How to Study Blog » taking notes

Taking Power Notes

Robert — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:49:13 +0000

Maybe you’re one of those who takes notes in class just because it’s what you’re supposed to do–but then you never look at them after the class. Or maybe if you do look at them, you find yourself regularly trying to understand what it is you wrote. Or you wrote it. If so, you need to overhaul your note-taking skills. Taking notes should be a learning experience, and the facts you learn should stick with you. Here are some suggestions for the power note-taker:

1) The first thing you should ask when you begin taking notes is, “What is the instructor’s purpose, and what is the textbook-writer’s purpose?” This will give you a clue about where the class is going.

2) Make sure you attend all classes. Nothing ruins the flow and value of your notes like a big gap in a critical place.

3) Try to sit up front in the class. This will allow you to see and hear better, and will also decrease the number of distractions.

4) Format your notes so that they will be helpful research aids in the future. This means you should record the place and date of the class, the title, and the instructor. You should also number your pages (This way, you can make notes for yourself that so-and-so topic is on page 14).

5) Do your best to write neatly. If you can’t read what you’ve written, then you’ve just wasted all of that note-taking effort. This might mean that you’ll have to adopt some kind of shorthand method to make up for lost time, but it will increase immensely the value of your notes.

6) If you do as we just said–adopting a shorthand method–include a key at the top of the page at the start of the section, telling what each abbreviation means. For instance, if your class is in biology and you don’t want to keep writing out photosynthesis, note in your key that ph= photosynthesis.

7) Highlight key concepts with asterisks or by drawing boxes or circles around them. Also, mark important terms, ideas and concepts with different colors. Indicate uncertainty by circling a question mark by the item–then go back and research it later.

Always leave wide margins for your notes. This will allow you to come back in the future to insert other important, related information.

These 8 simple steps will set your notes apart from the rest and make it easier for you to master the material for future exams.

Mind Maps Maximize Study Effectiveness

Robert — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 09:45:53 +0000

As a student, you have to take notes for many, if not all, of your classes. You then use these to study for tests and semester exams. But there are problems with this method. For instance, many of us have incomplete notes, and many more take those notes and never again look at them.

Fortunately, there’s a better way. And it’s called mind mapping.

One of the main problems with traditional note taking is that it’s essentially a passive process. As a result, your brain doesn’t really interact much with the material. Conversely, the more your brain is involved in organized the material, the better it will recall it as you get closer to test time.

This is where mind mapping comes in. This process is especially good for visual learners. To do a good mind map, you’ll need paper (the bigger, the better) and one or more pens (More colors helps with the visual impact).

As you do your mind map, keep in mind that they tend to grow quite big, so write small. That probably means you should use pens with a fine point.

Decide what the central theme of the class session was or what the main concept of the chapter in the textbook is. Write down this main topic in the middle of your paper and draw a circle around it. You could also highlight this main topic.

Now keep listening or reading until you come to what you consider the first major sub-topic. Jot down a key phrase that summarizes this sub topic. Now draw a line connecting it to the main topic, indicating a relationship between the main topic and the sub-topic.

Every time you come to a new sub-topic, repeat this process. Soon it will start looking like a bicycle wheel with spokes, with many sub-topics surrounding one major topic.

As we hinted earlier, you might find it helpful to use different colors of pen…perhaps one color pertaining to each sub-topic or maybe you can change up colors per chapter or day.

As you continue through the book or class, you’ll come to a point that will support a sub0topic. When this happens, draw a smaller circle with a few key words in it, and connect it to the sub-topic. Now when you’re studying your mind map and you see the topic or a sub-topic, it will be easier to recall the points related to each.

Tips for Taking Better Notes

admin — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:58:47 +0000

One of the key elements in passing any course is taking good notes. In order to learn the required information, your notes need to be thorough and organized in a way that makes them easy to review later. For many students, however, note taking is a difficult task, and often notes end up with either too little or too much information to make them useful. Fortunately, there are several techniques for taking better notes.

