Effective Ways to Help You Take Better Notes |
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We all have meetings to go to, classes to attend, and even important phone calls to make. During all of these different events in our lives, one thing nearly always takes place: Note Taking. Note taking can be a way to learn, to remember important information, maybe to even pass a test. But what makes you take good notes during class, lectures, or meetings? We all learn and think differently when we study or recall things, so why would it be any different when we go to take notes? It shouldn’t. There are five different methods that can be used based on what works best for you, the environment that you are in and, most importantly, the way you learn while taking notes. These five methods are: Charting, Sentencing, Mapping, Outlining, and the Cornell Method.
CHARTING METHOD
Have you ever been in class or a meeting and just been bombarded with dates, times, events, etc.? Next time, in order to get all those different times, dates, and events organized in your study guide or journal, try using a chart. Charting is a great way to organize things into their correct and corresponding order, as well as, make comparisons between different topics/events. The setup for charting is to divide your paper into three (or more if needed) columns. The columns are your topics or categories for that lesson. Once you have established your categories for the main topic point, you are then going to put any dates, times, or events under the correct heading. An example of charting is pictured below.
Click the button to get a Charting Printable!
Have you ever been in class or a meeting and just been bombarded with dates, times, events, etc.? Next time, in order to get all those different times, dates, and events organized in your study guide or journal, try using a chart. Charting is a great way to organize things into their correct and corresponding order, as well as, make comparisons between different topics/events. The setup for charting is to divide your paper into three (or more if needed) columns. The columns are your topics or categories for that lesson. Once you have established your categories for the main topic point, you are then going to put any dates, times, or events under the correct heading. An example of charting is pictured below.
Click the button to get a Charting Printable!
SENTENCING
Sentencing is a great way to take notes if the lecture is fast paced. Sentencing is another form of note taking that can be very effective as well. Types of learners that are attracted to this type of note taking system are people that learn by reading and/or writing. When using this method, it is a way for you to simply jot down independent thoughts and facts using simple sentences. You want to try to use this method in fast paced environments or lectures. An example of sentencing is pictured below.
Click the button to get a Sentencing Printable!
Sentencing is a great way to take notes if the lecture is fast paced. Sentencing is another form of note taking that can be very effective as well. Types of learners that are attracted to this type of note taking system are people that learn by reading and/or writing. When using this method, it is a way for you to simply jot down independent thoughts and facts using simple sentences. You want to try to use this method in fast paced environments or lectures. An example of sentencing is pictured below.
Click the button to get a Sentencing Printable!
MAPPING METHOD
Another form of note taking is mapping. This method is great for understanding relationships between main topic points and their subtopic points. Some types of learners that this may attract are people that learn visually. This method is great for the visual learner due to its graphical approach when gathering your notes. Mapping is done by starting with your main topic in the middle of the page and then branching off that idea with smaller ideas that relate back to your main topic. Some people take this step a bit further and use colored pencils or markers to help them see even more of a relation between all the other subtopics and their main topic. The picture below can help demonstrate an example of how mapping is accomplished.
Click the button below to get a Mapping Printable!
Another form of note taking is mapping. This method is great for understanding relationships between main topic points and their subtopic points. Some types of learners that this may attract are people that learn visually. This method is great for the visual learner due to its graphical approach when gathering your notes. Mapping is done by starting with your main topic in the middle of the page and then branching off that idea with smaller ideas that relate back to your main topic. Some people take this step a bit further and use colored pencils or markers to help them see even more of a relation between all the other subtopics and their main topic. The picture below can help demonstrate an example of how mapping is accomplished.
Click the button below to get a Mapping Printable!
OUTLINING METHOD
The last method that can be effectively used for note taking is outlining. Outlining is a simple take noting method that is similar to mapping, but without the graphical approach to it. This method is best for people that do not learn visually. This approach to note taking is done by taking you main topic or idea and then adding smaller ideas or subtopics under that main idea using bulletins. When using this form of note taking, it may be a good idea, as well, to break your notes down even further by using colored pencils and markers to group together the bulletins under the main idea of your notes. This method is great for making yourself a "study guide". The layout of outlining method is formatted to be a main idea (turned into a question for studying) and then under that main idea you have the subtopic or answer to your practice question. There is an example of how the outlining method is formatted below.
Click the button for a Outlining Printable!
The last method that can be effectively used for note taking is outlining. Outlining is a simple take noting method that is similar to mapping, but without the graphical approach to it. This method is best for people that do not learn visually. This approach to note taking is done by taking you main topic or idea and then adding smaller ideas or subtopics under that main idea using bulletins. When using this form of note taking, it may be a good idea, as well, to break your notes down even further by using colored pencils and markers to group together the bulletins under the main idea of your notes. This method is great for making yourself a "study guide". The layout of outlining method is formatted to be a main idea (turned into a question for studying) and then under that main idea you have the subtopic or answer to your practice question. There is an example of how the outlining method is formatted below.
Click the button for a Outlining Printable!
CORNELL METHOD
This method was founded by a Cornell University professor named Walter Pauk. According to Cornell University website, the Cornell Method is most constructive during lectures, reading textbooks, or when using online resources. The format that is used with this method of note taking is what helps this system of note taking different from the others. Start by dividing and labeled you paper accordingly:
Below is an example of what the Cornell Method looks like. Click the button below to get a Template Printable of the Cornell Method!!!
This method was founded by a Cornell University professor named Walter Pauk. According to Cornell University website, the Cornell Method is most constructive during lectures, reading textbooks, or when using online resources. The format that is used with this method of note taking is what helps this system of note taking different from the others. Start by dividing and labeled you paper accordingly:
- Top left corner is labeled as “Cues”
- Top right corner is labeled as “Notes”
- Bottom of the page is labeled as “Summary”
Below is an example of what the Cornell Method looks like. Click the button below to get a Template Printable of the Cornell Method!!!
Written by: Skyler Barbour
January 27, 2020
January 27, 2020
