Effective Note Taking Taking Notes on Lectures General

Effective Note Taking

Taking Notes on Lectures

General Guidelines:

Make your notes brief • Use an outline or number system • Write in your own words • Focus on key words, major points, etc. • Avoid writing out sentences verbatim and copying large blocks of text from Powerpoint presentations

Pay attention to what the professor emphasizes • Material written on the board • Points that the professor repeats several times • Word signals (“there are two major approaches to…”; “in conclusion”; etc. ) • Reviews at the beginning of class • Summaries at the end of class

The Cornell Note Taking System:

1 2 Divide your page into three sections 3

1 1. Take detailed notes 2. Write down key words and questions 3. Summarize your notes 2 3

During class, take notes in the biggest column

Right after lecture, write down questions and key words based on the notes you have taken in the smaller column. You can use these later to quiz yourself on the material.

Write a brief summary of your notes in the bottom section. Summaries will allow you review your notes quickly.

You can use this system to take notes on books as well, but make sure to keep your notes brief and to write in your own words.

Credits • Pen and notes: Photosteve 101’s flicker account (https: //www. flickr. com/photos/42931449@N 07/5418402840) • Lecture Hall: Kevin Dooley’s flicker account (https: //www. flickr. com/photos/pagedooley/13905987989) • Darwin notes: By Charles Darwin - [1], Public Domain, https: //commons. wikimedia. org/w/index. php? curid=36638808 • Japanese maple: Photosteve 101’s flicker account (https: //www. flickr. com/photos/42931449@N 07/6312187273) • Cornell note page: http: //lsc. cornell. edu/wpcontent/uploads/2015/10/Cornell-Note_Taking-System. pdf • Book: http: //publicdomainpictures. net/view-image. php? image=19527