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Good Notes 
Recall-Clue
Bad Habits
Effective Listening
Excitement in Class
Quick One
Concept Maps
Kinds of Maps
Minute Paper
"Muddiest" Point
Applications Card
Transitions
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Taking Good Notes In Lectures
Why take notes? There are
three basic reasons: to learn, for reference, and to keep you thinking. But taking good lecture notes isn't easy. Good lecture
notes must summarize the main points, include the important ideas in your own
words, and list the specific details needed for your purpose in this class. To
be successful, you must make what you hear part of your own thinking.
Be Prepared To Take Good Notes
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Understanding a lecture and taking good notes during it
will be easier if you have prepared and know what topics will be covered before
you go to class. You should read all assignments listed in the syllabus and
given by your instructor. In addition, you should review your notes from the previous class session
and any handouts. Finally, you should determine what your purpose is for this
class session so you will be able to take the notes you need to fulfill your
purpose. |
Know Your Instructor's Style
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Does your instructor: 1) simply review the text page by
page, 2) use the text as a basis for lecture but add a lot of information from
other sources, or 3) assign you to read the text-expecting you to read it on
your own-and lecture from other sources? It's possible that your instructor will
use a combination of these approaches during a semester, but your awareness of
where lecture material is coming from is your first step in taking good notes.
Also consider the way an instructor organizes and delivers
information. If you have an instructor start a class with, "Today we will
discuss the three basic views of... ,"' use that as a key to organize your notes
as you take them. If, on the other hand, your instructor begins with an
anecdote or some other illustrative material, you will have to write down
ideas in the order the instructor delivers them and then spend time
organizing them after class. Stay alert for cues your instructor gives you,
such as
- changing voice pitch, rate or tone,
- writing information on the board, and
- using audio-visual material such as transparencies or computer
presentations.
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Understand What You Write
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Don't try to be a human tape recorder--trying to write a
complete transcript of the class is not good notetaking. Your notes should
capture the main points and only those details you need for this specific
purpose.
Your notes should be simple and in your own words whenever
possible. Aside from complex concepts or specific formulas that you must
memorize and therefore need to write/copy, always translate ideas into your own
words. Include supplemental and text references your instructor gives; the
additional readings will help you clarify your notes and the concepts that are
covered. |
Take Your Notes The Same Way
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Use standard 8 1/2 x 11 lined notebook paper. Title it with
class, date, and whatever other information is needed to distinguish the notes
you take in this class today from any other notes. Devise and use your own
shorthand to make notetaking easier and stick to it remember that each note must be complete enough to be
intelligible later. If you miss information, leave a blank spot in your notes
and ask after class. Don't crowd information together. Leave room for extra
information and put only one idea or item on a line. |
Make Notes on Your Notes
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Study from your notes; don't just read them over. Right
after class, spend 5-10 minutes editing your notes. Fill in missing information,
clarify abbreviations, and expand details. Try using the Recall-Clue
system-words in the margins--to index your notes:
- Leave an extra 2-inch margin at the left side of each
page of notes. Do not write in this margin while you are taking notes.
- After you have edited your notes, annotate in the left
margin with words, phrases, or questions that briefly summarize major points.
These recall clues should be key words that trigger your memory to help you
recall the complete information.
- To study, cover up the lecture notes and look only at
the margin notes. Read the clue and try to recall all the information in your
notes. Slide the cover down and check yourself.
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Try the Recall-Clue Strategy, shown on the next page!
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