April 2024: Notes on Notes

Do you remember the last time you put pen to paper, trying to capture the essence of a lecture, but came away with incomplete sentences? 

Note-taking, like many other study habits, is an important skill. Unlike other study habits, it often goes unaddressed- so we either develop our way of taking notes or continually ‘wing it’. 

So, how do we successfully take notes? Well, we all use different strategies to find success. Keeping that in mind, here are some recommended techniques from Harvard University’s Academic Resource Center. 

1. Take notes by hand. Writing notes by hand, although more tedious than typing, forces you to pay greater attention to and paraphrase the concepts, resulting in better learning outcomes. 

2. Use the Cornell Note-Taking method. This technique helps you outline broader concepts during a lesson while keeping track of the more specific information. To use Cornell Notes, draw a vertical line about ⅓ of the way on your paper. On one side, jot down important bullet points. On the other side, add questions and overarching ideas. 

3. Outlining. Have you never tried a specific style of note-taking? Chances are, you stick to outlining. This technique involves identifying key ideas in a lesson and then bulleting relevant information. However, outlining can be tricky when the material is already condensed into the main ideas. In this situation, you may find yourself copying down entire slideshows, which isn't efficient. 

4. Mapping. Creating a concept map is an excellent strategy for more visual learners. Typically, concept maps or annotated diagrams work best for content that is provided in an organized fashion. 

5. Annotating. After successfully jotting down your notes, rereading and annotating can be a beneficial way to clarify ideas, understand weaker concepts, and keep track of potential questions. Identifying stronger and weaker areas can also help with strategic preparation for tests. 

Like all academic study tips, finding your happy medium means understanding your work style and study preferences (along with experimenting). 

Interested in more tricks, tips, and techniques? Check out the full article below: 

Note-taking | Academic Resource Center

Until next time, 

Anoushka Majumder

Curriculum Director of English