Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Make clear and concise notes that you can remember
• Method 2 of 4: Annotate using a specific method
• Method 3 of 4: Make better notes by listening carefully
• Method 4 of 4: Read carefully to take notes
• Tips
• Necessities

Being able to take good notes can be very important if you want to be successful, both while you are still in school or studying, and in your professional life. Notes can help you to successfully complete projects and assignments and to pass tests and exams. But you may not know how to take notes. So read below how you can use note-taking techniques that work great for both written text and oral presentations such as lectures, lectures and meetings.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Make clear and concise notes that you can remember

1. Write down details at the top of your paper. Keep your notes organized by writing important details at the top of each page. Include information such as the date, bibliographic information, and page number of your notes. Jotting down details can make it easier for you to find important information if you revisit your notes at a later time.
2. Write in your own words. Write down important facts, ideas and details in your own words. Do not write down the original text verbatim or word for word, unless it is an excerpt or quote that you may use later. Taking notes in your own words actively engages your brain, helps you understand the text better, makes it easier for you to remember the information, and can help prevent unwanted plagiarism.
   • Develop your own system of signs and abbreviations that can help you take notes and review them faster. For example, "WM" for "scientific method", or "GG" for "gender history".
3. Write down keywords instead of full sentences. Think of the text you are reading or the lecture you are listening to - it may be a bit boring and difficult to understand. Therefore, make your notes in a different way. For example, use keywords to say the same things in a short and manageable way so that you can read them easily and quickly later.
   • For example, for obstetrics you could write words such as midwife, placental fracture, fever in childbirth and pre-eclampsia.
4. Skip lines on the paper for later viewing. When writing down your keywords and ideas, leave some space between the different lines. If you have extra space, you can make additional notes later or clarify points that you may not fully understand at first. This will help you quickly gather and identify all relevant material for that keyword or thought.

Method 2 of 4: Annotate using a specific method

1. Make clear notes by hand. Resist the temptation to type out your notes based on what you read or hear. Instead, use standard or italic handwriting to take notes. Writing down what you read and hear can help you make the information more coherent, remember it and put it together, making it much more useful.
   • Write neatly and clearly. If you can't read your own notes, you can't use them to study with either.
   • If you need to, use certain strategies to take your notes, such as the Cornell method or a scheme to give more structure to typed notes.
   • Consider a special note-taking program or app, such as Evernote or Microsoft OneNote, to be more efficient in typing your notes.
2. Take notes using the Cornell method. Divide a sheet of notepaper into thirds: a smaller section for information, a wider section for notes, and at the very bottom of the page a section for a summary. Then make your notes in the following columns:
   • Notes section: Use this larger section to write down the main ideas of the lecture or text. Leave some space for any subsequent notes or questions. Make sure to write down all accompanying information related to this section.
   • Information area: After you have completed your notes, use the smaller information area to ask yourself questions to clarify ideas, make connections, and demonstrate causes and effects.
   • Summary section: After taking your notes, use this smaller space at the bottom to summarize in two to four sentences what you have written on the page.
3. Make a clear schedule. As you read or listen, take notes using a chart. Write down general information from the left corner of the page. Jump slightly to the right and write specific details and examples below your general ideas.
4. Draw your notes using a mind map. Draw large circles and write specific topics in them that you hear or read. Use thicker lines to indicate main points and write one or more short keywords to summarize supporting information on the topic. Finally, add shorter and thinner lines for additional detail. Creating a mind map can be especially helpful if you are a visual learner or don't know the speaker's style.

