1. Cornell
Notes

2. History of Cornell Notes
Developed in 1949 at Cornell University by Walter Pauk.
Designed in response to frustration over student test scores.
Meant to be easily used as a test study guide.
Adopted by most major law schools as the preferred note taking method.

3. Why take notes?
Cornell note taking stimulates critical thinking skills.
Note taking helps students remember what is said in class.
A good set of notes can help students work on assignments and prepare for tests outside of the classroom.

4. Why take notes?
Good notes allow students to help each other problem solve.
Good Notes help students organize and process data and information.
Helps student recall by getting them to process their notes 3 times.
Writing is a great tool for learning!

5. Cornell Notetaking To minimize your “rate of forgetting”
Dr. Walter Pauk, Cornell University Reading Center
Don’t take notes = Forget 60 % in 14 days
Take some notes = Remember 60 %
Take organized notes and do something with them=
Remember % indefinitely!
Why should you
take notes?

6. Cornell Notetaking
Labeling
Dr. Pauk created the Cornell Notetaking System, which is used at Stanford, UCLA’s School of Engineering, most Law Schools, and of course, at Cornell University
The Cornell System requires the student to review notes and think critically after learning has taken place
Questions
Notes
Reflection

7. Cornell Notetaking
What do you notice that is different about Cornell Notes?
They are divided into two parts: questions and notes
There is a reflection/summary
at the end
There is room for a topic
They are labeled with name, date, class, period or other information

8. How to take notes
In the large, right hand column, take notes like you normally would.
After class, review your notes and write in questions, key ideas, new vocabulary, etc. in the left hand column. *

9. Summary is added at the end of
ALL note pages on the subject
(not at the end of each page)
The summary is added AFTER
the questions are done.

10. Cornell Notetaking What are some good tips for taking the notes on the
right?
Write in your own words (paraphrase)
Write using abbreviations when possible.
Draw a figure or diagram
Leave space where you think you might need to “fill in” info later
Use bullets, arrows, and indenting to list key ideas
Write legibly

11. Cornell Notetaking What types of questions should I place on the
left side?
Questions which are answered in the notes on the right
Questions you still need the answer to--ask a friend or the teacher after class
Questions the teacher might ask on a test
Higher level thinking questions

12. Cornell Notetaking What else could I place on the left side?
Key terms, vocabulary words, or dates
Diagrams or figures
Reference pages in a text
Steps in a solution process
Notes to myself about actions I need to take

13. Let’s look at some examples of Cornell Notes.

15. 08/22/12
Objective: Real Numbers
Notes
Questions/Main Ideas
#’s can be organized into sets:
Whole #’s
Includes 0,1,2,3,
Always positive
Includes any # that can be written as a whole #
ex. 8/1 = 8
ex. 2/2 = 1
ex. 100/50 = 2

16. 08/22/12
Objective: (Learn how to take note in Cornell Form)
Real Numbers
Notes
Questions/Main Ideas
#’s can be organized into sets:
Whole #’s
Includes 0,1,2,3,4
Always positive
Includes any # that can be written as a whole #
ex. 8/1 = 8
ex. 2/2 = 1
ex. 100/50 = 2
How can #’s be organized?
What is the definition of a whole #?
Examples of fractions that can be simpified into whole #’s

17. Summary: Today we learned that #’s can be organized into sets
Summary: Today we learned that #’s can be organized into sets. One of these sets numbers can be organized into are “whole #’s”, like 0,1,2,3,
Whole #’s are always positive and can be simplified from fractions.

22. Grading Rubric

23. Paul Bullock Anne Maben
Designed by
Paul Bullock
Senior Program Specialist
&
Anne Maben
AP Science Coach
Edited and combined in 2012 with powerpoint from
San Diego County Office of Education