Note Making

We take notes to help us to remember

information. Sometimes, we need to copy
information exactly: e.g. quotations, definitions
and formulae. Note-making provides a framework within which we can think about, organise

and recall relevant points and ideas. Your notes

are your personal response to a lecture or a text,
and it is to your advantage to make them as
useful as possible.

Lecture Notes
Your style of noting in a lecture will vary
according to the type of lecture. For example,
notes from a History lecture will be quite
different to those from a Chemistry one. You
adapt to the style, subject and requirements of
the lecturer. It is not necessary to record all that
is said.
The following suggestions will enable you to
develop a noting technique which will serve your
needs.

Head page with topic, subject, lecturer

and date. Number and date sequential
pages for each lecture.
Allow a wide margin, and space between
sections for writing in inserts and
comments later.
Use one side of the paper only.
Work out the lecturers format. How does
the lecture begin? Is there a blackboard
plan? Diagrams to copy? Does she
reiterate key points? Does he summarise
at the end? All this helps you to structure
your notes.

Use abbreviations whenever possible. Be

consistent to avoid confusion.
Write by phrases rather than whole
sentences. Dont quote at length youll
lose the next points.
Spend time at the end on detailed
diagrams and graphs, rather than miss
noting important issues.
Revise your notes and underline or
highlight key points as soon as possible.
This is very important.
In cases where material needs to be learned and
consolidated for tests or exams, students
sometimes re-write lecture notes. It is a matter of
choice.
If your lecturer is presenting you with arguments
and ideas on a topic, your notes may include:
the lecturers thesis;
supporting and conflicting evidence;
sources and references cited;
questions raised in the lecture.
Sometimes personal comments beside the notes
will help you later.

Student Learning Support Service

Victoria University of Wellington | www.victoria.ac.nz/slss | student-learning@vuw.ac.nz | +64 4 463 5999

Be selective in your research notes

Analyse your assignment topic before making
notes. You are rarely asked to write down all you
can think of about a topic. Usually you are
required to show that you can interpret and use
information to answer a specific question.

Keep your notes to a minimum.

If you need to use an exact, short

quotation, copy it down accurately. Its
source will need to be properly
acknowledged in your paper.

You will save a lot of time if your approach to the

question is well directed from the start.
Information on question analysis and effective
reading can be found in other leaflets in this
series.

Avoid writing out large slabs of material by

hand. Photocopy these and mark them to
highlight key points. Label clearly with
topic, date and bibliographic details as
applicable. Store with your other notes.

Here are some practical suggestions on noting

from texts.

Organise and file your notes under subject

and topic headings. This can be done
alphabetically with a filing system, with
clearly marked or coloured folders, or any
way that works well for you.

Store
carefully.
irreplaceable.

Choose either index cards or A4 paper. Use

one side only.

Head page with topic and date.

Record full bibliographic details for later

use.

Leave a margin and good spacing for later

comments and highlighting.

You can also use the margin for headings

that will direct your revision.

Use sub-headings and colour contrasts

where appropriate.

Note chapter and page as you progress

through a text.
Whenever possible use your own wording
to reach an understanding of the reading.

Your

notes

are

If your notes seem like random pieces of a jigsaw

puzzle, put them under the headings of your main
points. When you see where they all fit, they will
make a lot more sense.
Add your own thoughts and questions as well as
relevant points from your lecture notes.
Use your notes not only for essay-writing, but
also for revision.
Before examinations you should be able to adapt
the ideas, issues and facts in your notes to
prepare for alternative questions on a topic.

Student Learning Support Service

Victoria University of Wellington | www.victoria.ac.nz/slss | student-learning@vuw.ac.nz | +64 4 463 5999

In practice
Of course, all of this sounds good, but will you be tempted to put it into practice? If your own method is
working well great! If its not, its time to change!
1.

Be aware of your PURPOSE

Relate notes to the topic you are studying

organise them under topic headings.

Are you reading

to develop an approach (or thesis) in

response to an essay question?

to find support for and/or identify

problems with a thesis you already
have?

to find out about, clarify and/or

extend your understanding of a
particular writers approach to a topic
or concept?

2.

to remind yourself of information

already covered?

Use the text to suit your purpose

Survey the text to identify:

Whether it is relevant to your

purpose.

How much relevant material it

contains.

Where the relevant material is.

Once relevant areas have been identified,

being with them. Your study may reveal
further areas of relevance in the text.
3.

Notes must reflect your purpose

A note should include information as to
WHY you recorded it (i.e. this quote
supports the argument that)
If the note is for an essay, write the
paragraph the note will be in (this will
help you sort our why you are taking the
note and speeds up the writing process!)

When reading to supplement lectures,

make additional notes directly on to
lecture notes. If you use additional paper,
make sure you keep it in order in your
lecture notebook (i.e. with the other
notes on that topic).
4.

Technical Skills
Begin by heading up the page with the
topic and date (i.e. notes for essay,
3/9/2012)
When note taking for an essay, set up a
bibliography page in your notebook (or
on computer). Record full bibliographical
details for all texts you use. This can then
be easily transcribed for the final essay.
Use the left hand column for quotes and
paraphrases from text. Use right hand
column for your thoughts on this
material (i.e. paragraphs you could use in
essay). Leave white space between each
notation.
Differentiate between quotes (word for
word copies of material from texts) and
paraphrases (an ideas from a text written
in your own words). This can be done by
using quotation marks in your notes (only
when you have quoted word for word).
Record page numbers when you quote or
paraphrase. The exception would be
when you summarise the main point of a
whole chapter or article.

Student Learning Support Service

Victoria University of Wellington | www.victoria.ac.nz/slss | student-learning@vuw.ac.nz | +64 4 463 5999