Note-takingHow to make effective notes in lectures and

whilst reading

Why do we need to take notes?

• Record key points and identify important themes• Aid memory• Maintain concentration – provides a goal when reading• Develop own understanding• Focus a wider topic towards your specific title/question• Order information• Highlight links between sub-topics• Avoid plagiarism• Act as a prompt for further research

How should you take notes?

• There is no one way to take notes• Experiment with different methods to find one that works for you• Always have a goal in mind• Be selective - don’t try to write too much. Consider:

• do I really need this? If so, which bits exactly?• will I really use it? When, and how?• have I noted similar information already?• what questions do I want to answer with this information?

Cottrell, S (2013) The Study Skills Handbook. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Organise your notes

• Use a separate file for each subject/subject area• Use file dividers to separate topics• For electronic notes, set up a separate folder for each topic• Number/label pages/files/folders clearly• Arrange points under headings or questions• Keep an updated contents page at the front of each file

Cottrell, S (2013) The Study Skills Handbook. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Different techniques

• Here are some suggestions of different ways of taking notes• Experiment with different methods and find one that works for you

Linear Notes

• Aka skeleton notes• Be brief – should not be a transcript

of the lecture or a facsimile of the powerpoint / reading source

• Use your own words• Headings, bullet-points and/or

highlighting usually employed• Use shorthand • May need to review and rewrite to

make neaterSource: https://www2.open.ac.uk/students/skillsforstudy/image-linear-notes.php

Pattern Notes

• Allows links between sub-topics to be made

• Visually interesting• Can be cluttered or difficult to

follow – rewrite if necessary• Can use colour-coding

Source: http: //www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/al/learning_english/leap/reading/note/example2

Cornell Notes

• Ensures you review, reflect on and engage with notes

• Allows sub-topics to be quickly identified on review

• Creates summary (in own words) of key notes

Source: http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes1.html

Cornell Notes

• Divide the page into 3 sections:• Make notes here• When you review your notes, write key

words and main points here• After that, write a brief summary of your

main ideas here• When you review your notes, use the left-

hand and bottom sections

Mind maps

• Aka spidergrams• Colour code links between topics• Good for visual learners• Easy to add extra notes• Online mind maps:

www.mindmup.com

Synthesised notes

Author’s name Topic 1(Plagiarism)

Topic 2(Websites)

Topic 3(Time)

Brown (2003)The Internet and University Students, London, Bradley

Argues it is increasing (p. 156)

Does not think it is a problem (p.23)Agree – not enough evidence this is a problem

Found 50% students don’t manage time well – argues this is big problem (p.18)

Jones (2010)Academic Impacts of the Web, Boston, Smithdown

Argues it is increasing (p.76-84)

Thinks it is a big problem – very negative (p.63-68)

Found 10% of students managed time ineffectively (p.120-125)

• Record all your notes from different sources in one place• Enables you to identify key points, arguments and areas of agreement• Provides a structure for your essay

Highlighting

• Can be useful but should not replace note-taking

• Don’t highlight too much – stick to key words, brief phrases, statistics, etc

• Can use different colours for different topics

• Make written notes from your highlighted text

• Can also use annotations in margin

Top tips

• Be concise• Leave space to add to your notes• Record reference details• Always review after making notes• If your writing is illegible, review and rewrite• Put down your pen – read first so you won’t be tempted to copy whole

chunks of text• Summarise points in your own words (paraphrase)• Note reference details and page numbers• Be organised!

Shorthand and abbreviations

• Abbrevs cn hlp u rcd nts v quick• Cn rmv vwls nd wrds stll mk sns• Some standard shorthand: + and

leads to↑ increase

thereforebecause

w/ with> greater/better than< smaller/less thane.g. for examplei.e. that is / that means

This is not a replacementfor taking notes!

Why not?

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