Red Line

Cornell Notes

Title/Topic
Step 2 Main
Ideas/Questions:
After you have gone
through all the
other steps, use this
area to create
headings.
Examples:
Key Events
Important
Terms
Names
Dates
Questions you
have

Begin by setting up your

notebook paper, using a marker
or highlighter to draw the lines.

Name
Date
Teacher/Hour

Step 1 Notes:
As you read, jot down notes on what you think might
be important.
Notes should not be in complete sentences. Feel free
to use your own short hand. Use abbreviations when
acceptable. (Example: & = and)
Step 3 Highlighting:
Go back through your notes and highlight, circle, or
underline things that you think you should know. You
can even develop your own system. For example,
underline all the key terms, highlight all the important
events in yellow, and circle all the information about
characters.

This is also the

perfect place to
write questions you
have for the teacher
or other students.
Draw a line
about three
fingers width
away from the
red line.

Step 4 Summarize: (About 4-6 sentences)

After you have finished reading the entire selection and written down all
the important details, write a brief summary of your notes. This should
be done at the end of your notes for each chapter or section. It doesnt
have to be done at the end of each page of notes.
Keep it brief, so you can quickly review your notes.

Draw a
line
about 7
lines
from the
bottom.

What Causes Allergies?

Betty White
9/14/2014
Mrs. Nylund

Main
Ideas/Questions:

Notes:

Immune system

-Army that protects your body from disease and infection

-Made up of a network of cells, tissues, organs, and chemicals
-Detects invaders
-Destroys pathogens w/chemical reactions

Pathogens

-Invaders that could make you sick

What causes an
allergic reaction?

-The immune system gets confused and mistakes harmless

things like a nut or pollen as a pathogen
-Causes the body harm trying to protect it

What happens
during an allergic
reaction?

-Usually mild- rash, runny nose, watery eyes

-Most people can treat it with medication
-Sometimes it causes a life threatening response making it so
you cant breathe

Is there a cure for

allergies?

-No cure or way to predict

Food allergies

-Very common
-Rose 50% from 1997-2011
-Peanuts allergy is most severe
-Milk is most common in kids
-Eggs is second most common

Summary:
In the article What Causes Allergies?, Lauren Tarshis writes about how an allergic
reaction occurs and affects the body. First, she describes how, normally, the immune system
works to defend the body against pathogens; however, sometimes it attacks the body when
something harmless enters it, such as a peanut, causing an allergic reaction. Also, she
explains how allergic reactions are often mild, causing a rash or runny nose, and most
people can treat their allergic reactions with medication. Currently, scientists do not yet
know how to prevent these reactions, so for some people medication does not work and
these reactions are life threatening, interfering with a persons ability to breathe. Lastly,
Tarshis explains how food allergies have increased dramatically and are a very common
problem for children.

Summary Writing
Learning to write an effective summary is one of the most important and useful writing skills. When
summarizing, it is important to focus on only the key points, Remember, summaries include only fact. Do not
include your opinion.

Step 1. LIST

(List details that are important enough to include in the summary.)

Step 2. CROSS-OUT

(Reread the details. Cross out any that you decide not to include.)

Step 3. CONNECT

(Connect any details that could go into one sentence.)

Step 4. NUMBER

(Number the details in a logical order.)

Step 5. WRITE

(Write the paragraph.)

-Start with a topic sentence/main idea.
-Write in chronological order.
-Use transitions to guide your reader.

Step 6. EDIT

(Revise and proofread your answer.)

Writing Frame
In this (chapter, article, section of the chapter), a number of critical points were made about
___________. First, the authors pointed out that _____________. This was important because ____________.
Next, the authors mentioned that _____________. Furthermore, they indicated _______________. This was
critical because______________. Finally, the authors suggested that _______________.

Summary Example
List - Cross Out - Connect - Number
Immune system
Pathogens

Immune systems job

Allergic reaction =attacks something harmless
Causes runny nose, rash, watery eyes

Medicine to treat allergies

Scientists dont know how to prevent them

Life threatening =Sometimes people cant breathe

Milk and egg allergies are common
Peanuts are most common food allergy
4
Start with main
idea of the
reading. Give the
reader the title of
the reading.

