One of the common causes of a student’s failure is poor or non-existent note-making. It is a vital part of the learning process and helps in two ways:
- Keeps you active while you are learning.
- You can revise quickly from the notes.
WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE NOTES?
If you really want to get a good grip on your lectures or a book, it is important you actively Listen to it/read it and write down the most important points. If you won’t, the memories will most probably drift away.
HOW TO WRITE NOTES?
Knowing what to include and what not to include shapes the quality of your notes. Normally, you’d have much more time taking notes from a book than you do in lectures but the contents of your notes should be pretty much the same. So, what to include in your Notes?
CONTENTS
Summarizing a never ending lecture into a few words is hard especially when it’s live and there’s no going back. There is a technique to effectively write your notes and focus on the lecture at the same time.
Don’t start writing whatever the lecturer or author says. First, listen carefully and try to understand the main theme and arguments of the topic. Your notes must include the following:
- The lecturer’s main idea and other important supporting details.
- The logics and arguments directly related to the topic.
You don’t have to write down everything. In any lecture, there’s a theme and your notes should include things related to the theme. Pick out the key ideas and organize them. It’s like writing the precis of a paragraph in which the content is shortened without affecting the message.
Tip: don’t start writing until you have finished reading a section. Don’t just trace and note but try to understand the bigger picture. Once you fully understand what the paragraph is all about, summarize it in your brain and write it down.
WORDINGS
The wording you use plays an important role in recalling the lecture. Some students prefer using their own words while others copy the words as it is. Use wordings that suit your style but try to keep it close with the lecturer’s words as it will help you recall the lecture as well.
HEADINGS
Headings are extremely important to make your note eye-catching and improve its readability. Use headings where needed and try to use a different color for the headings.
In tight deadlines, use headings and subheadings to make notes. It’s a great way to organize tens of key points on a single page.
HOW TO STORE NOTES?
It is time we say adios to notes made on odd scraps of paper and the back of envelopes. Your notes must be neat as well as flexible. You should be able to arrange the pages in different orders and add or remove a page easily. Therefore, you should use a loose-leaf binder that is uniform in shape and size.
For digital notes, make sure you save your notes every time you make an addition or rearrange it. BACKUP is extremely important.
