UVC 100 Home The Study System: Notetaking Listening Memory Time Management Study Stress management Textbook Reading Test Taking

Notetaking Why take Notes? Because you forget! Within 24 hours, you generally forget half of what you take in.

 

Take Notes:

• To have an accurate record of the material presented in lecture.
  Eventually you will be evaluated on your understanding of that material.

• To give an overview of the course.

• To help you see the author's or lecturer's plan for the course or
  lesson.

• To provide a structured form or organization for study.

• To stimulate thinking.

• To improve concentration.

• To focus your attention on the information and assist your memory.

There is no value in taking notes unless you review them!

 

Suggestions For Taking Useful Notes

Before Class

• Read the chapter. Use SQ3R and jot down any questions on areas you don't understand.

• Predict questions about the lecture topic which will help you focus on the important ideas to be presented. Make up your questions by reading the text, looking over the previous days notes, and/or looking over the course outline or syllabus.

• Gather your materials together. Have a notebook that lets you keep each classes' notes separately. Have a pen or pencil to write with.

• Learn specialized vocabulary. Use a glossary or dictionary.

During Class

• Sit close and be ready to begin note-taking immediately.

• Put date and course at the top of each page of notes.

• Listen to what the instructor says and the way he says it. (gestures, etc.) How does she introduce her topic? How does he separate his main points? What does she emphasize?

• Make a wide margin at the left side of the page to keep special notes to yourself about the lecture, questions, thoughts, etc.

• Try to focus on major ideas and concepts. The facts and details will make more sense when related to something.

• Write notes in block form, skip a line or two between different ideas, indent subtopics, write in complete thoughts but abbreviate common words.

• When the instructor begins a topic, turn it into a question and write it in the left hand margin. From the lecture try to answer the question.

• If you miss someting, immediately draw a big circle where it would go. When you go back over your notes the circles will remind you that you are missing information. Where can you go to get that missing information? ( the instructor, the book, or another student)

• Try to separate fact from the instructor's opinion. Include opinion, the instructor's, yours, and others.

• Write everything---organize it later when you rewrite your notes.
  

After Class

  Immediately

• Check for loose or incomplete information such as terms not defined, names or places without references, and dates without references.

• Vital for memory. To interrupt the forgetting process, write
  a summary of the lecture. Write down everything you can remember, especially the main points.

• In the margin write down questions about things you don't understand.

• Check to see if previous questions are all answered.
  

  Later

• If you didn't make up questions as you were taking your notes, go over your notes and make up test type questions about what was covered. Use these in your review.

• Review your notes regularly.

 

Format For Note-Taking

The format is based on the Cornell University system of note-taking. It involves drawing a vertical line 1/3rd of the way over from the left side of the page. In the space on the left you write: names, dates, key points, terms, your questions, and associations. On the right hand side of the page you write the main body of notes. At the end of the lecture you draw a line horizontally beneath the end of your notes. Under this line you write your immediate review of the lecture. Using this format you can cover the right hand side and use the items on the left to generate test questions for review.
(from: Walter Pauk, How To Study In College, 2nd. ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1974), pp.\ 125--133.)

Below is an example of a page of notes using this format. Use the links to learn more about notetaking.

What is Stress definition   Categories of Stressors    Who    What       Stages of Stress    Who    What

Stress   Mental and or physical tension   Barbara Brown Major expected Event    Wedding, test Major unexpected event    Accident, illness    Parking, classes Personal variables    Disabilities, intelligence Hans General Adaptation Syndrome   Alarm Stage - recognize stressor     Evaluate  threat or not