After Shark Week Comes?

The new school year. Once the new-backpack smell wears off, there's actual work to be done--things to memorize and classes to pass. Whether you're in high school or college trying to maximize your time or the parent of a younger student learning the best way to study and take notes, there's a secret weapon you must add to your back to school list.


TOPS FocusNotes™ note taking features a divided page with a lined note taking area, cue column and summary section. Comparable to the Cornell Note Taking System, this highly effective method uses a three-step process to ensure retention of notes taken during class.


Step 1: Record Notes Start by labeling the page with the date and class name or purpose for your notes. During the lecture, record notes in the large lined section of the page. Skip a line between concepts for clarity and neatness. The goal of this step is to record all of the necessary information from class.


Step 2: Devise Questions and Cues Immediately after the lecture, jot down key phrases, sketches and any questions you may have in the cue column to the left of the note section. Try to line up these key terms with the corresponding block of notes in the note section. This second step forces you to evaluate your notes and pull out what's important for an at-a-glance snapshot of the lecture.


Step 3: Summarize Material At the end of the day, use the summary section at the bottom of the page to create a review of the main points from the class notes. If your notes take up more than one page, summarize on the final page of notes. You could also use this space to jot down homework assignments, action items or to-do lists. This step makes it easy to review the information from each lecture quickly and efficiently.


Tips: Before a test, skim over the summaries before quizzing yourself with the cue column information. This method saves time because you're not re-reading all of your class notes. Plus, because you've written out your review material in your own words, you're more likely to retain the information and apply it in a test or real-life situation.


TOPS FocusNotes™ is available in a letter-sized writing tablet or a portable junior pad--perfect for students of all ages. Both formats feature an extra-strong back cover that holds up to desktop writing and on-the-go notetaking. The top-bound tablet format is ideal for right-and left-handed writers.

Shop at www.twistop.com for all your back to school items.

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