Taking Effective NotesTaking Effective Notes

If you need to remember If you need to remember something for class:something for class: Write it downWrite it down Review itReview it Organize itOrganize it Keep it handyKeep it handy

Stay on top of your notes!Stay on top of your notes!

Take Charge of Your Take Charge of Your LecturesLectures

Commit to classCommit to classConcentrate Concentrate Capture key ideas Capture key ideas

and listen activelyand listen activelyConnect ideasConnect ideasWrite them downWrite them down

To Process Information To Process Information EfficientlyEfficiently

1.Commit yourself to do your best work.

2.Concentrate to eliminate distractions and focus on the material.

3.Connect new ideas to what you already know.

4.Capture critical information with your pencil or pen

I’m here to help!

Commit Commit to the Class & the Work to the Class & the Work InvolvedInvolved

Be psychologically ready to learn.Be psychologically ready to learn. Arrive a few minutes early and review your Arrive a few minutes early and review your

notes and previous reading assignment.notes and previous reading assignment. Identify areas that are difficult to Identify areas that are difficult to

understand.understand. Develop questions that will help you clarify Develop questions that will help you clarify

challenging aspects of the material.challenging aspects of the material. Be on time: instructors often review during Be on time: instructors often review during

the first few minutes of class.the first few minutes of class.

ConcentrateConcentrate on the Material on the Material

Keep your mind “on-task.”Keep your mind “on-task.”Be aware of distractions & Be aware of distractions &

don’t let them have youdon’t let them have youTalking to others “off-task”Talking to others “off-task”Daydreaming & doodlingDaydreaming & doodlingNot paying attentionNot paying attention

Stay Stay focused!focused!

CaptureCapture Key Ideas and Key Ideas and Listen ActivelyListen Actively

Identify key words, Identify key words, themes, and main pointsthemes, and main points

Recognize organizational Recognize organizational patterns in the lecturepatterns in the lecture

Relate details to the main Relate details to the main pointpoint

Listen for cluesListen for clues Take ownership of the Take ownership of the

informationinformation

We’reWe’reCapturedCaptured

!!

ConnectConnect Ideas Ideas

Paraphrase what you hearParaphrase what you hearRelate key ideas to what you Relate key ideas to what you

already knowalready knowMake a note of unknown wordsMake a note of unknown wordsMake new ideas intoMake new ideas into

connected onesconnected ones

Identify Key Words, ThemesIdentify Key Words, Themes and Main Points and Main Points

Listen to the ones that the instructor Listen to the ones that the instructor repeats, highlights, or illustrates with repeats, highlights, or illustrates with examples.examples.

Many courses have unique and topic-Many courses have unique and topic-specific words.specific words.

Listen for new words and phrases and Listen for new words and phrases and learn their meaning in the context.learn their meaning in the context.

Look for the broader picture to which Look for the broader picture to which the material relatesthe material relates——even if your even if your instructor doesn’t specifically present it instructor doesn’t specifically present it to you.to you.

Observe your instructor for clues about Observe your instructor for clues about what he or she thinks is importantwhat he or she thinks is important

Look Look for the for the keys!keys!

This one for sure!This one for sure!

Listen for Listen for CluesClues

Note when a topic comes up more than Note when a topic comes up more than once.once.

Transition words signal the change of Transition words signal the change of topics or new key points:topics or new key points: ““in contrast to”in contrast to” ““let’s move on”let’s move on” ““this will be on the next examthis will be on the next exam””

Lists usually give important material Lists usually give important material that is easy to test.that is easy to test.

Instructors are most likely to test on Instructors are most likely to test on ideas they consider exciting, so listen ideas they consider exciting, so listen for special enthusiasm.for special enthusiasm.

Develop Your Note-taking Develop Your Note-taking StyleStyle

Successful students take good Successful students take good notes.notes.

A successful note-taking strategy A successful note-taking strategy reflects:reflects:the complexity of the course contentthe complexity of the course contentthe lecturer’s stylethe lecturer’s styleyour own learning preferencesyour own learning preferences

Use any strategy that will help the Use any strategy that will help the key ideas stand out for you.key ideas stand out for you.

