Note-Taking Tips

Ozarka College
Student Success Center
success@ozarka.edu
How to pick out Main Ideas
From Textbooks
Chapter Titles
Chapter Objectives
Headings
Sub-headings
Words in Bold, Italics or
Underlined
Numbered Lists and
Lettered Items
Chapter Outlines,
Summaries and Chapter
Questions
From Lectures
Information on Board or in
Handouts
Says This is important or
Write this down
Repeats Words or Ideas
In Class Activities,
Experiments or Group
Work
Information Presented in
Lists, Steps, Stages or
Phases
Assigned Reading and or
Chapter Questions

Time Savers
1. Dont Try to Record
Every Word

Give yourself more
time to listen and
focus by eliminating
unnecessary words
and phrases.
2. Record Words as They
Sound Using as Few
Letters as Possible
Ready = rdy
Because = bc
Height = ht
Freeze = frz
Example = ex


Time Savers
3. Use Common Shorter Forms
Difference = Diff
Between = bt
Automobile = auto
Double = dbl
General = gen
Time Savers
4. Substitute Letters or Numbers for Syllables
Before = B4
Forget = 4get
Create = Cre8
Benign = B9

Time Savers
5. Use Standard Abbreviations
Pound = lb.
Information = info
Paid = pd
With = w/
Without = wo/
Reaction = rxn
Time Savers
6. Use Common Symbols to Replace Words
Dollars, Money, Cost, Price = $
Percent = %
Water = H2O
And = &
Greater Than = >
Less Than + <
Increase, More =
Decrease, Reduce =
Time Savers
8. Re-Write Notes Using as Few Words as Possible

Cross out as many words as possible without losing
the meaning.
Cross out any remaining words for which
abbreviations can be used and write the
abbreviation above the word.
Rewrite your new condensed sentence.


Time Savers
Your Turn
Florida, South Carolina and Virginia are my
favorite vacation destinations because I love
the beach and the warm weather.

How would you shorten this sentence?

Time Savers
Think of your class schedule as a full-time job
that requires you to show up every week.

How would you shorten this sentence?

REMEMBER
Only YOU need to understand your notes.

Types of Note-Taking Methods
Cornell Notes
Outlining
Note Card Question and Answer
Mind Mapping
Cornell Method
1. Draw a Vertical Line the length of the page
about 1/3 of the way from the left margin.
2. Turn main points from lectures and textbooks
into questions. Place them to the left of the
line.
3. Answers are formed out of the details and
placed on the right hand side of the line.
Cornell Method
Answers in the
form of details.
Questions
in the form
of main
points.
Cornell Method
How do I
register for
classes?
First- Review Degree Plan in College
Catalog.

Second- Determine schedule to meet
my needs.

Third- Meet with advisor to approve
schedule and make any necessary
changes.

Last- Register in myOzarka.

How do I meet
with my
advisor?
Call or email advisor to set up an appt.

Stop by during assigned office hours to
set up an appointment.

Dont be late!!
Outline Method
Roman Numerals for Main Ideas(I., II., III.)
Capital Letters for Details (A., B., C.)
Numbers for Sub-Details (1., 2., 3.)
Small Letters for Sub-Sub-Details (a., b., c.)
Outline Method
I. 4 Reasons for Good Notes
A. Provides materials to study and review for exams
B. Helps focus attention in class

II. 5 Tips for Taking Notes
A. Use a Specific Format
1. Cornell Method
2. Outline Method
3. Hybrid of Both
Outline Method
III. What to do after taking notes
A. Rewrite and Organize Notes
1. Do not rewrite every word.
a. Use abbreviations
b. Eliminate unnecessary vowels and letters
c. Use common symbols
2. Compare your notes with your classmates to fill in
gaps
3. Add diagrams, sketches and charts to help your
review

Notecard Q&A Format
Using index cards, write a question on one side
and the answer on the other.
Quiz yourself regularly.
Have a learned pile and a not yet learned
pile.
Review the learned material every 2-3 days.
Review the not yet learned material every
other day.

Mindmapping

Mind Maps abandon the list format of conventional
note taking. They do this in favor of a two-
dimensional structure.

Write the title of the subject you're exploring in the center of
the page, and draw a circle around it.

As you come across major subdivisions or subheadings of the
topic (or important facts that relate to the subject) draw lines
out from this circle. Label these lines with these subdivisions or
subheadings.

As you "burrow" into the subject and uncover another level of
information (further subheadings, or individual facts) belonging
to the subheadings above, draw these as lines linked to the
subheading lines.
Mindmapping



Time Management
Delegate
Chores
Less
Procrastination
Remember

Regular and Repeated
Recitation of Notes is the
Most Important Step!
Sources

University of Central Florida. Student Academic
Resource Center. Learning Skills Handouts.
www.sarc.sdes.ucf.edu/studyhandouts.php
Mind Tools.
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newIS
S_01.htm