For both high school and university students, knowing how to take notes is as important as knowing which notes to take. Unless you know shorthand or carry around your handheld recorder, you will need to make effective use of your classroom time and become an effective note-taker.
1. Pre-read the material that will be covered in class. For concepts raised in the book that you don't understand, make a note to yourself and bring it up in class. Getting a feel for the topic will help you determine what parts you need to take notes on before the lecture begins.
2. Pick up a highlighter to mark the points the professor covers. You might not have to give yourself writer's cramp if you have access to a highlighter. But if you're a purist who doesn't want to write in a text book, carry sticky notes and post them next to the sections covered in class.
3. Listening is as important as writing down everything your instructor says. Don't zone out - even when a chatty classmate raises points that you think are off topic.
4. Your instructor likely won't cover points that aren't important but still knowing what to write down and what to skip can be difficult to determine. If a topic warrants your instructor spending a lot of time discussing it, making an overhead or writing it on the board, chances are, you should be writing it down.
5. You'll develop your own note-taking style as time goes on or enhance the one you perfected in high school. But consider this: starting each days lecture with a fresh sheet of paper, dated at the top, will help keep you organized. Don't fill every line in your notebook, keep blank spaces for filling in additional ideas, thoughts, and updates to information. You don't have to write every single word the instructor says - paraphrase.
It's not necessary to write down everything your instructor says. It's okay as well to ask the instructor for advice on what he or she feels is the most important: "Will this be on an exam?" can be asked. Once the class ends, review your notes to make certain you can decipher what you've written.
1. Pre-read the material that will be covered in class. For concepts raised in the book that you don't understand, make a note to yourself and bring it up in class. Getting a feel for the topic will help you determine what parts you need to take notes on before the lecture begins.
2. Pick up a highlighter to mark the points the professor covers. You might not have to give yourself writer's cramp if you have access to a highlighter. But if you're a purist who doesn't want to write in a text book, carry sticky notes and post them next to the sections covered in class.
3. Listening is as important as writing down everything your instructor says. Don't zone out - even when a chatty classmate raises points that you think are off topic.
4. Your instructor likely won't cover points that aren't important but still knowing what to write down and what to skip can be difficult to determine. If a topic warrants your instructor spending a lot of time discussing it, making an overhead or writing it on the board, chances are, you should be writing it down.
5. You'll develop your own note-taking style as time goes on or enhance the one you perfected in high school. But consider this: starting each days lecture with a fresh sheet of paper, dated at the top, will help keep you organized. Don't fill every line in your notebook, keep blank spaces for filling in additional ideas, thoughts, and updates to information. You don't have to write every single word the instructor says - paraphrase.
It's not necessary to write down everything your instructor says. It's okay as well to ask the instructor for advice on what he or she feels is the most important: "Will this be on an exam?" can be asked. Once the class ends, review your notes to make certain you can decipher what you've written.
About the Author:
Robbi Hess is a staff writer for the American Educational Guidance Center. Her interests in higher education include online college programs for working adults, specialty colleges and universities and unusual scholarships.
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