Carlos and Cecilia were both straight-A students in middle
school. But now that they're in high school, Carlos finds
himself relying on Cecilia's notes to do well on tests. He also
finds himself wondering how Cecilia manages to take such good
notes.
Note-taking is a skill that can help you do well on all your
schoolwork - everything from taking tests to researching a paper.
But unfortunately, most schools don't have classes that teach
you how to take notes. So here are some tips.
Write down key facts.
If you have a teacher who writes notes on the board, that's a
bonus: You can copy them down. If not, write down the most
important points from class. Does your history teacher mention the
date of a key Civil War battle? Does your English teacher give
examples of Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony? Does your math
teacher go over a particular formula? Write it down!
It can take some experimenting to figure out what information
really is helpful, so keep trying and don't give up. Different
teachers do things differently. For example, some teachers may
mention lots of dates and facts in class but only write the key
ones on the board. Other teachers may not write anything down, but
they may repeat a certain date or piece of information. That's
a clue that it's probably important. After a while, you'll
get to know a teacher's style.
Don't overdo it.
Don't go crazy taking notes, though: You'll be frantic if
you try to write down every word that's said in class. And if
you focus too much on getting your notes right, you might miss
important points. Some people actually learn better by listening,
writing down a few key points, and then going over the material
after class when they have more time.
Ask.
Don't be afraid to ask the teacher to repeat something you
miss. If the teacher's going too fast, chances are your
classmates will also be relieved to hear the information again. If
you don't want to ask in class, see your teacher afterwards.
It's much easier than wondering if you got the notes right as
you study.
Compare.
Keep your notes handy when you're doing your reading
assignments. Compare what you wrote with what the readings say
- you may even want to add to your notes as you read.
Going over your notes with a friend and comparing what the two
of you put down can help reinforce what you're learning. It
also can help you remember information when it's time for
the test. And going over your notes will alert you and your
friend to any errors.
Copy.
Depending on how neat your handwriting is, you may want to recopy
your notes when you get home. If you've taken notes in a hurry,
you're more likely to figure out an unreadable word or sentence
on the day of the lesson than you are weeks later when you
look back over your notes in preparation for a test.
Organize.
Keep notes for each subject in one place so you can find everything
easily when it comes time for a test. That may mean keeping a
notebook or section of a notebook for each subject as you take
notes in class.
Some people combine the copying technique with organization by
using just one notebook for class notes and then copying these
notes into a notebook for each subject when they get back home. The
trick to making this technique work is to be sure you actually do
it regularly. If you don't, your notes will be all over the
place and things will get totally crazed when it's time to
study for the test.
Good note-taking requires extra time and organization. It may
help if you think of the time you spend reviewing notes as an
investment. For example, if you decide to recopy your notes each
evening, you'll probably have less time to watch TV or IM
friends. But you'll save time later when it comes to studying
for the actual test.
Note-taking gives your mind a chance to absorb the material
it needs to learn. Not only can this help you to do
better on a test, it's also a great confidence booster when
you're studying and find yourself saying, "Hey, I remember
that!"
Reviewed by:
Eric J. Gabor, JD
Date reviewed: November 2008
Originally reviewed by:
Chris Cortellessa, M.Ed, NCC
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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