Some books, like this one on Psychology, are in the VCE Study Room while others are on the general non fiction shelves or in the Teacher Resources collections. Ask a librarian to help you look.
The documents below have been created by Kilbreda staff and external experts. We also recommend going to the State Library of Victoria's ERGO Study Skills site below.
Also have a look at the ATARNotes+ service which is available to all students who are doing a VCE subject
We recommend using the sites below but ALSO that you go back and have a look at the subject-specific LibGuides which cover the subjects in greater detail
This is advice is good if you are the sort of person who likes to be organised or for those of you who have a hard time knowing how much time to put into study. It does go for 12 minutes but they MAY be the best 12 minutes you spend this year. Do not expect humour!
Find books on Essay writing on the Teacher Resources and general non fiction shelves at 420 and 808.042 ask a librarian to help you look. There are also good books on exam preparation for specific VCE subjects in the VCE Study Room
Taking notes in class
• Don’t write down every word that falls from the teacher’s lips – all notes should be a summary
• Use decent paper – A4
• Organise your notes – date, subject/title, write on one side only, make sure you can read your own writing
• Use abbreviations
• Write in note form – full sentences are not necessary
• Structure your notes – margin, headings, notes, summaries etc…
• Take down things from the board
• Listen for lists
• Write down definitions
• Tune into voice clues – teachers may slow down or raise there voice to emphasis important points
• Take down examples
• Beware of the last 10 minutes – teachers often wrap up important points
• Check over notes ASAP
When taking notes from the internet open a Word document and draw up a table with 3 columns to save your information in. Label the first column 'Source', the middle column 'Original Information' and the right hand column 'My Interpretation.'
Make your 'Original information' column about twice as wide as the 'My Interpretation' column.
Any information you collect is now put in the middle column, with detailed information about where you got the information from going in the first column.
Use the “Alt” and “Tab” key to jump or 'toggle between your Word document and the Internet screen. Note. If you have a number of applications running you may have to do this more than once to get to the screen you want.
When you find some information you want, copy JUST THE INFORMATION YOU NEED by clicking the mouse at the start of that data and highlighting the part you want.
THIS PART IS VERY IMPORTANT. When using the Internet, move to the page using the Alt Tab go to the location bar (http://www etc.) at the top of your page. Highlight that and transfer that address to the first column in your Word document. This tells you and the people reading your work where you found your information. Remember also to record the date you found the information. If you do not do this, your work is plagiarism! (see the Referencing LibGuide if you need help).
Collect the rest of your information placing it in a new row for each new source, making sure you record the web address details. Using the right hand column construct in your own words your interpretation of the information.
