There is an extensive collection of note taking tips in the Research section of this web site.
In addition to those resources, consider the following:
- When taking notes, pay attention to boldfaced type in the text. This is often used to highlight key words and ideas.
- Highlighting: If using a highlighter, don't highlight large blocks of text. Pick out key words and phrases. If a large block of text needs to be marked, draw a highlighted line down the edge of the highlighted text.
- Make notes in the margin of the text including outlining ideas.
- Write a summary of the material. The goal is to identify the main ideas and get a sense of how the whole passage fits together.
- Complete any textbook exercises, which often focus on key aspects of the text.
- Outline the chapter
- Use clustering to picture relationships in the text
- Make a diagram of important information
- Make out flashcards for key terms and information
Improve Concentration in Class
Practice "looking" and "acting" like you are concentrating.
- In class, sit up, feet flat on the floor, take notes, look the teacher in the eye, lean forward, and think about what the teacher is saying.
- When studying, eliminate distractions, keep your eyes on your study materials, force yourself to think about what you are studying.
Remember, concentration is an act of the will. You must force yourself to study. With time this gets easier, but it is never easy.
Practice the 10-5-5-5 method when studying
- Study for 10 minutes
- Review what was just studied for 5 minutes
- Take a 5 minute break
- Things you don't want to do while taking a break
- Turn on TV
- Make a phone call
- Run an errand
- Things you can (or maybe should do
- Leave the room
- Fix a quick snack
- Stretch
- Step outside for a breath of air
- Things you don't want to do while taking a break
- Review for 5 minutes all that you have studied so far
- Repeat the process
Examine Facts That are Presented
- What are the facts?
- Why are these facts significant, important, relevant, or valuable?
- How do these facts fit together?
- What am I expected to feel, know, or do?
Look for Relationships Between Ideas
- Quantitative statements, that is, statements which indicate counts, quantities, or amounts.
- Words and phrases which highlight ideas, such as main, important, prominent, key, obvious, essential
- Words that suggest listings--first, second, third, finally, one, next, last, another, element
- Comparatives, especially those that indicate the highest levels--pre-eminent, most, highest, ultimate
- Words which suggest relationships--cause, effect, comparison, contrast, division, class, group, relate, relationship, definition, define, process, limit, exclude, except, apply, explain
- Qualifiers--virtually, absolutely, all, most, some, occasionally, often, always, never
- Arguments, that is, what arguments are being made, and what evidence supports those arguments?
For more information on the how information is organized, see the section of this web site on rhetorical modes and types of essays.
Develop Good Listening Skills
Hindrances to Effective Listening
- Short attention span
- External distractions
- Other students
- Activities outside the window or in the hall
- Lack of rest
- Internal distractions
- Problems at home
- Daydreaming
- Plans for the day
Addressing Distractions
If a student in the classroom is causing distractions, students can
- Discuss it with the instructor
- Talk to the student involved politely, privately, and assertively
- Change seats in the classroom
If the distraction is outside the classroom, students can
- Ask the instructor to close the door
- Quietly move to the front and close the door
- Sit farther away from the door or windows
- Ask for the instructor's help in addressing the distraction
Internal distractions are often more difficult to resolve. Students may need to discuss these distractions with the instructor or a counselor, particularly if the distraction is deeply troubling like a recent loss of a loved one or onslaught of illness. Within the classroom, students can
- Act attentive--Sitting up straight with both feet flat on the floor, eyes on the teacher, and pen in hand can help a student feel attentive.
- Take notes--Taking notes forces a listener to concentrate on what is being said.
- Write about the distraction on a sheet of paper or in a journal prior to class--Sometimes talking about or writing about what is bothering us can help us feel like we have made some effort in resolving the problem (in psychological terms, this is called catharsis).
Note Taking Techniques
Codes, Symbols, and Abbreviations
Teachers talk faster that students can write. To be more effective in keeping up with what a teacher is saying,
- Focus on nouns and verbs - as much as possible reduce what the teacher is saying to simple statements.
- Use abbreviations that make sense. Be careful that the abbreviations do not obscure what you are noting.
