The Two-Column Note-Taking strategy encourages students to identify important information in a lecture, film, or reading and to then respond to this material. You can use this strategy to prepare students to participate in a discussion or begin a writing activity. Having students take two-column notes is also an effective way to help you identify students’ misconceptions and questions about a topic and to evaluate students’ understanding of material.
You can choose any headings for the two columns that meet the needs of your activity or lesson. Other possibilities include:
Important Quotation / Meaning of Quotation
Pro Argument / Con Argument
Facts / Opinions
Argument / Supporting Evidence