Choose the Note-Taking Choose the Note-Taking Method that’s right for Method that’s right for

you…you…The Cornell SystemThe Cornell SystemOutliningOutliningSummary MethodSummary MethodConcept MapsConcept MapsFishbone DiagramFishbone Diagram

The Cornell The Cornell SystemSystem

Divide your notepaper by Divide your notepaper by drawing a vertical line 2 inches drawing a vertical line 2 inches from the left margin.from the left margin.

On the right side, take your notes On the right side, take your notes from class.from class.

On the left side, writeOn the left side, write key wordskey words questionsquestions commentscomments ExamplesExamples

On the bottom, write a summaryOn the bottom, write a summary These will make your work easier These will make your work easier

to review laterto review later Test yourself by identifying the Test yourself by identifying the

lecture material on the right , lecture material on the right , prompted by your comments on prompted by your comments on the left.the left.

OutliningOutlining This is easy to do with a This is easy to do with a

well-organized lecture, well-organized lecture, otherwise you may have to otherwise you may have to work a little harder.work a little harder.

Use headings and Use headings and subheadings followed by subheadings followed by course material.course material.

Your results will be neat, Your results will be neat, easy to follow notes, easy to follow notes, providing a clear picture of providing a clear picture of the information.the information.

FormalFormalOutlineOutline

InformalInformalOutlineOutline

Summary MethodSummary Method Monitor the lecture for critical Monitor the lecture for critical

ideas.ideas. Pause to create your own summary Pause to create your own summary

of what has been presented.of what has been presented. This method will force you to This method will force you to

determine what is important and determine what is important and how information is related to the how information is related to the topics presented.topics presented.

This is an especially effective This is an especially effective method method for dealing with a disorganized for dealing with a disorganized lecture.lecture.

Did Did you you get get

that?that?

No, we’d No, we’d better better

summarizsummarize!e!

The Concept MapThe Concept Map

Good listeners in lecture

Get rest

Avoid distractionTake

notes

Sit near front

SummarizeEat Breakfast

Legible

Regular sleep

Thus provides visual cues about how ideas are related.Thus provides visual cues about how ideas are related.It is very effective after class, putting your notes in a more It is very effective after class, putting your notes in a more visual format.visual format.

Fishbone DiagramFishbone Diagram The problem or The problem or

outcome is printed outcome is printed in the head of the in the head of the “fish”.“fish”.

Identify the primary Identify the primary factors and connect factors and connect them like ribs to the them like ribs to the backbone of the fishbackbone of the fish

Elaborate each rib Elaborate each rib with the details with the details related to each related to each primary factor.primary factor.

Fishbones, Fishbones, yes! yes!

Listen Critically During ClassListen Critically During Class

Be ready for the message.Be ready for the message.Listen to main concepts. Listen to main concepts. Listen for new ideas.Listen for new ideas.Repeat mentally. Repeat mentally. Ask questions. Ask questions. Respect your own ideas and those of Respect your own ideas and those of

others. others. Sort, organize and categorize as you Sort, organize and categorize as you

take notes.take notes.

Master Note-Taking StrategiesMaster Note-Taking Strategies Identify the Session Identify the Session

ClearlyClearly Reduce to Key IdeasReduce to Key Ideas Take Notes from All Take Notes from All

Relevant InputRelevant Input Don’t Erase MistakesDon’t Erase Mistakes Use AbbreviationsUse Abbreviations Review Your Notes Review Your Notes

OftenOften Tape Lectures that Tape Lectures that

You Really NeedYou Really Need Be Organized!Be Organized!

Request Feedback Request Feedback About Your NotesAbout Your Notes

Keep Evaluating your Keep Evaluating your Note-Taking StrategyNote-Taking Strategy

Good notes are Good notes are essential for essential for

good good scholarship.scholarship.

Other Note-Taking Other Note-Taking TipsTips

Write your notes in your own Write your notes in your own words.words.

Avoid writing things down that Avoid writing things down that you don’t understand.you don’t understand.

Ask questions when you don’t Ask questions when you don’t understand.understand.

Think and record information Think and record information in pictures.in pictures.

Explain yourself if need be.Explain yourself if need be. Periodically evaluate the Periodically evaluate the

quality of your notes.quality of your notes.

Short-Term Memory: Short-Term Memory: Listening and Forgetting Listening and Forgetting

Most forgetting takes place 24 Most forgetting takes place 24 hours after you see or hear hours after you see or hear something! something!

If you don’t review after class, If you don’t review after class, you might have forgotten up to you might have forgotten up to 70% of the material.70% of the material.