Below are pointers to assist students and active readers in developing the skills to take efficient and useful notes on any expository or argumentative material:
What should be in my notes?
In order to further assist students in their reading comprehension, there may, on occasion, be accompanying reading questions in the assigned material, whose answers should be incorporated into one's larger set of notes / annotations.
In addition to any accompanying reading questions, each set of annotations should, at minimum, include the following four components:
1. In your own words, what did you think was the overall, or main key point(s) / conclusion in the reading?
2. Do you accept or agree with that conclusion / key point(s)? Why or why not?
3. Describe something in the reading you did not understand or found to be unclear (such as unfamiliar terminology or a strange inference). Include the page number.
4. What is [at least] one question you have about the reading? [best shared with the class / in office hours]
☑️ Be Brief
Do NOT write in complete sentences – this will save you lots of time and energy.
No sentence should be longer than 35 words, and you should write as clearly as possible.
HINT: try to rephrase your annotation selections in your OWN words.
This will come in handy when it is time to write out assignments.
You won't have to worry about plagiarizing the author when referencing your notes since you will have already gone through the trouble of summarizing their view in your own words (although credit need still be given for paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism).
☑️ Be Organized & Curious
Organize in sections, bullet points, or outline format.
Abbreviate lengthy names, terms /
concepts used a lot in the reading.
Ex: environmental ethics [EE],
utilitarianism [UT], John Stuart Mill [JSM]
Define any and all key terms and /
or terms that are new to you.
If a term is used but not defined by the author, look up its meaning or make a note of it for class discussion as prescribed in point 3 above.
✅ Identify Main Point(s) / Thesis
Identify thesis / conclusion – main point being argued for by the author.
Mark thesis/conclusion in your notes [T] or [C] as prescribed in point 1 above.
HINT: this will usually be stated in the beginning of the paper as well as reiterated at the end; if it is not mentioned again, then it is not the thing being argued for.
✅ Identify Premises / Support
Identify supporting points / premises – used to argue for the key point(s) / thesis / conclusion.
Mark premises in your notes [P1, P2, P3]
HINT: usually can find one main point per paragraph.
Sometimes multiple paragraphs will be dedicated to explaining the same point. Try to distinguish when transitions are made between points.
✅ Identify Objection(s) / Response(s)
Identify any possible objections / responses to the argument.
This can be challenging since it may be a section where the author appears to be going back and forth on their own main point.
Note: these are NOT the same as their premises.
HINT: a good philosophy paper will always entertain possible objections to their own argument, since being prepared to address such objections strengthens one’s own main point.
Mark objections in your notes [O1, O2, etc.] as well as the author's response to each objection [R1, R2, etc.]
✅ Identify Comparison(s) / Contrast(s)
Make a note of any comparisons between various authors we have read in the class so far.
Mark similarities and / or differences in the position various authors take on the same issue.
HINT: if various authors are approaching a topic from different background assumptions and / or normative frameworks, they may come to different conclusions, or the same conclusion for different reasons. Make note of these more nuanced differences as they can imply larger disagreements.
☑️ Identify Questions / Comments
Make a note of any questions / comments YOU may have – this will help you practice actively engaging with the reading.
Mark questions [Q] so that you can easily find them to ask in class as prescribed in points 3 & 4 above.
HINT: Students, since quiz questions & writing assignments will ask you to think critically about these arguments, you will be able to look back at your notes to help you remember when something stuck out in your mind, or struck you as off / interesting.
Mark any of your own thoughts which critically engage with the positions taken in the reading.
If you are not sure about the claim / position [?] If you agree with the claim /position for different reasons [~] If you disagree with the claim / position [X]
These can provide reference when attempting to figure out your own intuitions about the author’s main thesis as prescribed in point 2.