Content

• Steps
• Advice

Cornell notation method by professor Walter Pauk of Cornell University invented. This is a widely used system for recording lecture or readings, and for reviewing and storing it. Using the Cornell system can help you organize your notes, be creative in acquiring knowledge, improve your study skills, and lead you to academic success.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Prepare notebooks

1. 

   Set aside a notebook for taking notes using the Cornell method. Whether it's using a notebook or clipboard in your binder, you'll need to set aside a stack of paper for your notes. You will divide each page into sections; Each section is for a specific purpose.

2. 

   
   
   Draw a horizontal line at the bottom of the page. This line should be about of the page from bottom up, about 5 cm from the bottom edge of the page. You will use this section to summarize the above notes.

3. 

   Draw a vertical line on the left side of the page. This line should be about 6.5 cm from the left edge of the page. This section is intended for reviewing your notes.

4. 

   
   
   The widest part of the page will be where you will take notes of the lecture or reading. The section on the right side of the page has plenty of room for important points.

5. 

   Search the Internet for a Cornell note pad if you want to be quick. If you need to take lots of notes and / or want to save time, you can find blank templates for Cornell notes, print out the output pages, and follow the same steps using the template. advertisement

Part 2 of 4: Taking notes

1. 

   
   
   Write the subject name, date and topic of lecture or text on top of the page. When done consistently, this step will help keep your notes organized and make it much easier to review the content.

2. 

   Take notes in the widest part of the page. Take notes only on the right side of the page when listening to lectures or reading a passage.
   • Record any information the teacher wrote on the board or projected in a slideshow.

3. 

   Use the notes to actively listen or read. Every time you meet an important point, write down that information.
   • Watch for signs that imply important information. When the instructor says statements like “The three most important effects of X are…” or “The two main causes of X are…”, it is likely that it is the information you need to write down.
   • If you are taking notes, listen to emphasized or repeated points, as these are often important points.
   • These suggestions are also true if you read a piece of text and come across sentences similar to the examples above. Textbooks often bold or repeat important information in charts or graphs.

4. 

   Simple notes. Imagine your notes are the outline of a lecture or reading. Focus on capturing key words and points so you can keep up with the lecture or reading - you still have time to reread and fill in the blanks afterwards.
   • Instead of writing down a complete sentence, use bullet points, symbols (such as "&" instead of "and"), abbreviations, and whatever symbols you come up with to take notes. .
   • For example, instead of writing down a whole sentence like “In 1703, Peter the Great founded St. In St. Petersburg and for building the first architecture of the city - the Peter and Paul fortresses ", you just need to write" 1703 — Peter founded St. Pete & build fortress Peter & Paul. " The shorter the wording, the easier it will be for you to keep up with the lesson while still recording the necessary information.

5. 

   
   
   Note the main ideas, not examples. Instead of trying to transcribe all the examples the instructor might give to illustrate them, you should write down the main points of the lecture. Reinterpretation not only saves time and paper space, but also forces you to connect the ideas presented and your expression, so it is easier to remember the content.
   • For example, if the instructor says (or the book says): “When building St. Petersburg, Peter hired engineers, architects, shipbuilders and other workers from European countries to work. The intellectuals and skilled migrant workers have created a multicultural atmosphere, fulfilling part of Peter's goal of turning this Russian city into a "window into Europe", don't copy. verbatim as such!
   • Record your verbal information, for example: “Peter hired engineers, architects, shipbuilders, etc. from all over Europe - his plan: St.Pete = 'window looking to Europe'.

6. 

   
   
   A space away, draw a line or turn a new page when switching to a new topic. This will help you organize the lesson content in mind, and easily find the different sections when needed.

7. 

   
   
   Record your questions while listening or reading. If you do not understand something or want to learn more, please write it quickly in your notebook. Questions like these will help clarify what you are acquiring and are also helpful for reviewing later.
   • If you are recording the history of the city of St. As in the above examples, you can write, "Why can't Peter the Great hire Russian engineers?"

8. 

   
   
   
   
   Edit notes as soon as possible. If any notes are difficult to read or seem unreasonable, correct them while still remember the contents clearly. advertisement

Part 3 of 4: Review and expand notes

1. 

   Summarize the main points. Immediately after the lecture or reading is over, draw out the main points or important events in your notes to the right. Record so concise in the left column - use keywords or short phrases that convey the most important information or concepts. Reviewing the lesson or reading for a day will significantly improve your memory.
   • Underline the main ideas in the right column for easy identification. Bold or highlight with color also helps if you are a visual learner.
   • Cross out unimportant information. One advantage of this method is that it helps you identify essential information and remove unnecessary information. Practice finding details that you may be less likely to need.

2. 

   
   
   Write down the questions in the left column. After making notes in the right column, think of the possible test questions and write them down in the left column. These questions can be a useful learning tool in the future.
   • For example, if in the right section you write “1703 — Peter established St. Pete & fortress Peter & Paul, "then in the left column you can write the question" Why Fort Peter & Paul was the first structure of St. Pete? "
   • You can write advanced questions where the answer is not in the notes, such as "Why did it happen like this?" or "What if…?" or "What are the effects of ...?" (Example: “What impact did moving the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg have on the Russian empire?) Questions like that will help you dig deeper into the lesson.

3. 

   Summarize the main points at the bottom of the page. The summary will help clarify any information you have taken down. Recording your own verbal content is a great way to test your comprehension ability. If you can summarize the notes page, it means you understand the content of the lesson. You might ask yourself, "How will I explain this information to others?"
   • Usually, the instructor will begin the lecture by giving an overview of the lesson for that day, such as: "Today we will discuss A, B and C". Likewise, textbooks often contain a brief introduction to the main points to cover. You can use such generalizations as a guide to taking notes, and treat them as summary lines that you will write at the bottom of the page. Note down any additional details that you think are important or feel need special attention while studying.
   • A page summary usually only needs a few sentences. Equations, equations, and diagrams may also be included in the summary if appropriate.
   • If you find it difficult to summarize any part of the lesson, reread your notes to see where to look more closely or ask your instructor for more information.
   advertisement

Part 4 of 4: Using notes to study

1. 

   
   
   Re-read your notes. Focus on the left column and the footer summary. These sections contain the most important points that you will need for the exercise or test.
   • If you like, you can underline or highlight the most important parts of the review.

2. 

   Use notes to test knowledge. Cover the right side of the page with your hand or paper (note column). You can test yourself by answering the questions in the left column, then opening the section on the right to test your comprehension ability.
   • You can also ask a friend to ask questions based on the notes in the left column, then you can swap places.

3. 

   
   
   Review your notes as often as possible. Regularly reviewing for a long time instead of cramming before exams will significantly increase the ability to memorize and deepen the content of the lesson. With the Cornell method of note taking, you will learn effectively and without much pressure. advertisement

Advice

• The Cornell note-taking system is most effective when applied to subjects that are organized into well-defined topics and presented in sequential or logical order. If the subject is constantly changing topics or modes, you might want to find a different note-taking method.