LHS High School Study Skills

Related Links

Motivation
Get Motivated
Stay Motivated

Monitoring Input
Listening
Note Taking
Reading
Class Participation

Managing Process
Self Management
Time Management
Concentration
Managing Your Learning
Managing Your Memory
Test Preparation

Mastering Output
Test Taking
Dealing with Test Anxiety
Learning from Tests
Preparing Written Reports
Preparing Oral Reports
Class Participation

Note Taking

Listening in class is far more important than taking notes.  However, even when you are a very active listener, you will quickly forget the large majority of what you hear in class.

Remember, most teachers will follow a three part pattern in their lectures.  First, they will tell you what their topic is and maybe even list related subtopics.  Second, they will tell you about the topic and subtopics.  Third, they will summarize their main points.

Try to take down the most important ideas.  Most teachers will be lecturing from an outline or notes.  If you miss important important information, skip a line or two, mark it with a question mark, and then ask the teacher for clarification after class.  

Tips for Note Taking Success

1. Don't expect to be perfect.  No one ever takes down every word from a teacher's lecture, and you shouldn't even try to.

2. Keep your notes in a safe place.

3. Use loose-leaf paper or legal pads instead of composition notebooks.

4. Maintain a notebook with pocket dividers for each grading period for each subject.

5. Try to identify test questions.  Pay particular attention during the last 10 minutes of a lecture, and be sure to write down:
   a.  the first and last things the teacher says;
   b.  any idea the teacher repeats;
   c.  any list, comparison, or superlative;
   d.  any idea that is put on the board or appears on an overhead projector, smart board, etc.
   e.  any idea the teacher spells out for emphasis;
   f.  any idea the teacher gets excited about;
   g.  any idea the teacher describes with unusual or distinctive expression; and
   h.  any idea the teacher tells you to write down.

6. Develop and answer relevant who, what, when, where, why, and how questions using a two column note taking format.

7. Go over your notes with a partner to fill in any gaps in information.

8. Summarize each lecture in 5-9 sentences, as soon after the lecture as you can.

9. Add to your notes from memory, your reading, and a friend's notes.

10. Review your notes in every subject for at least 5 minutes every day.

Note taking methods from CalPoly's Academic Skills Center

Note taking tips from the University of St. Thomas

Top ten Note Taking tips from Queen's University in Canada