The Cornell method for note taking was developed by Dr. Walter Pauk of Cornell University. It is a note-taking system widely used to annotate material from a class or a reading to later review and learn it. Using the Cornell system can help you organize your notes, actively participate in knowledge creation, improve your study skills, and achieve academic success.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Prepare the sheets of paper on which you will take notes
Step 1. Reserve sheets of paper just for Cornell-style note taking
Whether you're using a notebook or loose-leaf inside a binder, you should reserve pages just for taking notes. Divide each sheet into several sections, each of which will serve a specific purpose.
Step 2. Draw a horizontal line across the bottom of your paper
This line should take up about a quarter of the page, about two inches from the bottom. You will use this section later to summarize your notes.
Step 3. Draw a vertical line to the bottom of the left section of the paper
This line should measure approximately 2 1/2 inches (6 cm) from the left edge of the page. You will use this section to review your notes.
Step 4. Reserve the largest section of the page for taking notes from a class or reading
This section on the right side of the page should have enough space for you to record important points.
Step 5. If you need a quick method, search the internet for Cornell-style note-taking templates
If you're taking a lot of notes or want to save time, look for blank Cornell-style note-taking templates. Print the sheets and follow the same steps to use them.
Part 2 of 4: Take Notes
Step 1. Mark the name of the course, the date and the topic of the class or reading at the top of the page
If you do it consistently, you will keep your notes organized and review course material more easily.
Step 2. Make notes in the largest section of the page
Take notes only in the right hand section of the page while listening to class or reading a text.
Include whatever information the teacher writes on the board or shows in a slide show
Step 3. Use notes to actively listen or read
Every time you find an important point, make a note of it.
- Look for signs that indicate important information. If the teacher says something like "The three most important consequences of X are …" or "X happened due to two basic reasons", it is very likely that this is the information you should record in your notes.
- If you are taking notes from a class, listen to the points that the instructor emphasizes or repeats as they are likely to be important.
- These tips also apply when you read a text and come across information like these examples. For example, textbooks often bold key terms or repeat important information in graphs or charts.
Step 4. Keep your notes simple
Think of your notes as a lesson or reading outline. Focus on getting just the key words and points so that you can keep up with the class or reading as you will have time later to review your notes and fill in the blanks.
- Instead of writing complete sentences, use bullets, shortcuts (like "&" instead of "and"), abbreviations, and any personal note-taking symbols you have.
- For example, instead of writing a complete sentence, such as "In 1703, Peter the Great founded Saint Petersburg and ordered the city's first construction, the Peter and Paul Fortress," you can simply write: "1703-Peter founds Saint Peter & builds the Fortress of Saint Peter and Saint Paul ". The shorter version will be easier to learn and will keep the essential information.
Step 5. Record general ideas and not illustrative examples
Focus on the important ideas in the class rather than recording all the examples the instructor provides to illustrate these ideas. Paraphrasing not only saves time and space, it forces you to make connections between the ideas presented and your own way of expressing them, allowing you to recall the material later.
- For example, an instructor or text in a book might state something like "When Saint Petersburg was built, Peter the Great hired engineers, architects, shipbuilders, and other workers from various European countries. The immigration of these intellectuals and skilled workers led him to It provided St. Petersburg with a cosmopolitan atmosphere, whereby Peter the Great achieved part of his goal of making the Russian city a “window to the west.” However, you should not copy the information word for word!
- Paraphrase the information. For example, you can write something like "Peter the Great hired engineers, architects, shipbuilders, etc., from all over Europe - His plan: Saint Peter =" window to the west ".
Step 6. Leave a space, draw a line, or start a new page when you get to a new topic
Doing so will help you organize your material mentally. You can also focus on studying different parts when you need to.
Step 7. Take note of any questions that come up as you listen or read
If there is something you don't understand or something you want to know more about, write it down in your notes. These questions will help you clarify what you take in and will be useful for later study.
For example, if you are taking notes on the history of St. Petersburg, as in the previous examples, you could write the following: "Why didn't Peter the Great hire Russian engineers?"
Step 8. Edit your notes as soon as possible
If some parts of your notes are difficult to read or don't seem to make sense, fix them while the material is still fresh in your mind.
Part 3 of 4: Review and Expand Your Notes
Step 1. Summarize the key points
After class or reading, extract the important ideas or key facts from the right hand section as soon as possible. Write "very" summary versions in the left hand column. Look for keywords or short phrases that convey the most important information or concepts. Reviewing course material around the same day as class or reading increases retention.
- Underlining the main ideas in the right hand column may help you identify them. You can also highlight them or use a color code if you are a very visual student.
- Cross out information that is not important. Part of the beauty of this system is that it will teach you to identify the crucial information and to discard the unnecessary. Practice identifying the information that you are least likely to need.
Step 2. Write possible questions in the left column
Read the notes on the right side, think about the questions that might appear on a test, and write them on the left side. Later, you can use them as a study tool.
- For example, if in the section on the right you wrote the following notes: "1703-Peter founds Saint Peter and builds the Fortress of Saint Peter and Saint Paul", in the section on the left hand you can write the following question: "Why that the Peter and Paul Fortress was the first construction in Saint Petersburg? ".
- You can write questions of a higher level whose answers do not appear in your notes, such as the following: "Why did … happen?", "Predict what would happen if …" or What were the consequences of …? ". For example, "What impact did the change of the seat of the capital from Moscow to Saint Petersburg have on the Russian empire?" In this way, you can deepen your learning of the material.
Step 3. Summarize the main ideas in the bottom section of the page
Doing so will allow you to clarify all the information to be registered. Putting the most important part of the material in your own words is a good way to check your understanding. If you can summarize the notes page, it means that you are well on your way to understanding the material. You can ask yourself something like: "How would I explain this information to someone else?"
- Often times, the instructor will begin a class session by providing an overview of the day's material. For example, he will say something like: "Today we will talk about A, B, C". Similarly, sections of a textbook include introductions that summarize important points. You can use these summaries as a guide to taking notes and think of them as a version of the summary that you will write at the bottom of the notes page. Include any additional details that seem important or that you think you should pay special attention to when studying.
- Generally, you can just use a few sentences for a one-page summary. Include any important formulas, equations, diagrams, etc. in the summary section if appropriate.
- If you have trouble summarizing any part of the material, use the notes to identify which part you should review a little more or about which part you should ask your instructor for more information.
Part 4 of 4: Using Your Notes to Study
Step 1. Read your notes
Focus on the left hand column and the summary at the bottom. These notes contain the most important points you will need for your assignment or test.
You can underline or highlight the most important parts as you go through your notes if you prefer
Step 2. Use the notes to test your knowledge
Cover the right side of the page (the note-taking column) with your hand or another sheet of paper. Take a quick test by answering the likely questions you included in the left column. Then, uncover the right side and check your understanding.
You can also ask a friend to ask you quick questions about your notes using the left column and you can do the same with him
Step 3. Review your notes as often as possible
Reviewing your notes frequently for longer before a test, rather than studying hard in a short time, will greatly increase your retention and deepen your knowledge of the course material. With the effective notes you take using the Cornell system, you can study efficiently and with minimal stress.