Organized notes help you identify the important ideas in a lecture or in an article. They help you understand the organization and the purpose of the lecture or assignment. Use these tips to help you to become a better note-taker.

• Collect all the notes for each course in a separate place. Either have a separate notebook or a separate section for each class.
  
  
• Write notes on one side of the page only. It's easier to organize your notes at a later date.
  
  
• Write the name and the date at the top of each day's notes.
  
  
• Don't doodle or do other activities that will distract you from the task at hand.
  
  
• Use abbreviations.
  
  Watch for signal words. These include statements like "There are three reason why..."; "First... Second... Third... "; "Most important is ..."; and "A major development ..."
  
  
• Mark ideas for emphasis with a symbol like an arrow or a star. Underline main points.
  
  
• Review your notes as soon as possible after you've taken them. Make any organizational improvements.
  
  
• Box assignments so you can identify them quickly.
  
  
• Do not try to write every word. Write the main ideas.
  
  
• Write notes in outline form rather than in paragraph form.
  
  
• Leave space between ideas so that you can add information as needed.
  
  
• Provide examples when helpful.
  
  
• Make flash cards for unfamiliar vocabulary, ideas or concepts.
  
  
• Work with your classmates. Share notes to fill in gaps or discuss ideas.

To find out more about taking accurate notes, visit these sites:

Evaluating Your Note Taking Skills http://cuip.uchicago.edu/www4teach/98/teams/Peerpals/NoteTaking3.htm

Note-Taking: The Basics and Q & A
http://www.xu.edu/lac/note_taking.htm

Note Taking Skills and Strategies http://www.testtakingtips.com/note/index.htm

Note-Taking Tips
http://www.english-zone.com/study/notes.html

Study Skills Online: Note Taking http://www.jcu.edu.au/studying/services/studyskills/notetaking/

Taking Notes From Lectures
http://www.d.umn.edu/student/loon/acad/strat/ss_notetaking.html

Taking Notes in Lectures
http://www.studygs.net/Lcturnote.htm

 

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