The Top 20 Tips On Effective Note Taking

Effective Note Taking

The following points represent widely accepted note taking tips and strategies which assist in organising and directing classroom efforts so that comprehension becomes the main focus. Perhaps the most important quality in good note taking is the development of a personal method which is conducive to your individual learning style. Mastering the note taking process will enhance understanding and contribute to your long term scholarly successes.

  1. Be Prepared
    • Preparation is an essential part of the note taking process. You must ensure that your mind is focused on the day’s lesson and that your desk is clean and free of distractions. Make sure all materials are lain out prior to the lecture’s beginning.
  2. Be Ready to Listen
    • The key to comprehension is focus and listening. Active listening includes writing questions which arise in the margins of your notes and querying the instructor when clarification is needed.
  3. Perfect a Note Taking Method
    • Cornell Method
      • A popular method for organised note taking and review which utilises a 2 ½ inch margin on the left hand side of the page for later detailing. The remaining 6 inch portion should be used for taking notes, paying close attention to content and skipping lines to separate main ideas and points. The leftmost margin will be used to script cues and a broader idea map which allow for easy revision and study.
    • Outline Method
      • Start by intently listening for key points or ideas. Write the main points to the far left of the page with each subsequent point within the same topic indented to the right based on importance. Dashed indicators or roman numerals are popular ways to separate levels.
    • Mapping Method
      • This method is based upon graphic representation of lecture content, maximising participation and requiring substantial concentration. Tracking ideas through a visually separated relationship allows for comparison and contrast throughout the lecture.
  4. Be Attentive
    • Attentive students will focus on the lecture and avoid needless distractions such as side conversations, drawings, or wayward thoughts. Connect the lecture points to outside reading and key thought processes to remain participative.
  5. Start a New Page for Each Class
    • Attempting to review a page notes on three different subjects is like cartography in a hurricane, there is no potential for connecting the dots. Ensure that your notes are segregated and organised for easy review and later referral.
  6. Only Write on One Site of Paper
    • Note taking is as much about organisation as it is about the quality of the notes. Key ideas on a single sheet of paper are much easier to review than having to flip back and forth. Keep your page clean and accessible, minimising any bleed-through by writing on just one side.
  7. Be Brief but Concise
    • Don’t waste time or focus trying to write down everything the instructor says. Listen for the key points and actively link subsets of ideas through format or line breaks to ensure coherence. Reviewing the notes will be an important part of the study process and concise text is much easier to assimilate.
  8. Date and Title Notes
    • Make sure you know the history behind your note taking so that you can review with ease an in an order that makes sense. The title should be based on the day’s lecture topic and gives additional reference for the future.
  9. Ask Questions or for Repetition
    • If you miss a key point or don’t understand the subject matter, ask questions. If you can’t get an immediate response, note the general idea and pursue it later with the instructor, teaching assistant, or your peers.
  10. Separate Key Points and Major Idea Shifts
    • Key points should be separated by line or page breaks as needed, making sure that ideas are unique to a particular note section. This segregation will make review much easier and ensure organisation.
  11. Allow Enough Room on Page
    • Don’t try to plaster an entire topic into a paragraph’s white space. Make sure that you have enough room to develop the idea or move on to a blank page.
  12. Use Diagrams and Figures
    • As you develop your method, diagrams and figures can make association easier. If such examples are provided by the instructor, copy them as best you can, linking key points through arrows or other graphics.
  13. Use Colours
    • Colour separation is one method of organisation which highlights multiple levels of ideas. All primary ideas fall under one colour, secondary under another, and so on.
  14. Record the Lecture
    • We all miss something from time to time, so as allowed, record the lecture for future review. It is extremely important not to think that the recorder is an alterative to note taking.
  15. Write down examples
    • Try to draw correlations between difficult ideas and symbols or circumstances you recognise. Link main topics to previous studies and life experience.
  16. Board Notes are Important
    • If it gets written on the board, it’s important! Do not discount the board notes that your instructor puts up and ensure they are captured.
  17. Compare Notes with Textbook
    • Review your notes later to link key textbook ideas with those discussed in class. This will make all the difference in knowing what direction future lectures are headed in.
  18. Review and Edit Notes
    • Reviewing your notes is essential and may be done using margin detailing, rewriting, electronic transfer, flashcards, or any other format that helps improve comprehension. Notes should be edited during these times for clarity.
  19. Compare Notes with Other Students
    • Your peers are an important resource and they should be an active part of your scholarship. Don’t be afraid to compare notes to make sure that you haven’t missed an example or major point during the lecture.
  20. Outline
    • After you have reviewed the lecture, put together a map which will go in front of your notes in their designated place. Outline the lecture with key points and ideas and make sure that all information flows towards the day’s conclusion.