Writing Resources

Note-Taking Tips

Good study skills start before class.

• Read the Syllabus. Review the Outline of the class so you understand what will be covered.
• Read the assigned reading prior to class so that you understand what will be covered.
• Highlight important keywords and information in your text.
• Review important keywords and information prior to class (or as you are waiting for class to begin).
• Ask your professor to clarify anything that you didn't understand from the previous class.
• Arrange to copy someone else's notes if you know you will miss. Ask for them afterwards if you miss unexpectedly. Your professor can suggest a student that regularly takes good notes.

Good habits during class are crucial.

• Attend each session of class. This seems obvious to some, but many students do not attend class.
• Sit where you can best hear and participate in class. Avoid distractions such as noisy students, doorways, and windows, if they tempt you.
• Pay attention to what is being covered. Consider how the material fits in with what you already know. Consider how you will use it.
• Put away distractions: cell phones in particular.
• Ask questions during class. Clarify what you did not understand.
• Participate means listening, asking questions, and engaging with fellow students in projects, discussions, and other activities. Volunteer often for activities. Speak up during discussions.
• Make eye contact with your professor as they speak. This will help them gage your understanding of the material and make them more aware of you as a student.

Note-Taking during class is key to retaining the information.

• Have a dedicated space for note-taking. This can be on your laptop or in a notebook. You can use templates like the Cornell Note-Taking System below to organize your notes.
• Write clearly. Do not cram everything into one page. Spread out the information so that you can clarify later.
• Give each section a Heading and underline it.
• New topics should have a new page of notes.
• Leave plenty of room between your entries in your notes.
• Write down keywords and their meanings. Write down key dates, events, and people. Define terms, even if you have to come back to your notes to do it.
• Write down examples provided in class to help clarify later. These will both make the topics clearer and more memorable for tests and later use.
• Use abbreviations and symbols so that you can write faster and keep up. Make a Key that explains both.
• Right after class you can read over your notes and fill in points that you didn't quite express with enough detail. Ask your professor for clarification if you need it.
• Use specific colors to highlight important points. You can add the highlighting after class as you review your notes and fill in gaps. For example, you could use green for important terminology, pink for important thinkers in the field of study, yellow for important dates and events, and blue for formulas. You can do this as you review your notes after class.

Online Tools for Summarizing and Organizing Difficult Texts