This basically means writing down the main points of the lecture or class (you can format them as a list of bullet points, for example).

A lot of people use the rough outline method.

After the lecture, you'll summarize your notes, designate keywords, and create questions about the material in the left-hand column. You'll use the right-hand column to take notes during your class or lecture. On the right side have a column six inches across (15.24 cm). On the left-hand side of the paper mark a two- and one-half inch column (6.35 cm).

An effective method is the Cornell method of note-taking.

You'll need to experiment to see which methods work best for you.

There are different ways to take down notes, some of which are more effective than others at helping you to stay organized or get organized later. In good presentations, the bullet points on the slides are often main ideas.įigure out which note-taking method works best for you. In paragraphs, the main idea is usually either the first or the last sentence. A piece of information usually has a main idea and supportive details, which can also be very important, but the main idea is definitely something worth noting.Be selective (don’t take down every single note): take down the main points of the lecture or discussion write down examples or hypotheticals, especially in math and science classes.

X Expert Source David JiaĪcademic Tutor Expert Interview. Don't write down things you already know-the more you have in your notes, the harder it will be to find the really important things when you're studying.Anything that's repeating is probably going to end up on a test or at least be important to understanding the class. Reiterating points is a way of highlighting what the most important material is going to be. Note down things that the instructor says more than once.This means that you only write down the really important things and don't take down every single thing your instructor says (unless it's really funny, of course). One of the keys to having your notes organized is to make sure you're taking good notes. This article has been viewed 358,188 times. This article received 15 testimonials and 80% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. WikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Additionally, David has worked as an instructor for online videos for textbook companies such as Larson Texts, Big Ideas Learning, and Big Ideas Math. After attaining a perfect 800 math score and a 690 English score on the SAT, David was awarded the Dickinson Scholarship from the University of Miami, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

With over 10 years of teaching experience, David works with students of all ages and grades in various subjects, as well as college admissions counseling and test preparation for the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and more. David Jia is an Academic Tutor and the Founder of LA Math Tutoring, a private tutoring company based in Los Angeles, California. This article was co-authored by David Jia.

Taking notes