Prepare. The first tip for taking better notes is to prepare for the lecture. Read over the assigned material before class. This will help you know what material is going to be covered and what questions you have about that material. It also tells you what is covered in your book or study guide, so you do not need to take detailed notes on information that is already detailed for you.
Listen. Taking good notes requires you to listen to the lecture. This also means actually attending the class. Listening to the lecture enables you to pick up on points that may not be covered in the written material for the class. It also enables you to take better notes because you are able to hear the instructor say key words that help organize your notes.
For example:
- The instructor may emphasize certain points with tone, volume or gestures.
- The instructor may use signal phrases like, “There are three reasons…” or “There are two points of view…” These phrases alert you to significant points and help you structure your notes.
- The instructor may review at the start of class or summarize at the end, giving you a chance to make sure you have the most important points.
Organize. Even if you were able to write down every word that came out of the instructor’s mouth, it will do you no good if you are not able to review the notes. Using an organized note-taking system will make it much easier to review your notes later. The following are some of the several possible ways of organizing your notes:
- Outline Method: When using this method, you simply organize your notes in the form of an outline. Main topics are labeled, with supporting points listed underneath. This can be in the I, A, 1, a labeling format or it can be done with bullets or dashes to emphasize the supporting points for the heading.
- Cornell Method: This is also called the 2-6 method. The basic idea is that you divide your paper into two columns, using the red line on the side of your paper as a guide. The first column is 2 inches wide and the second is 6 inches wide. You write notes in the 6 column, and use the 2 column for listing keywords, main points or topics. The 2 column basically highlights the information in the 6 column, making it easy for you to refer back to specific areas when you review.
- Two other popular methods are the Outline Method and Mind Maps

Taking better notes is an essential element of making good grades. Use an organizational method that is comfortable for you, and avoid using shorthand that may be confusing later. Instead of trying to write every word the instructor says, make an effort to write down main points and key ideas. Taking better notes comes with practice, but the use of these techniques can help you take more organized and easily understood notes.

Teachers – see our Taking Notes Lesson Plan

How to Study from your notes

admin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:08:29 +0000

Do you take notes during class lectures and never seem to look at the notes again? If your filing your class notes away and not using the valuable information found in your notes, you may be missing a key study tool. Using your class lecture notes may not be as intuitive as reading the text book but once you learn how to study from your lecture notes, you’ll learn more quickly.

One of the key reasons students fail to use and study from their classroom notes is they believe the notes to be incomplete. If you feel you are missing key information in your class notes, join a study group and help each other fill in the missing blanks. You may also want to rewrite your notes after class and fill in the missing information while it is fresh in your mind.

You may find it easier to take notes on your computer. If you decide to take your computer to class and type your notes, look for a note taking program with simple interface that will allow you to concentrate on your note taking and not on the other programs your computer can run.

Whatever note taking method you determine is ideal for you, use paper notes when it is time to study. Collect your notes and use them to clarify the information you are reading and studying. Paper notes are useful when studying because you can write additional information on the paper and even highlight information that you do not understand. You can then return to your class and gain additional information to fill in your notes.

Incorporating your classroom notes into your study sessions can help you to learn more information in a quicker manner. Reading your text book will be easier if you use your class lecture notes to guide your reading and refresh your memory during the first part of your study session. Your classroom notes can be a helpful tool to your entire learning process, stop filing the information away and start using them.

The importance of note taking

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:06:25 +0000

It’s impossible to take great class notes if you don’t go to class.

Make sure you make that first class because that’s when the teacher will let you in on the course outline, and their expectations in terms of homework, class assignments and testing. You’ll get a good indication on how the course will be marked.

The most important habit you can get into when taking notes in class it to write clearly. If you can’t read what you’ve written, your notes aren’t going to be much good to you, and you don’t want to waste your time re-writing all your class notes.

Don’t write down information you don’t understand. Be sure to ask your teacher to explain any material you don’t understand. Once you get the concept you can make notes on it.

Keep your ears open for any hints on possible test questions. Lots of times a teacher will comment on the importance of information and infer that the information will appear on an upcoming test. Make sure you make note of that in your written material.

Take notes on any comments the teacher says about your material. She might indicate some material is more important than others, and some should be memorized sooner than others. Surprise tests aren’t so much of a surprise for students who’ve been paying attention and looking for hints.

The best way to gather great notes for a class is to go to class every day. Aim for perfect attendance. Spending time with your teacher allows you to get to know her teaching style and allows you to better figure out what to study, and what the teacher is looking for in test answers.

