Reading, Notetaking and Knowing What to Expect

[Julie]

Reading, Notetaking and Knowing in History

The following information was given to me by my HL History professor who is also an annual IB grader for History and it is also my own advice that I use all of the time fr my History HL class. These are the major tips my professor has given my classmates and I on creating class-notes and study-notes from books,historiography, etc. that are incredibly organized and the methods aim at reaching each type of persons study-style and note-taking style. I hope this is beneficial. It really helped me.

Quick Tips to Utilize:

• Dividing notes

• Internal (Micro) vs. External (Macro)

• Capitalizing Arguments/ Marking Arguments in a Specific Way

• Compare/ Contrast
• Result/ Effects
• Causes/ Origins

• Use analysis to understand

• Coercion, Persuasion, Consent analysis for capitalized arguments
• Retrospective Determinism

• Chronological and Thematic organization
• Give the sections titles after you finish making the notes

• After realizing what the text is about

• Breakdown the Effects

• Long-term vs. short-term

Major Tips In General for Reading:

Look for the Main Theme

• publisher's comment
• contents page
• subheading
• introduction
• conclusion

Active Approach

• Be clear what you are looking for
• Recognize the form and structure of the book (this helps discover the central of the book)

Use the SQ3R Method when reading

• A sequence formula for effective reading

What is the SQ3R?

• Survey
  • Survey the chapter (using the Major Tips for Reading)

  [*]Question

  • Notice and question the writer's interpretations and arguments
  • Decide what is needed for your purpose
  
  
• Read, Recall, Report
  • Read: This is not surveying or skimming. This is in-depth, slow, comprehensive reading
  • Recall: Move away the book and recall what you have learned (say it aloud or in your head)
  • Report: Write it down!

Major Tips for solid/comprehensive Noting:

(this is done after the "report". You go back and fix up your jotted-down notes)

Make heading and subheadings larger

Don't use complete sentences

- Use bullet-points

- Use contractions

Use legible handwriting only for yourself

- Who cares if someone else can't read it? You are the one who will study from it

Space out your notes

- What if you have to add something in later?

Graded Indentation

- one of the most vital features

Structure your notes

Note the book title, author and page number you are on

How to Approach Paper 1? What should you know going into your exam?

• Question 1.a

• Do you understand what the source says?
• Display literacy and understanding of the source.

• Question 1.b is always about the last source (table, photograph or cartoon)- what does the source convey?

• Make more than 2 points, but not more than 4, in order to make sure you get the 2 full points you need
• Do not explain the source, say what is conveys.

• Question 2

• Always asking to compare and contrast
• If you are uncomfortable with writing: compare in one paragraph, contrast in the second paragraph
• If you are comfortable with writing: run-on comparison/contrast (gives more points because it shows that you can think and write about the sources)

• Question 3

• Origin, purpose, values, limitations
• specific/sophisticated
• If you have nothing to say, be clever about how you say it so it sounds good
• Avoid the word "biased"

• Question 4

• Combines all of the sources
• Use both the source and your own knowledge; make sure you have all of the sources
• "mini essay"
• Must write an outline for your systematic writing
• Take about 20 minutes to write the essay
• Use transition words and phrases between sources and ideas
• If you run out of time for the essay, write it in note form (outline, neat, indentations)- only do this if you truly messed up

• Moving through the source: read actively (read, annotate, write, underline, etc.)
• Be able to summarize each source into about two sentences
• Quality, not quantity
• Do not be repetitive with different words

How to Approach Paper 2 and 3? What should you know going into your exam?

• Make an outline to organize your thoughts

- Students who do not make an outline generally donot do well because they lose their train of thought half way through the essay

• Introduction

- Short
- State exactly what the essay will be dealingwith
- Set the frame
- Be very clear about the language

• Body paragraphs

- Add in natural, subtle details to paint apicture

- Give evidence in support of statements/arguments

- Vital; makes a huge difference between a lowerand a higher mark

- Evidence, for instance numbers/statistics toback up arguments show that you know the material

- Don't just tell the story; analyze the situation

- Reference back to the question

Remember for the Exam:

• Be able to use historiography (names of historians and their arguments).
• Define words mentioned in the question (ex. Revolution)
• Three rules of writing:
  • Coherence/Consistency (Reinforcement)
  • New Ideas
  • Historiography (Argument)

Writing a History Essay (Quick Tips Only)

NOTE: Everything in history is a question you are trying to answer.

Tips:

• do not write the essay as if it were an English paper (meaning, no need fr voice and style usage to a great extent)
• the title should be the actual question (turn the question into a statement for the title)
• do not volunteer knowledge that is not asked for in the question
• be very sure, concrete and specific in what you are explaining
• do not hide you weaknesses in History behind you knowledge in writing style
• your audience: intelligent people, yet have no knowledge about the topic

Three Aspects You Essay Must Contain:

• Clarity- think of the easiest and most precise way to say things
• Precision- if there is a word or way to say it precisely, say it. Be straight to the point.
• Concision- if you can say it in two words than do not say it in fifteen. Use the right words

In you History Essays, never...

• use first person
• change tenses (always write in past tense)
• use passive voice

Edited March 6, 2011 by Julie

[dinna]

Thank you, helped a lot!

I wish I looked at it earlier, but it's better late than never.

[Yllat]

When I used your advice i got better grade from my exam Thanks a lot !

[SSMFW]

Brilliant thanks for this!

What would people say is there tip for getting the 17 or 18 + out of 20 marks to get Level 7 for SL and HL exams in History? (Doing History of the Americas: Civil Rights/Civil War/Depression)

[khimberleigh]

To get a 7 in the essays you need about a 13/14 out of 20. However, this is not a easy as it may seem.

Some tips for reaching this level are:

-analyse and evaluate, do not tell the story. Phrases such as 'This shows..', 'This suggests...', 'This highlights...' will become your best friend. When evaluating, give a degree such as, 'Imperialism was a prime cause of WWI' or 'Stalin's mustache had very little effect on his rise to power'

-Lots of details. Dates, stats, names, places.

-Historiography. One of the main differences between a 6 and a 7 is your ability to analyse different viewpoints. "Although some historians believe that _____ It can be argued that _______ was a more significant cause of the American Civil War because___________"

-Have a contention and constantly push it.

-and pretty much all the stuff that Julie said

[SSMFW]

Thanks!

[John Hoose]

Thanks for this mate

[IB_n3wb]

Thank you! This is the exact information I need to handle my History class!

[Sceptyczka]

Thank you!

[IbTrojan]

Thank you for your awesome contribution!!

[turtle turtle]

Great guide thanks

[terribletouw]

this is great thanks

[LittleDeer]

Very useful! Thanks!

One question: why is it better to avoid the word 'biased'? :0 Never heard of that.

[anna1998]

Instead of "bias", if you have to go that route, call it "perspective". my history teacher has told us that too, makes you look better