Taking Notes from Multiple Sources (1 Viewer)

[ilovemangos]

I have been trying to write some good chemistry notes and I've been using many sources like websites and quite a few textbooks. It's a bit overwhelming for me to condense everything into notes and handwrite it.
I think the main problem is if I find more information I can't really add it into my notes without starting a new page. This wouldn't be a problem if I was typing the notes but handwriting is better for subjects like chemistry. Does anyone have any advice for this problem?

Also my chemistry teacher says to learn as much as possible in order for the best chance to get a band 6, even if its not necessarily required of you in the syllabus. So I've been taking note of basically everything. Is this a good idea?

 

[carrotsss]

Honestly I don’t think it’s that important to know that much information, the recent hsc exams have been more about understanding the concepts rather than just knowing a ton of information, and so you’d be better off doing more practice questions than spending years writing notes.

even if its not necessarily required of you in the syllabus.

I may be wrong (after all different things work for everyone) but I don’t really see a point in this, your time is limited enough during the HSC just trying to perfect what’s actually in the syllabus, to spend extra time doing stuff that isn’t in the syllabus doesn’t seem like the best use of your time

 

[Serge Gainsbourg]

I think it would be good to start off your notes on your computer, and then when you're sure it's finalised you can handwrite it in your book.
Or if you're really dedicated enough you could try filling out all of the notes using syllabus points on your computer over the school term, maybe spend 30 minutes a day adding notes over the span of a term. Then you can handwrite the notes during the holidays.

It's also a very good idea to have two sets of notes; on your computer and written in your notebook.

 

[synthesisFR]

Lol i was just writing my mod 6 notes.. (after procrastinating for hours yesterday)
How I make my own notes is through supplementing information from classroom slides posted by my teacher and other school related resources, my tutoring notes, and other students notes that you can find here on BoS as well as ACEhsc. I haven't used these yet but i hear that art of smart has a whole hsc section with free videos and stuff, and there are a few more websites.
The reason you would want to use multiple resources is so that you make sure that you have no errors in your notes- for chemistry sometimes I find quite a bit of variation in explanations, so in these cases using multiple credible resources helps with you knowing what is right and what makes sense to you. (cross referencing is good)
Don't forget your teacher is also a big resource so yeah.

I was also thinking about writing my notes online bc thats what i did for biology, and what i'm doing for eco and english currently, and it seems to be working, but i have already invested into writing chemistry notes on paper- so yeah.
Depends how much detail you want, but for me, I made sure to include detailed explanations of concepts so that i never have to touch any other resources again. This includes calculation tips and tricks and stuff e.g steps to proving the nature of a salt, etc. They also include all the practicals that are required for you to do in the syllabus. Basically my own personalised set of notes that are good enough (hopefully) to be the only resource I will ever look back in the future.
For reference, my module 5 notes are about 26 or so pages, with a few extra blank pages incase i need to fill in extra things or module specific notes.
Imo, try to make your book look clean but don't worry to much about the exact order- most of the time we don't follow the order of the syllabus in school anyways.

Get a good understanding of why everything works, don't rote learn. If you have questions that you randomly start asking yourself (but why tho?) then research those yourself until you are satisfied.
Notes are a great start but at one point if you have time is to just start answering questions from past papers- or if u have difficulty in one concept, make up questions or ask your teacher to make them for you for that topic, and answer it. Ask for feedback. But questions are the main way you are going to be able to understand what you learn and how ideas are interrelated.

 

[ilovemangos]

I think it would be good to start off your notes on your computer, and then when you're sure it's finalised you can handwrite it in your book.
Or if you're really dedicated enough you could try filling out all of the notes using syllabus points on your computer over the school term, maybe spend 30 minutes a day adding notes over the span of a term. Then you can handwrite the notes during the holidays.

It's also a very good idea to have two sets of notes; on your computer and written in your notebook.

Yes! That was what I was thinking, but it seemed like a lot of effort and I still have a lot of homework to do. But I'll try that out over the next few weeks. Thank you!

 

[ilovemangos]

Honestly I don’t think it’s that important to know that much information, the recent hsc exams have been more about understanding the concepts rather than just knowing a ton of information, and so you’d be better off doing more practice questions than spending years writing notes.

I may be wrong (after all different things work for everyone) but I don’t really see a point in this, your time is limited enough during the HSC just trying to perfect what’s actually in the syllabus, to spend extra time doing stuff that isn’t in the syllabus doesn’t seem like the best use of your time

Yeah I agree, I should first master the concepts in the syllabus. I guess I'll see how much extra time I have.

 

[ilovemangos]

Lol i was just writing my mod 6 notes.. (after procrastinating for hours yesterday)
How I make my own notes is through supplementing information from classroom slides posted by my teacher and other school related resources, my tutoring notes, and other students notes that you can find here on BoS as well as ACEhsc. I haven't used these yet but i hear that art of smart has a whole hsc section with free videos and stuff, and there are a few more websites.
The reason you would want to use multiple resources is so that you make sure that you have no errors in your notes- for chemistry sometimes I find quite a bit of variation in explanations, so in these cases using multiple credible resources helps with you knowing what is right and what makes sense to you. (cross referencing is good)
Don't forget your teacher is also a big resource so yeah.

I was also thinking about writing my notes online bc thats what i did for biology, and what i'm doing for eco and english currently, and it seems to be working, but i have already invested into writing chemistry notes on paper- so yeah.
Depends how much detail you want, but for me, I made sure to include detailed explanations of concepts so that i never have to touch any other resources again. This includes calculation tips and tricks and stuff e.g steps to proving the nature of a salt, etc. They also include all the practicals that are required for you to do in the syllabus. Basically my own personalised set of notes that are good enough (hopefully) to be the only resource I will ever look back in the future.
For reference, my module 5 notes are about 26 or so pages, with a few extra blank pages incase i need to fill in extra things or module specific notes.
Imo, try to make your book look clean but don't worry to much about the exact order- most of the time we don't follow the order of the syllabus in school anyways.

Get a good understanding of why everything works, don't rote learn. If you have questions that you randomly start asking yourself (but why tho?) then research those yourself until you are satisfied.
Notes are a great start but at one point if you have time is to just start answering questions from past papers- or if u have difficulty in one concept, make up questions or ask your teacher to make them for you for that topic, and answer it. Ask for feedback. But questions are the main way you are going to be able to understand what you learn and how ideas are interrelated.

Thank you so much for all that information! Yeah my teacher always tells us to do wide reading and to write notes. What do you think about writing two sets of notes, one digital and one paper? Digital feels so much nicer because you can add extra information you find. But it doesn't feel practical. Also you use an exercise book right, would you recommend using an exercise book or binder? Thank you.

 

[carrotsss]

Also you use an exercise book right, would you recommend using an exercise book or binder? Thank you.

Binder>>>>

 

[ilovemangos]

Binder>>>>

yeah i've been using binders, but i'm really scared that something will happen to my notes (rip out, get wet, etc.) they seem so vulnerable.

 

[synthesisFR]

What do you think about writing two sets of notes, one digital and one paper

Just do one

 

[carrotsss]

yeah i've been using binders, but i'm really scared that something will happen to my notes (rip out, get wet, etc.) they seem so vulnerable.

you can get reinforcement rings or plastic sleeves for all the loose sheets if you’re worried about that

 

[ilovemangos]

you can get reinforcement rings or plastic sleeves for all the loose sheets if you’re worried about that

okay ill get those then! thank you.