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Note Taking

Effective Note-taking Strategies

Utilizing effective note-taking strategies is ideal when it comes to organizing, summarizing, and retaining information presented in course materials and lectures and for a streamlined review process.

In order to take useful and effective notes, you'll need to:

  • comprehend the material
  • identify the key points
  • make connections between new and previously learned ideas
  • paraphrase and summarize (aka express the meaning of what is being shared in your own words in a concise manner)

1. Cornell Method

A popular and effective method for note-taking that divides your page into three sections, each with a specific purpose. Setting up this structure before class helps you stay organized during and after your lecture or reading.

Keywords & Cues
Write questions, keywords, and main ideas here after class.		Notes
Capture key points, details, and examples here during class or reading.
Summary
Write a brief summary of the page in your own words after reviewing your notes.

How to use each section:

  • Notes (right-hand column): This is your main note-taking space. During class or while reading, jot down key points, important details, definitions, and examples. Don't worry about writing full sentences — focus on capturing the most important ideas as they come.
  • Keywords & Cues (left-hand column): After class or your reading session, go back through your notes and pull out keywords, main ideas, and questions that could guide your studying. For example, if your notes cover the causes of World War I, a cue might be "What were the main causes?" This column becomes a self-testing tool when you cover the right side and try to recall the information.
  • Summary (bottom section): During your review, write a 2–3 sentence summary of the page in your own words. This reinforces understanding and gives you a quick reference when studying for exams.

Cornell Method Example 1: History Lecture

Here's how a student might use the Cornell Method to organize notes from a lecture on the causes of the American Civil War.

Keywords & Cues
• What were the economic differences between North and South?
• Define: secession
• Why did slavery cause conflict?
• Key dates: 1861, Fort Sumter		Notes
North = industrial economy (factories, cities)
South = agricultural economy (plantations, slavery)
Slavery = moral + economic debate
States' rights vs. federal power
Southern states feared losing political power
Lincoln elected 1860 → South secedes
Fort Sumter attacked April 1861 = war begins
Summary
The Civil War started because the North and South had different economies and values. The South relied on slavery and feared losing power in Congress. When Lincoln was elected, Southern states seceded, and the war began at Fort Sumter in 1861.

 

Cornell Method Example 2: Science Reading

Here's how a student might organize notes from a textbook reading on cellular respiration for a biology class.

Keywords & Cues
• What is the formula for cellular respiration?
• Define: mitochondria, ATP
• How many stages are there?
• What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic?
• Which stage produces the most ATP?		Notes
Cellular respiration = breaking down glucose for energy
Formula: C6H12O6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O + energy
Happens in mitochondria (powerhouse of cell)
3 main stages:
1. Glycolysis (cytoplasm) = 2 ATP
2. Krebs Cycle (mitochondria) = 2 ATP
3. Electron Transport Chain = 32-34 ATP
Aerobic = needs oxygen
Anaerobic = no oxygen (fermentation)
Summary
Cellular respiration is the process where cells break down glucose to create ATP (energy). It has three stages that happen in the cytoplasm and mitochondria, producing about 36-38 ATP total. Aerobic respiration requires oxygen, while anaerobic respiration (fermentation) does not.

 

2. Sketch Noting

Sketch-noting is a note-taking process that focuses on creating visuals, diagrams, and doodles alongside your written notes. It works by combining images with verbal explanations — a technique known as dual coding — which helps you process and retain information more effectively. Because it is visual and non-linear, it is especially useful for understanding relationships between ideas, depicting processes or cycles, and emphasizing key concepts in a way that stands out from traditional notes.

How to use it:

  • Use icons, doodles, or simple drawings to represent important ideas or concepts — they don't need to be detailed, just meaningful to you.
  • Use larger visuals to highlight key ideas and smaller imagery or text to capture supporting details around them.
  • Draw connections between related concepts using arrows, lines, or groupings to show relationships, similarities, and differences.
  • It can take more time than traditional note-taking, so it works best for complex topics or material you want to process deeply for long-term understanding.

TRY THE SKETCH-NOTING TECHNIQUE:

Use these elements to get started:

  • Mind-maps, flow charts, timelines, graphs, cartoon or comic strips
  • Diagrams, infographics, depicting a cycle or process with words and images
  • Annotations ( ! ? * ) in texts or on notes

 

 

Reference:
Sumeracki, M., Nebel, C., Kuepper-Tezel, C., & Need Kaminske, A. (2023). Ace that test: A student's guide to learning better. Routledge.

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