Reading and Notetaking

APWH and APAH READING HELP

· Remember this is a college textbook not a fiction book. You have to read the content carefully and slowly. 

· Allow enough time to digest material as you read. Read EARLY in the evening before you get tired. DO NOT START YOUR READING AT 10pm or later! Sleep actually improves memory. Not getting enough sleep is counterintuitive to learning. 

· If there is something you don’t understand, look it up. A word you cannot pronounce, look it up. Have a computer handy but do NOT get distracted! Stay on task. 

· LIMIT ALL DISTRACTIONS. Turn off social media and refrain from texting. 

· Read in smaller chunks and take breaks when you get tired. Expect to read EVERY night for a minimum of one hour. Some chapters may take 3-4 hours to read and two chapters are assigned every week. Budget time in your daily routine to read the book. As you perfect your skills, the reading will get easier. 

NOTES

· Take notes but NEVER copy directly from the book. Summarize, analyze, evaluate, and compare what you read. 

· Color-code your notes. Color aids memory.

· Make charts. 

· Write down questions. 

· Use flash cards- electronically (quizlet.com) or paper version. 

· THINK AND LINK --> Tie the content to previously learned material, making the content more meaningful. 

· Don’t rely on a highlighter! Highlighting text is a very inefficient way to study. 

AS YOU ARE TAKING NOTES 

· Look for the big picture. What is the main concept of the unit, chapter, section, and paragraph? 

· Create a graphic organizer and look for themes as you read. 

· Pay attention to and take note of syncretism and diffusion. 

· Construct comparisons as you read. 

· What continuities occur? Jot down time in relation to the continuities. 

· What changes occur? When did the change occur? 

· Take note of key leaders. 

· Why and when did societies/civilizations/empires/nations begin and end? 

· Quiz yourself after every section. Did I understand that? Can I summarize what I read? Summarize the information aloud. 

WHEN YOU FINISH YOUR NOTES 

· Facetime with classmates. Ask each other questions about the reading 

· Keep your notes organized. You will need to study for unit tests, finals, and the AP exam in May. 

· Review your notes before you go to bed and then review them again in the morning. Do NOT wait until lunch to cram them in your brain.

· Remember you are studying to learn, NOT memorizing for the reading quiz. You want to remember this material next month, for the final and for the AP exam in May. This is why it is important to not take shortcuts! 

USING THE ONLINE STUDY GUIDES  

· Look at the outline and use it as a frame of reference. 

· Take an online quiz & look up the questions that were missed. 

OTHER IDEAS 

· Watch documentaries on Netflix about the content we are studying. 

· Look for applicable power points, web links, documentaries, pod casts, and video clips posted on Blackboard to help remediate learning. 

· Pay attention in class! Take notes when applicable.