by: Sophia Hull
If you’re anything like me, your terrible at taking notes. The skill of note-taking is an essential burden that needs to be improved to succeed. There are 5 different methods and 3 different tips that I will be covering. So hopefully you learn something in this article to improve or help you take better notes. Much of this info is detailed on sites like Oxford Learning.
Method 1: First off is The Sentence Method. In this method, you would simply write down the most important sentences or the key ideas that your teacher covers. This is a more compact way of taking notes and can help with review because you wouldn’t be confused by notes that aren't as important. You should also remember to use headings to keep all of your notes organized.
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Tip 1: You should only write down the MOST important details. DO NOT waste time or space writing down information that is unnecessary. This will only confuse you and make reviewing your notes even harder. Just remember, the simpler your notes the easier your life will be. Another thing to note is that writing in full sentences can limit the amount of information you can write. Abbreviate words so you can understand them, but that can make your writing more compact.
Method 2: The Mapping Method can be helpful for those you find notes to be confusing. This method is very helpful for cause and effect or the relationship between topics. If you choose to do the mapping method you would start with a heading or main topic and use branches to connect the details and points that follow.
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Tip 2: Be sure you're prepared for class by reviewing the lesson or topics you will be covering. By doing this you are allowing yourself to get a head start. You won’t be taken back by any new information so you can really hone in on the topics or points that really matter.
Method 3: Similar to the mapping method is The Outlining Method. The outlining method organizes your notes by putting information into key points that fall under different subtopics under the main topic. This method is good for when you have lots of information to cover.
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Tip 3: Be a good listener. You need to not only take notes on a topic but need to be able to fully understand it. If you don’t listen to your teacher and just try and scribble down what they have written on the board you may miss important information or not fully understand it.
Method 4: The Charting Method can be useful for fast-paced classes that are heavy on factual information. To use this method just organize your notes into points that fall under the different topics you are covering.
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Method 5: The final method is the Cornell Method. By splitting your paper in 3, you organize your paper for “in class” notes, a summary of notes, and points written down after class. This method creates easy to review notes and is good for understanding relationships between information.
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