PAPERmaking! g FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TECHNOLOGY ® Volume 9, Number 1, 2023
In this guide to note- taking methods, we’ll cover the best note -taking strategies and how to apply them. Below are six specific note-taking strategies. 1. The outline method The outline method is one of the most intuitive and simplest ways to take notes. As the name suggests, the outline method turns notes into a hierarchy of information, providing a logical flow of content on the page and keeping it highly organized. With the outline method, you can take notes by hand or digitally. Here’s some guidance on how to take notes using the outline method: x Title the main lecture topics on the far left of the page x Add subtopics below each topic, indenting them farther toward the right x Expand on each subtopic with supporting facts, notes, or questions, indented even farther to the right When using the outline method on paper, you must gauge how much space you need below each subtopic heading for all your notes. With a digital platform, you can always create more or less space as you go. With practice, you can become highly efficient at taking notes this way while keeping them neat and professional. Pros The advantages of the outline note-taking method include: x Helping note-takers naturally draw connections between topics x Outlined notes easily converted into review notes or study questions Because of how simple and clean the outline method is, it can help note-takers save time when reviewing and learning later. Cons The disadvantages of the outline note-taking method include: x Visually clean and organized notes x Less conducive to notes that require lots of graphs and diagrams x Requires the lecture content to be highly structured x May encourage too much note-taking Since the outline method requires you to leave space for subtopic notes, you may become more focused on filling up the space rather than narrowing down the most important content. 2. The Cornell Method The Cornell Method was designed for students by Cornell professor Walter Pauk. Here’s how to take Cornell notes: x Divide your page into two equal vertical columns x Leave the lower one-third to one-quarter of the page divided from the columns, creating an upside-down T on the page x Use the left column to cue keywords or ideas and the right side for expanded notes x Summarize the material in the space at the bottom of the page Similar to the outline method, Cornell note-taking encourages note-takers to keep clean, organized, and condensed notes. It’s an especially useful method for encouraging note - takers to revisit their notes, review what they’ve learned, and consolidate their new knowledge. While the Cornell Method is well-known for being a handwritten method, it can also be done with digital tools. Cornell note-taking is also an effective method for self-testing, which is a proven way to learn and retain new information. Pros The advantages of the Cornell note-taking method include: x Encouraging students to review and summarize information for better retention x Keeping notes organized and easy to review x Helping students learn the most important ideas and terms With a heavy focus on summarizing information, the Cornell Method helps people save time when reviewing in the future.
Article 10 – Note Taking
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