© Michelli

Note Taking

Introduction

In a degree-level course, the student is asked to deal with several kinds of information. Some of it comes from the text book. Some of it comes from lectures. Some from class discussion. Some of it might come from videos or tape recordings. Together, these various sources of information make up the complete course, and no single source will cover the whole course. The student needs to be able to take good notes from any source - otherwise he or she can lose vital material, and that can cost grade points at the next test or paper. It can also get the professor irritated, and an irritated professor is usually less helpful than a happy one!

It is fairly easy to take notes from a book. The text will never change, and you can take as long as you like, and check it over as many times as you need to be sure your notes are accurate. But lectures are given quite fast. Class discussion goes even faster. Videos and tapes are also fast. Many students find that their notes from these sources are virtually useless: they can't read their own writing; the notes are too brief and no longer make sense; there are whole chunks missing; sometimes they are plain wrong! We've all been there, so here are some pointers which might help.

Mechanics

Firstly, bear in mind that you want to get down as much as possible, as fast as possible, and it's no good if you can't read it later. So:

1. Use a reliable, easy-running pen. Pencils are OK, but they go blunt and they smudge - but use whatever is most comfortable and reliable for you.
2. Hold your pen/pencil lightly. Do not press hard as you write. That slows you down, and you need speed!

   Note: If you habitually press hard when you write, do everything you can to break that habit. Practice writing and doodling lightly whenever you have nothing better to do. Whenever you notice yourself clenching up and pressing hard, consciously relax your hand.

3. Write in a joined-up script. It is the fastest way. Do not use your best writing!
4. If you can type faster than you can write, consider using a lap-top computer in class. But be sure your batteries are fully charged!
5. Use short notes.

   Note: Short notes are a habit you need to create. They are not easy at first, but they are fast when you are in practice.

OK, that's the mechanics out of the way.

Before and During Class

Now, you want to take down useful material, and for this you need to be able to recognise the important bits at once. A bit of preparation often helps here:

1. Before class, check over the syllabus, handbook or set readings to see roughly what is planned for this session. With this overview, you can more easily recognise relevant information, and if you have done the readings you were supposed to do, you will also notice when the professor adds information which isn't in the book. That is the information you really want to get into your notes.
2. Arrive well in time. This gives you time to organise yourself: get your paper and pens ready, review the syllabus, get your jacket off, and get yourself calm. It also means you won't miss anything. Sometimes, the most important things of all are said by the professor right at the beginning of class, and if you miss them you'll never make sense of the rest!
3. Bother to think about your professor. Professors often have personal quirks which signal that they are about to start in a new direction, or that they think what they are saying is particularly important. For example, they might cough, or their voices might get louder, or they might suddenly bark out a word like, "now -". Use those signals. You'll get better at this as the course goes on.

4. If the professor says something like: "in conclusion," or "in summary", or "so -" this will be followed by particularly useful stuff. Go for it!
5. Take your notes as hard and fast as possible, remembering to relax your hand whenever you think of it.
6. If you don't understand something, ask the professor at once - IF this is appropriate (it is NOT appropriate in a formal lecture; it IS appropriate in a class). If it is not appropriate or possible to ask a question, write the problem down in your notes. It is quite useful to signal this to yourself by starting with your own initial, e.g. "P: I don't understand that." End with a big spot to show that is the end of your comment. Then continue the notes.

At the end of the class, you might think you've finished - but you haven't!

After Class

Your memory works best by repetition, and it remembers most soonest after the event. So, as soon as possible after class:

1. Review your notes. Read them over, adding in anything you can now remember but didn't have time to write down in class. Think about the problems you noted. Do you understand them any better now? If so, write in your thoughts about them. Also, note any new questions you may have. Do it all now. Later, you will have forgotten.
2. Rewrite your notes. Turn them into full sentences, and turn the whole into a paper. This will force you to notice whether or not you have understood them. Does the finished result have a conclusion? Try and think what main points you were meant to get from all this.
3. If you still have problems, see the professor during Office Hours, or make an appointment. Your notes are now very competent and show very clearly where you missed something or didn't understand something, and your professor is likely to be quite impressed! At least, he or she won't assume you're being a drip! Ask the professor to explain, and add the explanation to your notes.

Now, these notes are likely to be very useful to you, so don't just lose them. Keep them in a ring-binder and read over the latest set before your next class to give yourself a good sense of continuity. Read them again when preparing for a test or paper.