Cornell Notes Formatting American Literature

Cornell Notes Formatting
American Literature
Below is the format for your required American
Literature notes. Only one piece of literature is
allowed per page. Please skip a line between each
segment of the notes. Tests, quizzes, and writing
will be based on the information in your notes, so
produce clean, precise work.

ERA: The time period for this piece

TITLE: Spelled & punctuated correctly (short stories/poems/essays in quotes; novel
titles are underlined)

AUTHOR: Include author’s full name; details discussed in class or from text’s
biography section

SUMMARY: Use the template format for a concise summary that includes the genre
Title, a (genre), deals with statement of main plot line/issue/topic. Consider following the
SWBS model: Somebody Wanted But So…
Ex. “Flowers for Algernon,” a sci-fi short story, follows a man named Charlie Gordon who wants nothing
more than to be smart. Unfortunately, Charlie’s only way to gain intellect is via an experimental brain
surgery conducted by doctors who have a less than pure agenda. Charlie’s surgery is considered a
success when his intelligence grows, but it comes at a heavy cost.

RELEVANCE AND THEME: List the belief(s) (see Am. Lit. notes) that appear in
the piece. Then explain how that belief is exemplified in the piece; include a quote,
example, or paraphrase from the piece to illustrate your claim.

ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS: List and define any literary devices featured in
the piece, including quoted or paraphrased examples; record any examples discussed
in class

PERSONAL SUMMARY: Respond to the piece of writing. What have you
learned? What connections were made? What is your evaluation?
You may be asked to do additional work (formulate questions, analyze claims/evidence,
compose a detailed summary/précis) with each piece. Your notes will serve as planning –
the better the notes, the easier the piece of writing!
See model on back