Food allergies increased

In the article What Causes Allergies?, Lauren Tarshis writes about how an
allergic reaction occurs and affects the body. First, she describes how, normally, the
immune system works to defend the body against pathogens; however, sometimes it
attacks the body when something harmless enters it, such as a peanut, causing an

Notice how
transitions are
used to guide the
reader and
connect ideas.

allergic reaction. Also, she explains how allergic reactions are often mild, causing a

What kind of
punctuation is
often needed with
a transition?

interfering with a persons ability to breathe. Lastly, Tarshis explains how food

rash or runny nose, and most people can treat their allergic reactions with
medication. Currently, scientists do not yet know how to prevent these reactions, so
for some people medication does not work and these reactions are life threatening,
allergies have increased dramatically and are a very common problem for children.

Use complex sentences

to combine details and
avoid choppy, short
sentences.

Transition Words & Phrases

Anchor Chart
What are transitions and what do they do?
They are words and phrases that form idea bridges for the reader to let them know how the
information they just read is related to the information they are about to read.
Transitions show the reader how your ideas fit together guiding your reader.
Where are they located?
Transitions are located within sentences, between sentences, and between paragraphs.

To prove

Because, since, for the same reason, obviously, furthermore, in fact, in addition

To provide an
example

for example, for instance, in other words, namely, specifically, to illustrate, to

demonstrate, in particular

To show result

accordingly, as a result, consequently, so, thereby, therefore, thus, finally,

To add more
information

also, and, as well, besides, equally important, finally, furthermore, in addition

To show cause

as, because, for, since, due to

To show sequence

first, (second, third, fourth, fifth), next, following this, subsequently,

consequently, finally, therefore

To show time

afterward, before, currently, eventually, finally, immediately, in the future, in the

past, later, meanwhile, next, often, sometimes, soon, subsequently, then, today,
when

To summarize ideas

finally, in conclusion, in short, in summary, to sum up, therefore

To compare ideas

in the same way, likewise, similarly, similar to, also, again

To contrast ideas

at the same time, but, conversely, even so, even though, however, in contrast,
nevertheless, nonetheless, on the one hand, on the other hand, still, yet, in
comparison, in contrast, on the contrary, as opposed to, despite, unlike,
although, conversely

Summarizing Fiction
Learning to write an effective summary is one of the most important and useful writing skills. When
summarizing fiction, it is important to focus on only the key plot points, as well as, the setting and characters
that were involved in key events. Remember, summaries include only fact. Do not include your opinion.

Step 1. LIST

(List details that are important enough to include in the summary.)

Step 2. CROSS-OUT

(Reread the details. Cross out any that you decide not to include.)

Step 3. CONNECT

(Connect any details that could go into one sentence.)

Step 4. NUMBER

(Number the details in a logical order.)

Step 5. WRITE

(Write the paragraph.)

-Start with a topic sentence/main idea.
-Write in chronological order.
-Use transitions to guide your reader.

Step 6. EDIT

(Revise and proofread your answer.)

Writing Frame
In

(chapter)

of

(title)

(main idea)

First, __________________. Next, __________________________. Then, ___________________. Finally,

__________________________________.

Summary Example
List - Cross Out - Connect - Number
1

Memorial Epic
Lorraine doesnt want swearing in epic
Hates school/everything
Meet a guy named the Pigman
Smokes

3
2

4 Bathroom Bomber

Supercolossal Fruit Roll

Writes on tables
Swears a lot
Lorraine wants a turn to write
10th grade

Start with main

idea of the
reading. Give the
reader the title of
the reading.

In chapter one of The Pigman, the reader is introduced to the character of John
as he begins typing the memorial epic with his friend Lorraine. First, John, a
sophomore, describes himself as hating everything. Furthermore, he gets into

Notice how
transitions are
used to guide the
reader and
connect ideas.

mischief at school, smoking and running the Supercolossal Fruit Roll to terrorize

What kind of
punctuation is
often needed with
a transition?

Although he seems tough, it appears he cares about Lorraine, because he agrees not

substitutes. Also, he has earned the nickname the Bathroom Bomber, because he
figures out how to set off firecrackers in the bathroom and get away with it.

to curse in the memorial epic.

Use complex sentences

to combine details and
avoid choppy, short
sentences.