| 1. |
Read the appropriate chapter in your textbook
prior to attending the lecture on that subject. |
| 2. |
Have a notebook or a section of a notebook for
each class. |
| 3. |
If you wish, write on only one side of the paper. |
| 4. |
Write the topic of the lecture and the date at
the top of the paper at the beginning of each lecture. |
| 5. |
Be prepared to start notetaking from the beginning
of the lecture and continue right up to the end of the lecture. |
| 6. |
Do not try to take notes verbatim. Select the
important points and state them in your own words. |
| 7. |
Skip spaces between ideas to make the notes easier
to study from and more clear. |
| 8. |
Skip words that do not affect the meaning of
what is said. |
| 9. |
Copy everything written on the blackboard. |
| 10. |
Write down word for word definitions, tables,
formulas, quotations, references to books, and statements you
do not understand and must think about later. Your notes should
be so clear that you would be able to understand them at a later
date. |
| 11. |
Take notes on class discussion, not just on the
formal lecture, since many professors use class discussion to
draw out important points. |
| 12. |
Listen for main ideas and general themes. |
| 13. |
Watch for cues that the instructor thinks
a point is particularly important.
- A statement is repeated
- Information is written on the blackboard
- Examples are given
- The professor's voice has a change in intonation
- Points are enumerated in a "one, two, three"
fashion
|
| 14. |
Write down examples. |
| 15. |
Abbreviate recurring terms in order to save time.
Put a key for abbreviated words in the top margin of your notes.
For example, in a lecture about the Civil War, AL could stand
for Abraham Lincoln. When the lecture is over, you may want
to go back and fill in the full name. |
| 16. |
Abbreviate common words. For example:
| and + |
with w/ |
about abt |
| under U |
number # |
more than > |
| less than < |
same as = |
because  |
therefore  |
leads to  |
for example e.g. |
| that is i.e. |
comes from  |
|
|
| 17. |
If you are unable to spell a word during a lecture,
write it down the way it sounds and correct the spelling at
a later time. |
| 18. |
If you choose to tape your classes ask the instructor
for permission and take notes during the class as well. Use
the tapes only as a backup to fill in missed information. |
| 19. |
At the end of the lecture, ask questions about
points you do not understand. |
| 20. |
If you become lost during a lecture, mark the
spot with a star, leave a generous amount of space in your notes,
and catch up with the professor. After class you can fill in
the missed information by checking with your professor or another
classmate. |
| 21. |
Review your notes as soon after the lecture as
possible. If there is information that you missed or do not
understand fill it in by looking it up, asking your professor
at the next class, or checking with a classmate. Do not wait
until test time to do this. |
| 22. |
Do not rewrite your notes for the sake of rewriting.
It takes too much time. Rewrite them only if they are illegible
or unless you learn better by rewriting. |
| 23. |
Keep your course notes. They may help you
later in an advanced course in the same subject area.
Updated: 9/12/05 /std
|
