Why take notes?

[MY85 offline]

From University Of Nevada, Reno

<u><b>Taking Good Notes In Lecture</u></b>

Why take notes? There are three basic reasons: to learn, for reference and to keep you thinking. But taking good lecture notes isn't easy. Good lecture notes must summarize the main points, include the important ideas in your own words, and list the specific details needed for your purpose in this class. To be successful, you must make what you hear part of your own thinking.

<b><u>Be Prepared To Take Good Notes</u></b>

Understanding a lecture and taking good notes during it will be easier if you have prepared and know what topics will be covered before you go to class. You should read all assignments listed in the syllabus and given by your instructor. In addition, you should review your notes from the previous class session and any handouts. Finally, you should determine what your purpose is for this class session as you will be able to take the notes you need to fulfill your purpose.

<b><u>Know Your Instructor's Style</u></b>

Does your instructor: 1) simply review the text page by page, 2) use the text as a basis for lecture but add a lot of information from other sources, or 3) assign you to read the text - expecting you to read it on your own- and lecture from other sources? It's possible that your instructor will use a combination of these approaches during a semester, but your awareness of where lecture material is coming from is your first step in taking good notes.

Also consider the way an instructor organizes and delivers information. If you have an instructor start a class with, "Today we will discuss the three basic views of...," use that as a key to organize your notes as you take them. If, on the other hand, your instructor begins with an anecdote or some other illustrative material, you will have to write down ideas in the order the instructor delivers them and then spend time organizing them after class. Stay alert for cues your instructor gives you, such as, changing voice pitches, rate or tone; writing information on the board; and using audio-visual materials such as transparencies or computer presentations.

<b><u>Understand What You Write</u></b>

Don't try to be a human tape recorder- trying to write a complete transcript of the class isn't good note taking. Your notes should capture the main points and only those details you need for this specific purpose.
Your notes should be simple and in your own words whenever possible. Aside from complex concepts or specific formulas that you must memorize and therefore need to write/copy, always translate ideas into your own words. Include supplemental and text reference your instructor gives; the additional readings will help you clarify your notes and the concepts that are covered.


<b><u>Take Your Notes The Same Way</u></b>

Use standard 8 1/2 x 11 lined notebook paper. Title it with class, date, and whatever other information is needed to distinguish the notes you take in this class today from any other notes. Devise and use your own shorthand to make note taking easier and stick to it- remember that each note must be complete enough to be intelligible later. If you miss information, leave a blank spot in your notes and ask after class. Don't crowd information together. Leave room for extra information and put only one idea or item on a line.

Study from your notes; don't just read them over. Right after class, spend 5-10 minutes editing your notes. Fill in missing information, clarify abbreviations, and expand details. Try using the Recall-Clue system- words in the margins- to index your notes:
1. Leave an extra 2-in margin at the left side of each page of notes. Do not write in this margin while you are taking notes.
2. After you have edited your notes, annotate in the left margin with words, phrases, or questions that briefly summarize major points. This recall clues should be key words that trigger your memory to help you recall the complete information.
3. To study, cover up the lecture notes and look only at the margin notes. Read the clue and try to recall all the information on your notes. Slide the cover down and check yourself.




Sidenote: I think this will be more useful at the moment for people like TB3, Stonecreek, Vchat20... those who are in college or university curently. Randomly, I've decided to share this thing. I had it on my pc by 2004 while taking Organic Chemistry II.

[Stonecreek]

Having been through four years of college, I have adapted to what each class demands are. In some classes, notes are essential. Other classes, you can get away with only listening or reading the texts. My note-taking stlye is messy, but that's so I can write almost whole sentences out. If I go back later and I've written in shorthand I cannot understand/decipher, I'm out of luck.

This is my last semester of college, but the beginning of my note-taking life. I'm majoring in journalism, and even though I want to work behind a desk designing pages and copy editing, I'll have to do reporting as well. That is the most difficult note-taking there is, by far. I hate it, but it's my job. Or will be. Whatever.

[DeadViolet offline]

I did a essay on notes a while ago. I never take notes, cause my mommy said I cant!

[Alex offline]

I bought a TI Keyboard to better facilitate note-taking - I write somewhat slowly and I don't write neatly. But now I can use my calculator to take notes.

[Virus_Xana offline]

Sometimes Notes cant really help you on tests. You would need to read your books too.

[MY85 offline]

I did a essay on notes a while ago. I never take notes, cause my mommy said I cant!

WTF??

Anyways... who voted for Boring? Just curious. And as for the second alternative, I meant the entire exact article, not if someone read something similiar before.

[TB3]

I actually think this is quite useful Rodri so thanks!

[DeadViolet offline]

I did a essay on notes a while ago. I never take notes, cause my mommy said I cant!

WTF??

see, I was born wit....a deisease that makes me kinda slow at math and stuff, so my momma said i cant!! please, be kind to me, onii-san!!

[Lotho offline]

I did a essay on notes a while ago. I never take notes, cause my mommy said I cant!

WTF??

see, I was born wit....a deisease that makes me kinda slow at math and stuff, so my momma said i cant!! please, be kind to me, onii-san!!

Reminds of a study I read about before...
Picture two classes. After taking a test they were split into the two classes. Each class had an equal IQ but the teacher was told that one had lower IQs and the other had higher. A while later the students were retested and the class that was told to have higher IQs showed more of an improvement while the one that was labeled slow showed less.

[MY85 offline]

I did a essay on notes a while ago. I never take notes, cause my mommy said I cant!

WTF??

see, I was born wit....a deisease that makes me kinda slow at math and stuff, so my momma said i cant!! please, be kind to me, onii-san!!

Reminds of a study I read about before...
Picture two classes. After taking a test they were split into the two classes. Each class had an equal IQ but the teacher was told that one had lower IQs and the other had higher. A while later the students were retested and the class that was told to have higher IQs showed more of an improvement while the one that was labeled slow showed less.

Heard that one before... how about this one? Two classes. One with 28 students and the other with 56. The class content was the same for both. But at the end of the course... the 28 student class had 6 bailed studetns and the other had 28 bailed students. The point is that you learn better in a less crowded classroom, more concentration and higher focus on the subject, less distraction possibilities.

Real life experience: Math I in a crowded classroom. Half survived, me as well did. Math II, in a less crowded classroom. Survived it with a higher grade. But it was the inverse way in other courses because of different teachers...