Introduction
Effective studying habits begin with taking good notes in class! Even if your study skills are decent, with incomplete notes you will be missing important information when you have exams and tests. Review these note-taking tips and you will be taking an invaluable step to getting your semester off to a successful start!
In class, write down as much as you can. Do not focus so much on comprehension. That will come later when you review your notes.
Use Abbreviations & Speed-Write!
As you record information from lectures, abbreviate and shorten as much as you can, without losing meaning.
There used to be ads on the New York subway system that read:
if u cn rd ths, u cn lrn spdwrtg
Note-Taking Tips
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Use Abbreviations, paraphrase information.
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Neatness doesn’t count.
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Use simple bullets. If you try to create an organized outline while your instructor speaks you may spend more time focusing on your note-taking format rather than recording information.
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Do NOT take notes on a laptop/computer. You can become very easily distracted by email, online messenger, etc.
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Write down questions for the instructor in {brackets on the side} & ask during a pause in conversation.
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Complete the assigned reading before class. You’ll have a more clear understanding of the next class lecture.
Common Abbreviations to Learn
Abbreviating connecting words will help you keep pace with class information.
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Abbreviation
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Meaning
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mng
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meaning
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betw
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between
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ccpt
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concept
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dn/fn
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description/function
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qn
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question
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w.
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with
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w/o
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without
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wd
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would
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wh
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when
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+
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and
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Discussion Columns are helpful if your course relies primarily on class participation. Most students rely on instructor’s comments during discussions; however, student comments are equally as important.
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Question Posed
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Professor’s Comments
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Student Comments
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Must creativity result in a product?
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Depends on how you look @ it – whose perspective?
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TQ? Process is more important than product. Defend or refute this statement.
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So, which is more important – Process or product?
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The T-Method helps you to summarize or pull information together for exams with essays & short answers.
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Draw a T at the bottom fourth of last page of notes. Leave last fourth of page to go back later and create a summary of your notes on the left side, and questions on the right. This is a great tool for rehearsing information.
Stay Active in your Learning!
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If you have a choice, take courses at your optimum time for learning. If you do not function well in the morning, register for courses that begin later in the day, and vice versa.
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Sit in the “T” not in the “U”
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When you choose a seat in the classroom, always sit in the front or the middle aisle seats. If you sit on the sides or in the back, you’ll be less likely to stay focused.
Practice!
Now that you have learned some note-taking strategies, try to incorporate some methods into your classes and you will be sure to have success!
Adapted from ACDV 101: Transitioning to College & How to Study: A Brief Guide, State University of New York at Buffalo
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