- Date formats: Day Month Year - Pearl Harbor Attack: 7 Dec 1941
- Oft repeated terms or names: Linc (Abraham Lincoln), Gett (Gettysburg), Appom (Appomattox), qphys (quantum physics), elec (electricity), and so on
- Use math symbols to express relationships: Examples
- Union generals < Lee (The union generals were not as capable as Robert E. Lee)
- Linc elec » Civil War (The election of Abraham Lincoln as President was the final event leading to the start of the Civil War)
- Chess ≈ Checkers (Chess is similar to checkers)
- ˜ to mean approximately
- = to show that two things are equal
- Indent notes to show one thing is subordinate or a part of another thing
Cluster method
This method allows you to group ideas together informally. It is especially useful for visual learners because it displays information graphically.
Outlining
Outlining shows coordinate and subordinate relationships between ideas. It is especially useful for information that is organized hierarchically (like in a business with ranks) or in a strict logical framework.
T-Notes
T-notes are similar to outlines except not as formal. I have used T-notes when writing a research paper (as an alternative to note cards). One advantage of T-notes is that it is easy to identify the key ideas when reviewing the notes because they are on the margin.
Book notes
Book notes help students take maximum advantage of their texts. Book note methods include
- highlighting key passages,
- marking definitions or other key ideas using stars or other marks,
- outlines of the text in the margins, and
- explanatory notes in the margins.
P R R Method
The P R R method is a useful way to approach a textbook or any reading assignment.
Preview
First preview the text,
- looking at the table of contents, chapter headings, the frontispiece of the book, the blurb, the preface, and the foreward.
- then looking at the contents of an individual chapter paying close attention to chapter summaries, outlines, bold headings, charts, graphs, maps, and pictures.
- Use these features to form questions about the content of the text.
Read
Then read the text carefully, looking for the answers to the questions you have formulated as well as to these questions:
- What is the thesis of the book? its purpose?
- What is the main idea in this chapter?
- What arguments or evidence is presented to support the chapter's main idea?
- What are the divisions of this chapter, and how do those divisions fit together?
- How does this chapter fit into the overall aims of the book?
Review
Finally review the text by
- re-reading sections you have highlighted or your marginal notes,
- comparing the text to your class notes and cross-referencing the text to those notes,
- memorizing key terms, definitions, dates, or other important elements,
- skimming, and
- writing summaries and/or outlines of the text.
Each method has advantages and disadvantages. Students should experiment with all of the methods to find which ones work best for them and in what situations.
Additional Resources
"The Best Note-Taking Methods." Deep Dives. Box News. 24 Jan. 2022. 14 Nov. 2024. <https://blog.box.com/best-note-taking-methods>.
"Common Note-taking Methods." Center for Academic Support and Advisement: Tips for Academic Success. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. 14 Nov. 2024. <https://www.utc.edu/enrollment-management-and-student-affairs/center-for-academic-support-and-advisement/tips-for-academic-success/note-taking>.
Duffy, Jill and Justin Pot. "The Best Note-Taking Apps for 2024." PC Magazine. 19 Jan. 2024. 14 Nov. 2024. <https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-note-taking-apps>.
Guinness, Harry. "The 6 Best Note-Taking Apps in 2024." Zapier. 29 Nov. 2023. 14 Nov. 2024. <https://zapier.com/blog/best-note-taking-apps/>.
"Mastering the Art of Effective Note-Taking." Disco Student Learning Center. Appalachian State University. 14 Nov. 2024. <https://studentlearningcenter.appstate.edu/resources/note-taking>.
"Note-Taking." Academic Resource Center. Harvard University. 14 Nov. 2024. <https://academicresourcecenter.harvard.edu/2023/10/02/note-taking/>.
"Notetaking Hacks: Supercharge Your College Experience with These Notetaking Tips." Student News & Resources. Post University. 11 Dec. 2020. 14 Nov. 2024. <https://post.edu/blog/preventing-information-overload-note-taking-tips-students/>.
Somanathan, Sudarshan. "10 Best Note-Taking Apps in 2024 (Free & Paid)." ClickUp. 25 Oct. 2024. 14 Nov. 2024. <https://clickup.com/blog/note-taking-apps/>.
"Techniques and Tips for Listening and Note Taking." University of South Wales, Sydney. 14 Nov. 2024. <https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/notetaking-tips>.
"Top Ten Tips on Note-taking." jobs.ac.uk. 14 Nov. 2024. <https://career-advice.jobs.ac.uk/career-development/top-ten-tips-on-note-taking/>.