HOW TO TAKE NOTES FROM A LECTURE OR READING

I have compiled a list of top tips for effective notetaking that will enhance students learning abilities and
improve their success. Finding the right balance of writing enough but not too much can be a challenge,
but it is the key to taking effective notes. Students often have the most trouble with #5 but with time they
can improve their note-taking skills. All ideas are compiled either from Cornell University or Dartmouth
University Academic Skills Centers.
1. Dont use your laptop.
Take notes by hand. Although taking notes on your laptop is convenient, a studies conducted at
Princeton University & UCLA, has shown that note takers actually retain information better when
they take notes by hand. This is due to the fact that laptop users tend to transcribe what they hear
without really processing what's being said. Longhand note-takers, on the other hand, can't write
fast enough to copy each word verbatim, so they are forced to engage with the material more in
order to pick out the most important and relevant information.
2. Go to class prepared.

Use a three-ring binder instead of a spiral or bound book. Pages can be easily removed for
reviewing. Handouts can be inserted into your notes for cross-referencing. You can insert your
own out-of-class notes in the correct order.
Bring highlighters to class. Instructors will frequently make comments like, This is an important
concept. Or, Make sure you understand this. These are direct clues that this will more than
likely be on an exam. Highlighting these notes will help remind you later that this is definitely
something you need to know.
Read assigned material and previous class notes before class. Make notations about material or
concepts you dont understand. Look up vocabulary words that are unfamiliar to you. You will
have a better understanding about what the instructor is lecturing about and that will allow you to
better decipher the more important points of the lecture.

3. Improve your listening skills.

Approaching lectures with a positive attitude allows one to be open-minded and enables you to
get the most out of the information presented.
Make a conscious effort to pay attention. Without concentration there is no focus, and without
focus there is no learning.
Adapt to whatever direction a lecture takes. When a lecture takes an unexpected detour, say a
student asks a question you arent particularly interested in, students have a tendency to zone
out. Before you know it, the lecture got back on track five minutes ago, and you missed crucial
information that should have been noted.
Students sometimes have a difficult time knowing what to write down during a lecture. Knowing
some specific content items they should look for will help them. As they get more proficient at

their notetaking, which will happen over time, it will be easier for them to weed out what is
important and what is not.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. When you come across something you don't understand, don't
just jot it down and tell yourself that you'll worry about it later -- ask the teacher/lecturer for
clarification.

4. Develop a notetaking method that works for you.

Fine-tune the structure and organization of your notes to increase your notetaking speed and
comprehension later.

Start on a new page. The sequence of material is important.

Leave blank spaces. This allows you to add comments or note questions later.
Make your notes as brief as possible. Never use a sentence when you can use a phrase, or a
phrase when you can use a word.
Develop a system of abbreviations and symbols you can use wherever possible.
Note all unfamiliar vocabulary or concepts you dont understand. This reminds you to look them
up later.
Not everyone processes information the same way, so it is important for students to develop
methods and strategies that work the best for them.

5. Pay close attention to content.

Knowing what and how much to write down is sometimes difficult. Rely on some of the following tips
for what to include in your notes.

Write down important People, Events, Documents, Laws, Ideas, Groups, SCOTUS Cases.
Explain why they are significant, what caused it, and what lead up to it. Include details, facts, or
explanations that expand or explain the main points that are mentioned. Dont forget examples.
Also information that ties together or explains important themes is important as well.
Big ideas: what main ideas are reflected in the introduction, conclusion, and section titles? Be
sure to record all relevant details of the big ideas in the text as you read the entire piece.
Follow visual cues: main ideas will often be bolded, italicized, bulleted, set in different font sizes,
color, and/or spacing. Additionally, illustrations, figures, tables, charts, diagrams, and the
corresponding captions elaborate on key ideas. Use these to determine the significance of
concepts, and to take notes accordingly.
Write down individual words or key phrases that are most relevant to the topic at hand -- things
like names, concepts, definitions -- only the most important details should make the cut.
Eliminate all the filler words and secondary details.
Look for visual cues in the textbook itself -- things like bold or italicized words and the use of
color or bullet points are often used to highlight significant points.
Read over chapter headings and subheadings. Most textbooks are broken into more easilydigestible sections that are often topped with headings. Looking at the headings and subheadings
can give you a sense of what you should record. Also cue into keywords as you are reading

Read review questions at the end of the chapter or section. Review questions are given to
ensure that students have taken away big picture or essential concepts from a selection of text.
Reading these review questions ahead of time can help focus your attention to the most important
aspects of a chapter.
Emphasis: Emphasis can be judged by tone of voice and gesture. Emphasis can be judged by the
amount of time the instructor spends on points and the number of examples he or she uses.
Word signals (e.g. "There are two points of view on . . . " "The third reason is . . . " " In
conclusion . . . "). Pay attention to verbal cues.
Lists of things that are discussed.
What's repeated: concepts, formulas, facts, and processes mentioned more than once in the piece
are likely significant.
Material written down, including drawings or charts, or emphasized during class by the instructor.
Information that is repeated or spelled out.

6. Review and edit your notes.

Review and edit your notes.
It is extremely important to review your notes within 24 hours.

Edit for words and phrases that are illegible or dont make sense. Write out abbreviated words
that might be unclear later.
Edit with a different colored pen to distinguish between what you wrote in class and what you
filled in later.
Fill in key words and questions.
Note anything you dont understand by underlining or highlighting to remind you to ask the
instructor.
Compare your notes with the textbook reading and fill in important details in the blank spaces
you left.
Taking the time to review and edit ones notes as soon as possible after a class will reap
tremendous rewards later when it comes time to study for an exam.