How to... Make Better Notes

How to...

make better

notes!

Note Taking

This ‘how to’ guide is a selection of LRC activities and resources to help you make better notes.

This guide contains:

· Top 5 tips for making notes · How to make better notes · The double column or Cornell note taking system · Examples of notes to give you ideas

5 top tips for

making notes

1. How do you like to learn? Work with how you work best!

Seeing mind-maps highlighters coloured pens drawings flowcharts timelines

Moving type notes on a laptop

mind maps flash cards flowcharts time lines highlighters

Listening record notes on your phone make audio files and listen later discuss your notes read your notes aloud explain them to someone

2. Choose a note-taking style that works for you: Use the one you feel most comfortable with or mix and match!

Pattern (spider diagrams and mind maps) Lists (Headings, sub-headings, bullet points) Double column (Cornell)

5 top tips for

making notes

3. Decide on what specific material to make notes on

Do you really need this information? If so, which bits? Will you really use it? When, and how? Have you noted similar information already? What questions do you want to answer with this information?’ (Cottrell, 2013)

4. Include key information

Source information

Book or website: title, author, date etc or URL Lesson: date, teacher, title/topic

Headings to help you identify the key topics Key points: examples, names, new ideas Triggers to make your notes more memorable – such as mnemonics, colour or drawings Further reading and ideas to follow up later

5. Preview any notes available

Do this before the lesson if possible. This allows you to process more information in the actual lesson.

Cottrell S. (2013) The Study Skills Handbook 4th edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

How to make

better notes

Consider not taking notes at all! If you have enough information in your workbooks and handouts don’t feel you have to write everything down, concentrate on listening and learning – just jot down main ideas, names, keywords or dates. Stay focused in class by: Ticking off on any notes provided by the teacher Creating diagrams or mind maps Adding notes to the margins or sticky notes This is great. You may benefit from using the Cornell note-taking system as it has features that help you to review and revise your notes. They are your notes, only you need to understand them! As long as they are clear and useful, don’t waste energy worrying about this. Do not be put off by the extremely neat note-takers in class! This will just create notes you don’t understand. Be as brief as possible. Avoid sentences. Use abbreviations. Try a different note-making style that has a structure like a list or a mind map. Ask yourself why you are doing this: If it is to make your notes neater it is probably a waste of time. If it is to revise, actively engage with your notes by writing them in a different way such as a mind map or on flash cards. Aim to take the notes you need straight away. If you are given handouts or workbooks add brief notes to them. This is usually because you are trying to write down too much or write too little. Listen carefully for the main ideas, theorists, dates or examples – write these down. Try a different note-making style which will help by giving you a structure to work to such as list, pattern or double column..

I file them and never look at them again

I always re-read them later

I worry that they are not neat enough

I try to write everything down

I copy them out

I don’t understand them

Double column

Cornell Method

The Cornell note-making system works well as it has features that promote review and revisiting your notes, which helps you to learn.

Review column Up to 1/3rd of page width

Notes

Up to 2/3rd of page width

Divide an A4 sheet of paper like this:

Always remember to add the date, teacher and topic at the top of the page!

Summary

About 7 lines

Use it like this:

Your paper now has specific areas for you to jot down your notes to make it easier.

Review column

Notes

Later on

During the lesson … Take notes as usual here, be brief, avoid sentences, use bullet points

Use this space for:

Questions

Key words

Names

Reviewing notes means you are actively working with them – and also memorising them!

Dates

Summary After the lesson … bullet point or mind map the most important points from your notes here.

Examples

Cornell Note Making System

Margin Notes System

Examples

Spider Diagram System

In the Learning

Resource Centre

There are books to help you with note taking

Note taking 1-to-1s

Need some support?

Book a LRC Study Skills session with a member of our team. Ask at a desk or email lrc@runshaw.ac.uk

Any questions?

Please email us at lrc@runshaw.ac.uk or pop in to see us.

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