Transcript Expert Note Making - El Centro College

Better Notes
for Better Grades
Why Take Notes?
When Should I Take Notes?
How Do I Know What to Note?
How Do I Write My Notes?
What Do I Do With My Notes Once I
Have Them?
Why Take Notes?

Taking notes is a way to listen actively.

Lecture notes will help you make sense of
your textbook.

Your notes are a record of what your
instructor thinks is important.

Notes will focus your studying for tests.
When Should I Take Notes?

Take notes when your instructor is
lecturing.

Take notes when other students are giving
presentations.

Take notes during class discussions.

Take notes when you watch films in class.
How Do I Know
What to Note?

Note the main ideas.
“But how do I know
what the main ideas
are?”
You’ll Recognize Main Ideas
If You:




Pre-read the part of your book class will cover.
Pay attention to your instructor’s gestures &
voice.
Listen for keywords you practiced in prereading.
Figure out how examples fit into the main ideas
you saw in pre-reading.
You’ll Be Able to Note the
Main Ideas If You Prepare for
Class . . .
physically:
Bring your book, pen, and
notebook.
emotionally:
Let go of outside drama.
Focus on your ultimate goal.
mentally:
Pre-read the chapter and
review your notes before
class.
How Do I Know What to
Note?
Note the main ideas.
 Note the “what” and the “what about it.”
 Note relationships between ideas and
events.
 Note possible test questions.
 Note assignments and deadlines.
 Note anything the instructor writes,
diagrams, or draws.

How Do I Write My Notes?

Use two-column note taking. Or . . .

Use outline form.

Abbreviate!! Use symbols.

Leave blanks if you need to. Fill them
in as soon as you can after class.
What Do I Do
With My Notes Once I
Have Them?
Review them as soon as possible after class.
 Date them, number them, and put them in
the right folder.
 Each week, spend 20 minutes per class
reviewing all your notes for that week.
 Use them when you study the textbook and
quiz yourself to prepare for an exam.

Check Our Favorite Sources for
More Note-taking Advice & Tips:

Ellis, Dave. Becoming a Master Student. NY:
Houghton Mifflin Co., 2003.

Sherfield, Robert, Rhonda Montgomery, and
Patricia Moody. Cornerstone. 2nd ed. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc., 2002.

http://www.studygs.net/

www.elcentrocollege.edu/learningcenter
Better Skills
Lead to Better Grades.
Stop by Your
El Centro College Learning Center
(Room A350)
and Learn How to Improve
All of Your Study Skills!