Method 3 of 4: Make better notes by listening carefully

1. Be on time. Make sure to arrive a few minutes before the meeting, class, or lecture begins. Sit in a place where you can hear the speaker clearly and where you will be as distracted as possible. Getting to class or lecture on time minimizes the risk of missing important information.
   • Have your notes ready before class starts so you don't have to rush to get everything you need together.
2. Write down relevant information from the context. At the top of the page, write down information that can help you recognize your notes. Include the date, class or meeting number, meeting topic or theme, and anything else that is important to you. Do this before you start taking notes so that you don't miss any important information once the speaker has finished speaking.
   • If you work in an organized manner and stick to a system, you generally take better notes.
3. Check if you have materials that can help you. Before the speaker starts, make sure you have written down all of the key words from the board. Make sure you have copies of all copies the speaker has distributed. This material will help ensure that you will miss as little important information as possible and can help you better understand what the speaker is saying.
   • At the top of the copy, write the date, along with any information relevant to your notes. Refer to the handout in your notes so you know that you need to refer to certain additional material while grading.
4. Listen carefully to the speaker. Be an active listener during your class or meeting. Avoid distractions such as other people, your computer, or your phone. If you listen carefully, you can take better notes, understand the material better, and remember it better later.
5. Pay close attention to whether you hear important connecting words. When you actively listen, you often hear words that indicate that something important is being said or will be said that you should include in your notes. Many transition or connecting words indicate the start of a new section within your notes. Listen for the following types of words that indicate that you should write what is coming:
   • First, second, third
   • Especially or especially
   • An important development
   • On the other hand
   • For instance
   • On the other hand
   • Further
   • As a result
   • Remember that
6. Read your notes again right away. After the lecture or meeting, reread your notes again as soon as possible. Write down any points that are unclear or that you do not fully understand. By rereading your notes shortly after you take them, you can make sure you have understood the lecture, lecture, or meeting correctly and have properly and completely summarized its contents.
   • Rewrite your note as soon as you can. This can help you quickly determine which parts you may need to clarify and can also help you remember the information better.

Method 4 of 4: Read carefully to take notes

1. Read the entire text. Before taking notes, read the entire text quickly. Do not take notes or stop to mark. You can do that better once you have an idea of ​​what the text is about. If you first read the text briefly, you can better determine what the main topic is and which parts are most relevant to your research question and topic. Pay particular attention to the following aspects:
   • Title and summary of the text
   • Introduction or first paragraph
   • Titles of specific topics to structure your notes
   • Graphic material
   • Conclusion or closing paragraph
2. Determine why you are annotating the text. After you have read the text, consider why you are reading the text and why you should take notes. Ask yourself the following questions to guide you on the kind of notes you make about the text:
   • Am I trying to understand a particular topic or idea globally?
   • Do I need to know specific information or details from the text?
3. Underline important ideas. Most texts and lectures aim to convey certain important arguments and ideas. Write down the main ideas in a short sentence. By underlining these core thoughts - in your own words - you can be sure to include all important information about the text in your notes.
   • In addition to underlining the most important ideas in your notes, you can also underline or highlight the most important ideas directly with your pen or pencil in the original text. In your notes, write down the exact page so that you can refer back to the original text later.
   • For example, "fall of the Weimar Republic," is much more manageable than a complicated phrase like, "The general circumstances that led to the Nazis seizing power in January 1933 were a product of interwar intrigues that ultimately doomed the fledgling republic."
4. View your notes. Put your notes away for a few hours. Then read the text you wrote down and ask yourself if it matches what you understood about the content. If necessary, clarify certain keywords or ideas that are not completely clear to you and supplement your notes with additional ideas or comments that may help you.
   • Make a regular schedule to review your notes. The more often you review your notes, the more likely you will be able to recall them later.

Tips

• Write as clearly as possible. Make sure you don't have to decipher your own sloppy handwriting when you check your notes. Do not write with sloppy or illegible writing.
• If you are a visual learner and like color, it can be helpful to work with different colors to distinguish certain topics or ideas from one another.
• If you can, record the lessons or lectures. You can then listen to the recordings again at home afterwards and expand your notes with any additional information.
• Buy a notebook or a pad with clear pages. That's easier on the eye when you read through your notes.

Necessities

• Block note or notebook, loose paper, or note-taking utility (such as OneNote or Evernote)
• Pen or pencil
• Highlighter
• Textbook
• Sources or topics from previous notes (if any)