METHODS OF NOTE TAKING

Spidergram

Cornell

Charting

Tree diagram

Outlining

Linear

How to use:

Prepare your notepaper by creating a two-column table. The left hand column should take up about 1/3 of your writing space, leaving the remaining 2/3 for recording information. Use only one side of each sheet of notepaper. Summarize and paraphrase (restate in your own words) the facts and ideas presented. Record definitions as stated or written. Indicate changes in topic with headings or by leaving a space between topics Number, indent, or bullet key ideas presented with each topic. Aim for telegraphic (brief) sentences, abbreviations, and symbols. This will increase your note taking speed. Write legibly so your notes make sense to you later. Edit as soon as possible.

NOTE TAKINNG

How to get the most out of lectures:

BEFORE: • Get a feel for the subject. Read (or flick) through a book on the subject of the lecture. Look for themes, issues, topics and headings. Look up any technical words you don’t understand. • Write down questions that you want answered during the lecture. Leave space to fill in the answers either during or after a lecture • Glance through your notes from the previous lecture to look for links. • Prepare all your writing materials: paper, pens of different colours and highlighters.

DURING: • To focus attention, listen for clues as to the way the lecture is going. For example: ‘there are 5 main categories of…’ • ‘Now I want to look at’, ‘Why did this happen?’ • Good lecturers will tell you at the beginning what they will cover and in what order • Avoid writing details that you can later get from a textbook. Keep your attention on listening. In your head, keep asking questions as the lecturer goes along: this will help to focus your attention. Ask: ‘Is this always the case?’ ‘How representative is this?’ ‘Why is this?’ and ‘Do I agree?’ • Indicate new questions raised in different colours.

AFTER: • Label and file your lecture notes and any handouts • Read through your notes. Fill in details from your reading or research. • Discuss the lecture with others. Compare your notes and fill in any gaps.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF NOTES?

Notes are useful in many ways. These include: • Being a useful record of important points and events that have occurred • Helping planning of work and helping ideas to flow • Helping understanding of the main points and helping think through problems • Helping to sum up main ideas • Helping revision through organisation

Importance of Notes

Prevents forgetting: Our memory fades quickly. For most students, forgetting occurs very rapidly after listening to a lecture, or reading over informational material even if the material is engaging and interesting. After lectures, for example, research shows that we forget 50% of what we hear within an hour and more than 70% within two days. Encourages concentration: Taking effective notes requires a student to be mentally active during a lecture or while reading. One has to pay attention, interact with information, make decisions about what to record, and write. Given that the mind is occupied with a demanding task, there is less opportunity for the mind to wander. Records testable material: Instructors generally expect students to remember and apply facts and ideas presented in lecture or in texts. Tests are based on key ideas teachers emphasize in their lectures and/or written material that supports key concepts or themes, in other words, the testable material.

Organising notes

Options include: Loose-leaf folder – easy to subdivide, reorganise and add to Ringer binder – as above but more secure Filling cards – good for headings, very useful in revision Notebook – secure and easy to carry, but not very flexible in use Computer – very useful to keep backup items

NOTE TAKINNG

How to get the most out of lectures:

BEFORE: • Get a feel for the subject. Read (or flick) through a book on the subject of the lecture. Look for themes, issues, topics and headings. Look up any technical words you don’t understand. • Write down questions that you want answered during the lecture. Leave space to fill in the answers either during or after a lecture • Glance through your notes from the previous lecture to look for links. • Prepare all your writing materials: paper, pens of different colours and highlighters.

DURING: • To focus attention, listen for clues as to the way the lecture is going. For example: ‘there are 5 main categories of…’ • ‘Now I want to look at’, ‘Why did this happen?’ • Good lecturers will tell you at the beginning what they will cover and in what order • Avoid writing details that you can later get from a textbook. Keep your attention on listening. In your head, keep asking questions as the lecturer goes along: this will help to focus your attention. Ask: ‘Is this always the case?’ ‘How representative is this?’ ‘Why is this?’ and ‘Do I agree?’ • Indicate new questions raised in different colours.

AFTER: • Label and file your lecture notes and any handouts • Read through your notes. Fill in details from your reading or research. • Discuss the lecture with others. Compare your notes and fill in any gaps.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF NOTES?

Notes are useful in many ways. These include: • Being a useful record of important points and events that have occurred • Helping planning of work and helping ideas to flow • Helping understanding of the main points and helping think through problems • Helping to sum up main ideas • Helping revision through organisation

Importance of Notes

Prevents forgetting: Our memory fades quickly. For most students, forgetting occurs very rapidly after listening to a lecture, or reading over informational material even if the material is engaging and interesting. After lectures, for example, research shows that we forget 50% of what we hear within an hour and more than 70% within two days. Encourages concentration: Taking effective notes requires a student to be mentally active during a lecture or while reading. One has to pay attention, interact with information, make decisions about what to record, and write. Given that the mind is occupied with a demanding task, there is less opportunity for the mind to wander. Records testable material: Instructors generally expect students to remember and apply facts and ideas presented in lecture or in texts. Tests are based on key ideas teachers emphasize in their lectures and/or written material that supports key concepts or themes, in other words, the testable material.

Organising notes

Options include: Loose-leaf folder – easy to subdivide, reorganise and add to Ringer binder – as above but more secure Filling cards – good for headings, very useful in revision Notebook – secure and easy to carry, but not very flexible in use Computer – very useful to keep backup items

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