Cornell Note TakingTechnique

Learn, compare, collect the facts.Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1849-1936)

Cornell Notes System provides both anote-taking and a study system.

Notes become a handwritten textbook,organized to work for you.

52 years ago,Walter Paukdeveloped whatis now, thiscountry’s mostwidely usednotetakingtechnique.

Here’s anexampleof theCornellNotes.

Use regular paper or special Cornell Note paper.

Notes

STEP ONE

Take notes:

Use largest portion ofspace for notes.

Avoid using formal outlineform for your notes, unlessyour mind works that way.

Cornell Note-Taking Format

Subject: Notetaking Date:

CUE Column

Main Ideas

Details

Summary:

6 inches

STEP TWO

This column allows review ofnotes:

Keep this column blankwhile taking notes.

Write questions in this 2½ inch column for review.

Cue Column

2 1/2 inches

Cornell Note-Taking Format

Subject: Notetaking Date:

CUE Column

Main Ideas

Details

Summary:

Summary

STEP 3

Summarize notes:

Indicate mostimportant points in thetwo inch space at thebottom of the page.

Cornell Note-Taking Format

Subject: Notetaking Date:

CUE Column

Main Ideas

Details

Summary:

2 inches

Preparation for taking Notes

1. First Step - Preparation Before Class

Use a large, loose-leaf, three-ring binder notebook. You

will use both sheets of paper on either side of the three-ring

binder (Line to the left of class notes) for your notes. Draw

a vertical line 3 inches from the rings on the left sheet.

(Line to the left of the center line) This is the Center

Column. Lecture notes should be taken on the right sheet,

textbook notes on the left of the Center Column should be

used to record summaries, discussion questions and

answers, key words, etc.