A Guide to Note-Taking in Class
Taking notes of what happens in class is necessary for two main reasons. Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, we take notes to help us remember the main points of the class. We use these notes to go back to when we are reviewing or studying. Secondly, we take notes to help us learn as we listen. This works because a good note-taker is focusing on fully understanding the concepts as they structure them on paper.
How to Prepare to Take Notes
You need to be ready for class to take good notes. Ensure that you have completed your assigned readings and assignments and have reviewed your notes from the previous class. Now you are in the best position to understand the lecture, anticipate what information might be important, connect the class material with the course as a whole, and formulate questions you may want to ask to further your understanding.
What to Write in Your Notes
Do not try to write down every word the teacher speaks and writes. You will be so busy recording the lecture that you will not be able to learn. Instead, listen and actively make an effort to understand the class material as it is presented. As you listen, organize and contextualize the important ideas, concepts, and facts. By focusing on writing down just what is most important, you will have time to be engaged in class, and complete a good set of notes to refer to when you are reviewing and studying.
How to Organize Your Notes
There are five common methods for organizing your notes:
Find the method that works for you, combine and modify them to suit your needs. Remember that your notes are for you and you alone, so organize them in a way that works for you.
After the Lecture
Revise your notes within a day or two, and review them again before your next class. Discuss with other students what points they found interesting and important. Keep your notes in mind as you complete your readings. Rephrase them as your understanding evolves. Seek help from your instructor or tutor about anything you still don’t understand.
Keep practicing! The skill of taking notes in class takes time to master. However, once learned you will get the most out of all of your classes and your grades will reflect it!
The Mapping Method
With the mapping method, you create a graphic representation of the lecture. Every Topic, fact or idea is related to each other visually.
Example of notes taken using the Mapping Method:
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Alternative Energy Systems 3 main types
Wind Solar Other
- Adv: Full load hours - Adv: Most cost-effective - Hydro, Geothermal, Tidal, Bio. -DisAdv: Location-specific -Most potential for future -Emerging tech |
The Outlining Method
With the Outlining Method, you organize your notes with indentations. The level of importance is indicated by the distance from the left margin. Indentations make it easy for you to see how topics relate to each other. The Outlining method is perhaps the most common method students use to take notes.
Example of notes taken using the Outline Method:
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Tourism in B.C. Developing infrastructure BC parks Popular destinations Must be regulated to ensure the protection of nature and wildlife Destination cities Planning for population influx during tourist season. Diversification of employment becomes important. Promoting Tourism PR campaigns advertising Word of mouth Social media
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The Sentence Method
The Sentence Method involves using sentences to summarize and organize your thoughts.
You write each topic and the supporting details in sentences using your own words. Each new topic begins on a new line with a number in the margin.
The advantage of using the Sentence Method is that a full sentence is often clearer to understand than a few linking words. This method also encourages you to be fully engaged in class and to critically think about what to write and how to write it concisely.
Example of notes taken using the Sentence Method:
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Developing Tourism in B.C.
1. Infrastructure needs to be developed and maintained to attract tourists. BC Parks are popular destinations. However, they must be regulated to ensure the protection of nature and wildlife. Popular cities called ‘Destination cities’ need careful planning to accommodate the influx of people during the tourist season. Also, in these cities diversification of employment becomes important.
2. Promoting Tourism can be promoted through PR campaigns. The most common ways to promote tourism are advertising, word of mouth, and social media.
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The Charting Method
The Charting Method uses a table to organize your notes. It is useful for lessons that cover a lot of facts.
The organization of the chart makes for easy review. However, If the topics are not obvious, the system can be hard to use in a lecture.
Example of notes taken using the Charting Method:
Alternative Energy Systems
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Energy system |
Current Usage |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Wind |
21% of current energy demands |
Full load hours
Benefits economy of rural areas |
Location-specific
Noise and aesthetic pollution |
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Solar |
7% of current energy demands |
Most cost-effective
Low maintenance costs |
Storage is expensive
A lot of space is required |
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Other: Geothermal, Tidal, Bio |
Future: Emerging Tech |
Future potential |
Location-specific High costs |
The Cornell Method
This method was popularized by Dr. Walter Pauk at Cornell University. The Cornell Method ensures your notes are clearly organized, summarized, and ready for review.
Example of notes taken using the Cornell Method.
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Name: Student X Course: Tourism Date: 20 Oct. |
Topic: Developing Tourism in B.C. |
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Recall
Developing infrastructure
Destination cities
What are the 3 ways to promote tourism?
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Notes
Developing infrastructure BC Parks are popular destinations. However, they must be regulated to ensure the protection on nature and wildlife. Popular cites called ‘Destination cites’ need careful planning to accommodate the influx of people during the tourist season. Also, in these cities diversification of employment becomes important. BC parks. Promoting Tourism Tourism can be promoted through PR campaigns. The most common ways to promote tourism are:
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Summary
Infrastructure needs to be developed and maintained to attract tourists. BC Parks and Destination cities are the two main destinations. BC parks need maintenance and regulations. Destination cites need careful planning to prepare for the tourist season. PR campaigns are essential to promote tourism.
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Notes column: During the lecture, write the lecture's main points in the notes column.
Recall column: After the lecture pull out single words or phrases that will help you remember the information in your notes. These could be main ideas, concepts, terms, places, or dates. You can also write study questions here. Use the recall column to test yourself. Look at only the notes in your recall column and ask yourself questions. Refer to your notes column only if you have to.
Summary box: After the lecture summarize your notes here. This helps you review and critically think about the lecture.
Works cited: Pauk, W., & Owens, R.J.Q. (2014). How to study in college (11th ed.). Wadsworth Cengage Learning.