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Note-Taking: Survival Guide

Effective note-taking is important for understanding information and drawing on it later. The document provides tips for taking notes during lectures and reading, such as listening for key points and questions, developing shorthand, and recording bibliographic information. It stresses organizing notes by topic, date, and color-coding. Reviewing and revising notes helps identify main ideas and form new questions. An effective note-taking system allows notes to be understood later and used for studying.

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Wendy Gu
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83 views

Note-Taking: Survival Guide

Effective note-taking is important for understanding information and drawing on it later. The document provides tips for taking notes during lectures and reading, such as listening for key points and questions, developing shorthand, and recording bibliographic information. It stresses organizing notes by topic, date, and color-coding. Reviewing and revising notes helps identify main ideas and form new questions. An effective note-taking system allows notes to be understood later and used for studying.

Uploaded by

Wendy Gu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STUDYSmarter

Survival Guide

NOTE-TAKING

Effective note-taking and note-making

TIP: Leave room on your note page for


will help you understand, evaluate and

questions and for your summary.


organise ideas and information to draw on

Try using a format like the one below - or


for your essays, reports and exams.

write on one page, leaving a blank page to


summarise your notes later.
Note-taking in lectures
1. Listen before you write - allow time to
process ideas and information first.
Questions Notes
2. Be selective: write down the key points,
any new terms and new/important ???
information.
3. Listen for cues from the lecturer, such Summary
as: “The main point is …”, “I want to
emphasise …” ,“Most importantly…”
4. Make a note of any questions you have Making notes on your reading
and anything you did not understand, to
follow up afterwards. 1. Have a purpose for reading. Know what
5. Develop your own shorthand: use you want to find out.
abbreviations, symbols, numbers, bullet
points, arrows, etc. 2. Record all the relevant bibliographical
information, including page numbers.
6. Listen for links and connections to other
lectures, assignment questions and 3. Be selective about what you write down;
practical applications. check if it is relevant.
4. Summarise or paraphrase the texts -
Did you know? Lectures are usually but make sure that you have kept the
recorded so you will have another chance original meaning.
to listen and add to your notes if
necessary. The lecture slides will also be 5. Write down any questions or points you
available in your LMS. need to clarify.
6. Keep an eye out for explanations or
examples you can use in future essays
After the lecture or reports.
 Review your notes and follow up on any
points you missed or that need clarifying. 7. Note similarities and differences
between different authors’ perspectives.
 Summarise your notes in your own words, 8. Map out relationships between ideas.
highlight key information and create Use diagrams or mind maps/concept
diagrams or mind maps/concept maps. maps to show how ideas are connected.

Thinking and notes


series
4
Reviewing and revising your notes will Organising your notes
help you to:
The more organised your notes are, the
 identify the main points and themes, easier you will find it to review and revise
them, and the more useful they will be.
 integrate new ideas with previous
knowledge and experience,
Some good habits:
 formulate new questions,
 Keep your notes in date sequence.
 record your own thoughts and
perspectives,  Use separate folders for each unit/

topic/assignment.

 note what you need to clarify, check or


follow up, and  Colour code your notes: develop your
own system.
 discuss your ideas and any questions
you have with other students.  For each lecture, note:

 the title of the lecture,

How effective are your notes?


 the date, and

Use this checklist to help you review:


 the lecturer’s name.

√ Do they do what you want them to do?


 For your reading, note:

√ Do you use them as you had planned?


 the author/s’ name/s,

√ Do they have too much detail, or not  the article/book title,

enough detail?
 publication details,

√ Are there gaps you need to fill in?


 page number/s, and

√ Can you still understand them a month


 the date.

after you wrote them?


√ Could you use them to revise for exams?
TIP: Always record the relevant
If the answer to any of these questions is bibliographical information from books,
no, revise your notes; for example, add any journal articles, websites, etc. before you
missing information. start taking notes.

Like this Survival Guide? Why not check out more of our guides…

StudySmarter, Get the Most from Lectures, Make the Most of Tutes, UWA Lingo, Critical Thinking, Critical Writing,
Read Effectively, Mind Mapping, Paraphrasing.

Want to know more about STUDYSmarter?


Find out about all our services and resources at: www.studysmarter.uwa.edu.au

Any suggestions?
We would love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected]

This resource was developed by the STUDYSmarter team for UWA students. When using our resources,
please retain them in their original form with both the STUDYSmarter heading and the UWA logo.

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