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NOTE TAKING
WHAT ARE THE BASIC
PRINCIPLES OF NOTE TAKING?
Effective note taking begins
with effective listening. Since you should try to comprehend the
professor’s lecture, you should not try to write down everything he
or she says. Supplement the professor’s lectures with additional
information gathered from textbooks, the library, or reliable
internet sources. If some of the terms or concepts introduced in a
lecture confuse you, seek clarification from the instructor or
consult a specialized dictionary of terms available in university
library reference sections. Remember that the process of note taking
is not complete when you leave the classroom; you should continue to
review and reflect upon the concepts discussed in class. Reviewing
lecture material immediately after class will help you learn the
material so that when exams approach, you can review a second time
instead of familiarizing yourself with facts and concepts that are
virtually new to you. To speed the pace of note taking, learn to use
symbols and/or devise your own shorthand. Most importantly, keep
your mind on the big picture; note general themes or the overall
argument of the lecture.
STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE
NOTE TAKING
I. Make preparations
A. Get to class a few
minutes early.
B. Take out a new sheet
of paper.
C. Put the date,
subject, and the day’s lecture topic at the top of the page.
D. Draw a line down the
page about three inches from the left.
E. During class, take
notes only on the right side of the margin; leave the left side
blank.
F. Take notes on only
the right side of the paper.
G. Make sure you have
enough paper for the entire lecture.
H. Put the date,
subject, and lecture topic on the top of each new sheet. For
each new sheet, continue to draw a line and write only on the
right hand side of the paper.
II. Write down all key
terms
A. Concentrate on
noting down general themes, key concepts, major events and
figures; do not note examples or details.
B. Underline key terms
of the lecture: names of people or places, significant dates,
titles of key books or movements, important theories, formulae,
and concepts.
C. Compile an ongoing
list of each new key term introduced in lecture.
D. Copy any term or
phrase your professor writes on the board.
E. If the professor
repeats a phrase or idea, it is likely to be important; note
emphasis by the use of underlining in your notes.
F. Professors convey
meaning by gestures, facial expressions, and body language;
observe your professor’s demeanor and presentation and try to
depict a pattern of emphasis.
III. Include in your notes
brief definitions of key terms
A. Write brief
explanations and definitions next to key terms
B. Jot down a few words
or phrases that will help you to remember the meaning of key
terms.
C. Develop a shorthand
that will enable you to take down more material faster and with
less effort.
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Avoid complete
sentences.
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Omit unnecessary
words such as articles ( a, an, the).
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Don’t worry about
spelling and punctuation.
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Keep descriptions,
examples, and anecdotes brief.
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Abbreviate repeated
key terms.
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Use signs and
symbols for commonly used words.
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Use charts and
diagrams, especially if you learning style is visual or
spatial.
TAKING NOTES on TEXTBOOKS
I. Make preparations
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Keep your books and
notes together in one permanent place.
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Take out a new sheet
of paper and head it with the author and title of the text
and the chapter number; on the left hand corner of each page
note the page numbers upon which the notes are based; in the
right hand corner number the pages of notes sequentially.
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Divide the sheet of
paper in two: on the left hand side list key names, dates,
movements, works, events, and concepts in the order they are
presented in the chapter; on the right hand side of the page
offer a definition or explanation.
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As you take notes,
observe carefully the subheadings that divide the chapter;
use them to help you to understand the chapter’s main
points.
III. Write down all key
terms
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Underline any term
that is repeated frequently in the text.
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Do not note examples
or details; instead, try to supply your own examples to
illustrate key concepts.
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Maintain a Master
List containing all new terms taken from all the chapters
you have read.
IV. Review and synthesize
material you have noted down
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After you have
completed your notes on a chapter, re-read them; if your
notes contain any terms or ideas you do not understand,
clarify by returning to the text, consulting a specialized
dictionary, or asking your instructor.
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Use a simple diagram
that helps you keep track of how various concepts in the
chapter are connected.
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Identify in your own
words the main topic, subtopics, and overall argument of the
chapter.
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As you take notes,
remember that all the information you note should fit under
the main heading of the chapter.
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As you review your
notes, think about how subsidiary points (often indicated by
subheadings) are related to the main topic of the chapter.
V. Note general themes
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After you have taken
notes on each chapter, see if by re-reading your notes you
can identify the most important themes of the chapter.
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As you review your
notes, ask yourself questions: what were the key concepts of
the chapter? What significant people, events, movements,
terms, or concepts did the chapter introduce?
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Test yourself
frequently on the information recorded in your notes: cover
up the right hand side of the page or fold it back and
define and explain in your own words the terms on your
Master List.
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