It’s tough to miss a class, because the teacher is going to continue moving on to the next thing and you may have missed a crucial part of the course outline the day before. And any material mentioned in class is eligible to appear in a future test. If you do miss class, try and borrow notes from another student (one who takes good class notes.)

TEACHER – Be sure to see our Taking Notes Lesson Plan

See our other posts on taking notes
Cornell Method
Split Page Method
Mind Mapping
Outline Method

Taking Power Notes (4)
Mind Maps Maximize Study Effectiveness (3)
Tips for Taking Better Notes (2)
How to Study from your notes (1)
Taking Notes: Split-Page Method (3)
Taking Notes: Outline Method (14)
Taking Notes: The Cornell Method (12)

Taking Notes: Split-Page Method

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:37:39 +0000

While thorough notes are a vital part of making good grades, many students do not know how to take notes. Note taking is not a skill you are born with, but one that you learn. Unfortunately, most instructors assume that previous instructors have taught students how to take good notes. There are many ways to organize your notes, and the split-page method is one of the most popular. For more information about learning effective study skills, try our free ebook on how to study.

The split-page method is exactly what it sounds like. You split the page by drawing a vertical line all the way down the paper. The line should be located 2.5 to 3 inches from the left-hand side of the paper.

So, what do you do with the two sides?

Similar to the Cornell method, the split-page method uses the right side of the divided page for recording lecture notes.

Another Method you may want to try, is Mind Mapping.

Do not try to write down every word of the lecture when taking notes. Doing so requires you to write at full speed, which means you will stop listening to what is being said. Instead, focus on writing down the main ideas and key points. Watch for cues from the instructor for important points, and be sure to note anything the professor writes on the board.

The left-hand side of the page can have one of two uses. Some students prefer to use the left column for writing down keywords from the notes or questions they may have about the material. This allows them to cover the notes and use only the keywords as prompts when reciting the information. If you use the left-hand column for cues and keywords, be sure to write them down as soon as possible after the lecture, while the information is still fresh in your mind.

The more traditional use for the left side is creating an outline of the textbook by writing down keywords and main points, also known as the Outline method of taking notes. The trick to this method is to keep the information from the textbook and the notes together, and to separate chapters. With this format, a student is able to study the textbook and the lecture notes side-by-side, without wasting time or losing their train of thought by flipping back and forth between notes and textbook.

A variation of the split-page method is to divide the page into three columns. The middle column is used for taking notes in class. The left-hand column is used for outlining the text. The right-hand column is used for writing down keywords, cues, and questions the student may have about the material. This format provides the textbook and notes in one location, and has the added bonus of a cue column. This allows students to cover the first two columns and use the cues in the third column as memory prompts when reciting the information.

Note taking is not a natural skill, although some people are naturally better at it than others are. There is a wide variety of methods for taking good notes, and not all methods work for everyone. The split-page method is easy to learn and easy to use, making it an excellent method for anyone trying take better notes.

College and High School Students will want to try out our free Ebook on How to Study.

Teachers will want to try our Taking Notes Lesson Plan.

Taking Notes: Outline Method

admin — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:17:03 +0000

Taking notes is not a skill that comes naturally to many students, but it is also not a skill that is taught in many classrooms. Note Taking is one of the most important study skills for High School Students and College Students. Because note taking is so important to educational success, it is important that students learn proper methods for taking thorough notes. The outline method of note taking is one that will look familiar to many students.

The outline method of note taking starts on the left-hand side of the paper. The most important points are placed at the left edge of the paper. Less important points, which are typically ideas that support the main points, are indented to the right. Each set of less important points is indented more to the right. It is easy to see, at a glance, the level of importance of the different ideas because of the distance between them and the major points.

An alternate form, which requires a little more thought, is to start with minor points to the left and indenting as points get more important. The alternate outline form is best used in lectures where minor ideas are used to build up to the most important ideas.

With either form, indentation is enough to show the importance of the ideas and the relationship between them. If you would like something more concrete, however, you can opt for using dashes, bullets or a Roman numeral and letter combination for further emphasis. For the sake of speed and being able to focus on the lecture, you may want to consider adding the marks after class when you review your notes.

