Note Taking Tips

Notetaking Mechanics

1. Write page number, class title, and date on each page of notes to help keep them organized.
2. Use a ball-point pen for taking notes. Ink from felt tip pens blur. Pencil smears and fades over time. Many students prefer to use blue or black ink because other colors, such as red or green are hard on the eyes.
3. Speed up note taking by printing for clarity. Illegible or decorative handwriting makes notes hard to read.
4. Use standard abbreviations for words or phrases that are used often.
5. Leave blanks when you are unsure or miss information. Fill in the blanks by asking the instructor or a classmate.
6. Use correct spelling, or indicate "SP" if you are unsure. You should check out the spelling of the word by looking in your textbook, a dictionary or asking the teacher.
7. The notetaker should always try to use complete sentences, or at least complete phrases. This might make the notes look too long, but it will make the notes clearer and easier to understand.

Techniques

1. The notetaker should leave plenty of white space at the top/bottom and left/right of the paper. They should skip lines between topics, and indent for less important information.
2. Notetakers have to listen for ways a speaker emphasizes information, to know what is important. They have to listen for vocal stress, to repeats, etc. so these vocal stresses can be shown in the notes.
3. If information is stressed by the teacher the notetaker should underline, write in capital letters or draw a box around the information.
4. Copy into your notes anything that is written on the chalkboard. Test questions often come from material that was written or illustrated on the board.
5. Take organized notes. Make major points stand out from examples that support them.
6. If you seem to be missing something, compare notes with a classmate or see the instructor.

(Rev. Fall 04)