study skills

notetakingBe more EFFICIENT and more EFFECTIVE

note-taking tools

Note-Taking Tools

LaptopUse a note-taking program 

Evernote

OneNote 

Learn to type (faster) Become familiar with keyboard shortcutsUse text expander programs 

Note-taking tools

Pen and PaperNotebook for each class

Write clearly

before, during, afterThe process of note-taking & studying

prepare

before the lecture: prepare

Do the assigned reading

Arrive 10 minutes before class and review the assigned reading and notes from the previous class 

Turn off wi-fi card or block the internet 

what to write down

During the Lecture: What to Write Down Only write down the main points of the

lecture 

Write the professor’s summary at the end of class and her review at the beginning of the next class

Write down any examples or hypotheticals the professor gives during class 

If you didn’t get a point, make a note of it, and wait until after class to ask 

review, clarify, synthesize

After the Lecture: Review, Clarify, and Synthesize

Review and clarify notes right after class Synthesize notes into a master outline 

note-taking stylesone that works for YOU

Note-Taking Styles I

Rough Outline Method

Note-taking styles II

Mind Mapping

mind mapping

Note-taking styles III

Charting Method

Note-Taking Styles III (Charting)

This thing

1

2

3

4

5

6

This OTHER thing

1a

2a

3a

4a

5a

6a

Note-Taking Styles IV

Cornell Style NotesDivide your page into two columns 

During the lecture, write your notes in the “Notes” column 

After the lecture, write keywords in the “Keywords” column 

Test your recall using only the “Keyword” column  

Write a brief summary

Cornell Style Notes REPEATED

LEARNING the material

note-taking

note-taking is really about studying and learning