material. as you read, mark anything that doesn\u2019t make sense, that you need more information on, or any questions that might arise. also note common vocabulary words or terms that show up frequently throughout the chapter.<\/p>\n
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\nthe most effective note-taking methods vary from person to person. you most likely already utilize a strategy or technique that fits your individual learning style. this post is not about how<\/em> to take notes, but rather to show you how to convert your existing notes<\/em> into a useful frame for studying.
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\ngrab your apush notes and let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\nhow to use your apush notes to study better<\/h2>\n
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\nresearch shows that an optimal study review occurs when the learner \u201ctransforms their notes in an interactive way<\/a>\u201d. experiment with the following strategies and techniques until you find a good fit for your individual learning style.<\/p>\nthe cornell note-taking system<\/h2>\n
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\nin the \u201ccue column,\u201d create a list of questions based on your notes. let the questions highlight sections of your main ideas. for example, how does historical content relate from one main idea to the next? what led up to a historical event taking place? what factors went into a societal change in a certain time period? try to make your questions open-ended and thought-provoking. also include facts, key vocabulary or names of integral people and events.
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\none of the most important steps in the cornell system is to write a brief summary for each section of information. make this quick and easy, limiting yourself to 7-8 sentences at most. summarizing forces you to prioritize information and ideas, such as what concepts are most important and why?
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\nclick for a full image of the cornell note-taking system.<\/a><\/p>\nhow to use your apush notes to study better using the cornell system:<\/h3>\n
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\nif you keep going with the cornell system, there are even more ways to study from your apush notes.<\/p>\n\n
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the mind mapping method<\/h2>\n
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\nallowing for visual organization of ideas without necessarily following a rigid structure, mind mapping configures your apush notes into an easy to follow framework for studying. goconqr.com<\/a> has an example of a mindmap for ap us history. <\/p>\n
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\nas you keep adding new ideas, add another branch to your mind map. add color if possible, keeping the same color for the same strand of ideas. (this helps your brain keep the information organized!) <\/p>\nhow to use your apush notes to study better using a mind map:<\/h3>\n
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\nalthough mind mapping by hand is the most effective, often there just isn\u2019t time to create something from scratch. consider making a map online, or reviewing a map someone else has already created. a free site such as goconqr.com<\/a> provides easy-to-use tools for making your own online mind map, flashcards or quizzes. with over 211 apush materials already made, you might be able to find what you are looking for without ever having to create your own!<\/p>\nthe outline organization<\/h2>\n
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\nas you read through your notes, highlight key concepts and main ideas. these are your topic headings for your outline. underneath each key concept you discover, list supporting details, important events\/people, or key vocabulary significant to that concept.
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\nstick to a traditional outline format (use headings, indented information, labeling with letter or number) so that you can easily read through your outline when complete. also consider adding color-coding to your outline, such as blue for vocabulary, green for main idea, orange for important people, pink for significant events, so that you can quickly identify sections when studying.<\/p>\nhow to use your apush notes to study better using an outline:<\/h5>\n
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other ways to use your apush notes to study better<\/h2>\n
go online<\/h3>\n
read your apush notes out loud<\/h3>\n
watch our note-taking tips below<\/h3>\n