Note Taking

• The Cornell Method


  • Provides a systematic format for condensing and organizing notes without laborious recopying
  • During class, take down information on the six-inch area. When the instructor moves to a new point, skip a few lines. After class, complete phrases and sentences as much as possible. For every significant bit of information, write a cue in the left margin. To review, cover your notes with a card, leaving the cues exposed. Say the cue out loud, then say as much as you can of the material underneath the card. When you have said as much as you can, move the card and see if what you said matches what is written. If you can say it, you know it
• The Outlining Method


  Listening and then write in points in an organized pattern based on space indention. Place major points farthest to the left. Indent each more specific point to the right. Levels of importance will be indicated by distance away from the major point. Indention can be as simple as or as complex as labeling the indentations with Roman numerals or decimals. Markings are not necessary as space relationships will indicate the major/minor points
• The Outlining Method


  • Dash or indented outlining is usually best except for some science classes such as physics or math. The most general information begins at the left with each more specific group of facts indented with spaces to the right. The relationships between the different parts are carried out through indenting. No number, letter, or Roman numeral needed
• Note-taking is the practice of writing down or otherwise recording key points of information. It is an important part of the research process. Notes taken on class lectures or discussions may serve as study aids. Notes taken during an interview may provide material for an essay, article, or book.
• The Cornell Method

  Rule your paper with a 2 ½ inch margin on the left leaving a six-inch area on the right in which to make notes
• The Outlining Method

  Requires more thought in class for accurate organization. This system may not show relationships by sequence when needed. It doesn't lend to diversity of a review attach for maximum learning
• The Outlining Method

  • Well-organized system if done right. Outlining records content as well as relationships. It also reduces editing and is easy to review by turning main points into questions
• Charting Method

  Determine categories to be covered, set up paper with columns, record information into appropriate category
• Mapping Method

  • Advantages
  • Disadvantages
  • When to Use
• Charting Method

  • Advantages: Helps track conversation and dialogues, reduces necessary writing, provides easy review mechanism for memorization and study of comparisons and relationships
• Mapping Method


  Graphic representation of lecture content
• Mapping Method

  • Advantages: Helps visually track lecture regardless of conditions, relationships easily seen, easy to edit notes, review forces restructuring of thought processes, main points can be written on flash or note cards for later structuring
• Mapping Method


  Uses comprehension/concentration skills and evolves in a note-taking form which relates each fact or idea to every other fact or idea. It is a graphic representation of the content of a lecture, maximizing active participation, immediate knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking
• Charting Method

  Setting up paper with columns and headings in a table to record lecture information
• Charting Method

  • Advantages
  • Disadvantages
  • When to Use
• Disadvantages of The Sentence Method

  • Can't determine major/minor points from the numbered sequence
  • Difficult to edit without having to rewrite by clustering points which are related
  • Difficult to review unless editing cleans up relationship
• The Sentence Method

  Write every new thought, fact or topic on a separate line, numbering as you progress
• The Sentence Method


  • Slightly more organized than the paragraph
  • Gets more or all of the information
  • Thinking to tract content is still limited
• Advantages of The Sentence Method

  • More organized than the paragraph
  • Gets more or all of the information
• When to Use The Sentence Method

  • Use when the lecture is somewhat organized, but heavy with content which comes fast
  • You can hear the different points, but you don't know how they fit together
  • The instructor tends to present in point fashion, but not in grouping such as "three related points"