Helpful

Note-Taking

Tips for College

Academic Skills Center

Austin College

Note Taking Self – Assessment

READ ASSIGNMENT BEFORE CLASS

Note taking is easier when you have an

understanding of the material

It’s worth taking note if mentioned in

reading and in class

GET ORGANIZED

Begin each lecture on a new page

Put the date on each new lecture

Add topic headings

Organize disorganized lectures

LEAVE SPACE

Leave space around notes to insert info later

For when you don’t understand/didn’t get it

Review and reorganize notes

Insert additions

Add connections made during class

THINK WHILE WRITING

Don’t transcribe

Think about…

- What is important?

- What relates to the reading?

- What cues do you pick up?

ASK QUESTIONS

Write your questions as you write

Highlight gaps in understanding

Focus on questions when reviewing notes

Covert info into prospective test questions

DEVELOP A SYSTEM

Cornell

Outlining

Mind Mapping

Charts / Graphs

Paragraphs

REVIEW AFTER CLASS

Leave space on page to summarize notes

Add details and connect material

This will help you remember and explain it

Get with classmates to review notes

NOTE

SHARE

The

CORNELLNote Taking Method

• Neatly organize & summarize

• Easy to Review

• Let’s you pull out major ideas

and concepts

• Effective because it organizes

notes into easily digestible

summaries

• Best for understanding Key

Ideas & Relationships

The

MAPPINGMethod

• Visual learners who struggle with

studying from traditional notes

• Helps you remember and

connect relationships between

topics

• Visual way to organize notes,

especially when learning

relationships between topics

The

OUTLININGMethod

• Can organize notes easily

• Allows easy view of relationships

between topics and subtopics

• Makes it easy to turn points into

study questions

• Organized by headings or bullets

• Most useful when learning about

topics with lots of details

The

Visual Method

• Some minds think in Pictures

• Text / Images / Structures

• Multi-modal in processing

information (hearing and

seeing)

• Enhances/builds more

associations and relationships

with information

The

CHARTINGMethod

• Facts are organized by category

and easy to review

• Key pieces of information are

highlighted for each topics

• Useful for lessons that cover a lot

of facts or relationships between

topics

The

SENTENCEMethod

• Jotting down main points helps

you determine what’s important

and what’s note

• You can cover a lot of details

and information quickly

• Simplify notes for study & review

• Each topics is a new line

• Works well for fast paced

lectures and much information

References

Gardner, J.N. & Jewler, A.J. (Eds.) (2005). Your College Experience: Strategies for Success.

Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

How to take Study Notes (2017, May 3). Retrieved from https://www.oxfordlearning.com/5-

effective-note-taking-methods/

Sketcho Frenzy: The Basics of Visual Notetaking (2012, Jan 2.) Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY9KdRfNN9w