As the name suggests, the Outline method is a outline of the material, divided into Main topics, SubTopics, and details. Outline notes look something like this:

I. First main topic

A. Subtopic

1. Detail
2. Detail

B. Subtopic

The outline method of note taking has several advantages. The outline method not only shows the content and main points of the lecture, but also shows the relationship between points. With an outline, it is easy to identify the main points of the information, and reviewing can be as simple as turning main points into questions. In addition, the outline is set up so simply that it takes very little, if any, editing for notes to be easily understood.

A major benefit of the outline method is the ability to focus on the lecture. Outlining does not require speed or great detail in the writing, both of which take away from your ability to listen to what is said. Outlining does require that you pay enough attention to the lecture to be able to outline the key ideas, which can help you retain more of the information.

There are some disadvantages to the outlining method. The outline method can be difficult to use in science and mathematical courses because those courses need more of an ability to show sequential relationships than outlining offers. Courses with fast-paced lectures may also be difficult to outline, partially because outlining requires the note-taker to think about organization.

For teachers, you may wish to familiarize students with different styles of note taking in addition to Outlining, such as charting and mapping. There is plenty of information online or you can use a Lesson plan for taking notes.

The outline method is somewhat familiar to most students, and can be easily used for many classes. Although it does require the student to think about how to organize the notes, the outline method is simple in design and allows students to focus on the lecture. The outline method of note taking is an excellent way to ensure your educational success.

For more information on taking notes, try our free ebook on how to study

See our other posts on taking notes
Cornell Method
Split Page Method
Mind Mapping
How to Study from your Notes
Taking Power Notes
Mind Maps

Taking Notes: The Cornell Method

admin — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:06:30 +0000

Lecture notes are an essential part of a successful school career, whether it is high school or university level. It is important that notes are well organized and easy to read. One way of creating perfect lecture notes is to use the Cornell method.

The first step to using the Cornell method is to divide your paper into three sections. Approximately 2 inches from the bottom of your paper, draw a horizontal line all the way across the page. Approximately 2.5 inches from the left side of your paper, draw a vertical line from the top to the horizontal line you have just drawn. On standard paper, this will give you a 2.5 x 9-inch section on the left, a 6 x 9-inch section on the right, and 2 x 8.5-inch section at the bottom. It is important that you create all three sections because each section has its own purpose in the Cornell method. Here is an example from Buck’s University and a PDF document example from Cornell

Once you have divided your paper into three sections, you are ready to take notes. The 6 x 9-inch section is your note-taking section. This is where you begin the 6 R’s of note-taking.

1. Record – During the lecture, record your notes in the note-taking section. The idea is not to write down every single word of the lecture, but to capture the main points. Grammar, punctuation and spelling are not vital, as long as you can read your notes later. You may want to develop your own shorthand or abbreviation method for your notes. Just be sure you can remember and understand them once you’ve left the classroom.

2. Reduce – After the lecture, reduce your notes to main keywords. These are cues to help you remember the information, and they are written in the 2.5-inch section to the left of the notes. The cue section is also a good place to note any questions that you have as you go over your notes.

3. Recapitulate – Recapitulate is a fancy word for summarize. The summary of your notes goes in the 2-inch space at the bottom of the page. Summarize each page of notes at the bottom of that page. You can also summarize the entire lecture on the last page of the notes for that lecture. Most lists place recapitulation as the last step in the 6 R’s, but it is best to write your summary after you write your cues in the left-hand column. Writing it immediately ensures that the information is still fresh in your mind, which helps you create a more accurate summary.

4. Recite – Recite the information. Actually saying it out loud can help to reinforce the learning process. Ideally, you can cover up the note-taking section and use the cue section to jog your memory when reciting.

5. Reflect – Think about your notes and the information that you have just learned. Consider how the information can be applied, and how it fits with what you already know. Figure out the significance of the information, and why knowing it is important.

6. Review – Review your notes frequently to keep from forgetting the information. If you set aside time several days each week to review and recite your notes, you will not have to worry about an all-night cram session before the exam.

Here is a quick tutorial on how to create a Cornell notes template in WORD.

For those who hate trying to remember to divide the paper into sections, a PDF generator is available that creates printable PDF files with pages divided into the correct sections. There are also Cornell templates available for those who use Microsoft Word for their notes.

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