“HOW TO TAKE NOTES…EFFECTIVELY” -An S. McGaha Production : Please visit my store at

“I’VE GOT WHAT I NEED TO STUDY!” How to take notes…effectively!

It’s not as easy as it looks…  I know that many of you are already taking notes, but the real question is “Are you taking good notes?”, meaning you are notes that illustrate that you understand what is being said/taught.  Notes are not just key terms/definitions…they serve as a summary of what has been said.

No, not just for students..  Notes are used by people everywhere:  Students  People attending workshops/lectures  People attending church  Journalists as they cover important stories/events  Nurses when doctors visit patients  Attendees at meetings

Why do we take notes?  Notes are important because they allow us to take key points of information and analyze/recall them at a later date. -Facts -Quotes -Items that a listener did not understand and/or require further review  Notes allow us to internalize information that is new or unfamiliar and transpose it into knowledge New/Unfamiliar > Knowledge

How do we take good notes?  The key to taking good or effective notes is to understand this: YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COPY DOWN WHAT THE SPEAKER SAID WORD FOR WORD!  It is almost impossible to write at the speed that someone is talking. By concentrating on getting every word down, you may be missing the essential (important) parts of what is being said!

Tips & Tricks for Note-Takers

1. Start a new page for each new day of material.  Date your notes! Put the date in the top right-hand corner of your paper. That way it becomes easier to recall what was being talked about, what happened, etc.

2. Leave space between topics or ideas.  It is easy for a speaker/teacher to talk about a specific concept/topic, move on with the presentation, and then suddenly remember something that should have been said. Leave space between topics for better organization.  Example: A speaker begins talking about the effects of the Vietnam War and then changes subject to begin talking about the Iraq War. While discussing the Iraq War, the speaker suddenly remembers something he/she should have said about the Vietnam War.

3. Take down words/phrases, not sentences.  Develop or use a system of abbreviations or symbols to help you get the most information. - Use “&” for “and” - Use “w/” for “with…” -Don’t pay attention to spelling, do the best you can. If you have absolutely no clue, leave a blank until you can come back to it.

4. Listen for word clues.  “The key point(s) I want to make is/are…”  “Who has ever heard of..?”  “If you look on page __ ….”  “This is the cause/effect of…”  Use of numbers: “There are 2 points of view…”; “The second reason is…”  Repetition: The speaker repeats things  Review: The speaker reviews things that have been previously said.

5. Review the notes you take daily…daily.  As soon as you leave the class/presentation, sit down with your notes and review them. -Fill in missing information. -Read through your notes. Are their concepts that you still don’t understand after you have read them? -Connect what you have taken notes on to what you already know. Are there similarities? Differences?

6. Consider visuals (films, PowerPoints, etc.) to be just important as what is being said!  Take the time to pay close attention. There is a reason why they are using the visual (to illustrate concepts, put emphasis on something that is being said, give clarity on something that they think you will find confusing, etc.)  Don’t focus on writing as much as listening!  Usually PowerPoints contain the same information that will be said by the person who utilizes them. They change slides because the information will match what they are saying!