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 Good note taking forces
you to listen, and listening in class is the first step
in good study habits. Notes are also essential for studying.
Some teachers give their exams directly from the class notes.
Others use a combination of notes and textbook information.
For each class that has any kind of lecture, you should
have a separate notebook with plenty of clean paper. Also,
take a couple of pens and/or pencils. Some people even use
different colored pens to indicate different types of information.
The following are some tips for successful note taking.
1. Create your own style. Some people use an outline
format with headings and subheading. Some people just write
the main words in a listing format and fill in the gaps
later. I use a more visual approach to note taking. Instead
of going from the top of the page to the bottom, I make
little clusters of information on different parts of the
page. I draw little arrows from one thing to another to
show connections. I also use numbers and stars and check
marks and exclamation points in various places. The main
point of taking notes is to get the important information
from the lecture in a format that you'll be able to read
and comprehend while you study for the exam.
2. Don't be afraid to stop the teacher if you get behind.
Most teachers would be impressed if they thought someone
was actually listening to their lecture.
3. After class, you should always look over the notes
and fill in any areas that you may have missed in the lecture.
It's important to do this soon after the lecture while the
information is still fresh in your brain.
4. Actually use the notes to study for the exam.
Don't take notes just to go through the motions of being
a good student. Compare the notes with what's in the textbook,
and try to figure out how the teacher makes his or her exams.
After the first test or two, you can usually tell if the
teacher relies on notes or text or both equally. Knowing
the particular instructor's test-creating style is very
important.
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