How to... Make Better Notes

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