Making the Most of Making the Most of Your Lecture NotesYour Lecture Notes

Taking notes forces you to pay attention while testing your understanding of the material.

When you review, notes provide a gauge to you on what is important.

Personal notes are usually easier to understand than the text.

Writing down important points helps you remember even before you study the material formally.

Apply the 3 D’s to Listening

1.1. DetermineDetermine the important things the speaker is saying.

2.2. DecideDecide to listen. Listening is the responsibility of the learner.

3.3. DevelopDevelop good listening skills for your college and future success.

AnticipatingAnticipating the next point a speaker will make in developing a subject

IdentifyingIdentifying supporting material and evidence for major points that a speaker makes

RecapitulatingRecapitulating –make a mental summary when the speaker pauses

Finish reading assignments given for that class

Review notes from previous class to refresh

your memory

Arrive before the lecture begins

Choose a good seat where you can easily see and hear the professor

Avoid sitting near distracting people

Watch for clues from the instructor emphasizing certain material (e. g. change in voice inflection, animated movements, writing on board)

Listen, think, then write. Listen for what is being said, not how it's being said.

Take notes using a consistent, organized system that you developed

Participate in class and ask questions Write down major ideas, details, and

examples

Skip lines in order to add material during a review or to show where a new idea begins

Material written on the blackboard Information that is repeatedWord signals

- “There are two points of view on…”- “There are two reasons why…”

Information that is emphasized-Instructor changes their tone of voice-Instructor uses gestures-Instructor spends a longer amount of time on a topic-Instructor uses examples of the material

Spend at least 30 minutes reviewing/editing notes within 24 hours*We lose 80% of what we hear within a few

hours if we don’t review

Use text to fill in missed words, clarify notes, and add examples

Identify any questions for the next class that need clarification by the professor 

Organize notes with symbols or color codes to identify definitions, test questions, etc.  

Compare your notes with a friend to check for completeness and accuracy  

Conduct short weekly reviews

Make your notes brief. Never use a sentence when you could use

a phrase. Never use a phrase where you can use a

word. Use abbreviations and symbols, but be

consistent. Put most notes in your own words.

However, the following should be noted exactly:– Formulas– Definitions– Specific facts

-One or two sentences long.  -Should summarize key points of the lecture.-Should be written in your own words.-Serves as a simple guide for reviewing notes for a test.

Picture from: http://www.theproductologist.com/index.php/2008/03/03/cornell-note-taking-method/

*Be sure to put the date and class name in the upper right hand corner

-Notes-Definitions-Questions-Key Points

-Vocabulary Words-Key Terms-Concepts-Headings

Stanford Calhoun High School

Source:

If you miss a statement, write key words, skip a few spaces, and get the information later.

Use outline and/or a numbering system. Indention helps you distinguish major from minor points.

Date your notes. Perhaps number the pages.

Use a standard sized notebook and paper (8 ½ x 11).

Don’t try to use every space on a page. Leave room for coordinating your notes with the text after the lecture. (You may want to list key terms in the margin or make a summary of the contents of the page.)

Contact the Learning CenterContact the Learning Center First Floor of the LibraryFirst Floor of the Library

717-477-1420717-477-1420

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useful? 3. Which part of the presentation was the least useful? 4. What are you going to do now based on what you

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