Take Notes Effectively

[MMK]

A good set of notes can serve you well. Your notes help you remember which concepts your professor stressed and, thus, give you an idea as to what will be covered in the exam. Note taking also helps you concentrate on the lecture.





Before class

• Preview the pertinent chapter in your textbook.
• Review your notes from last class.
• Formulate questions to ask in class.
• Make sure you have plenty of paper and your favourite pen or pencil.

During class

• Listen for and write down main ideas rather than try to record everything.
• Watch for cues from your professor that help you select and organize main ideas.
• Use abbreviations wherever possible.
• Leave space to add missing ideas later.

After class

• Read your notes over and fill in missing details as soon as possible.
• Check a classmate's notes to see if you missed significant details.
• Relate your class notes to notes from your text to get the complete picture.
• Review your notes regularly and test yourself to see how much you can recall.

Reference