Taking Notes and Outlining
Two tools that improve Student Success
Why Take Notes? To remember important information
Study material for future exams
Interacting with the material turns information into knowledge
It improves your success as a student
When to Take Notes You read or study a textbook
Your instructor is lecturing or gives you important information: test dates, test review topics, extra credit opportunities
You watch a video in class or for class
Coming to Class Prepared Have you read/studied the material?
Did you bring your textbook(s)?
Do you have note paper and pen?
Is your mind-set ready for class?
Active Listening in Class Active listening means you are involved !
Keep your mind on what is being said
Notice if anything is written on the board
Pay attention to instructor’s verbal clues
Don’t be using your cell phone
Avoid side conversations
What should I write? Everything written on the board
Anything the instructor clues you on
Whatever else you sense is important
Key words and terms
Don’t attempt to capture every word
Abbreviations (even ones you make up)
Brainstorming from your Notes
Organize your notes in a linear form
Not every instructor lectures linearly
Prioritize the major key points
Make sense so you understand them
Why Transcribe My Notes? Make them clear and understandable while
they are fresh in your mind
Use a computer – saves them for you
Put them in an organized or outline form
Helps you remember the material
Creates your “study guide” for exams
Outlining A good way to organize material
› You may see questions you have not asked yet› Missing information may be evident› Lays out the main ideas and supporting material
Outlines show the relative importance of key points and how they connect to one another
Kinds of Things to Outline Many sources to create outlines from:
› Lectures, video, or audio presentations
› Key notes from your textbook
› Notes from research sources
An Outline Consists of: Usually a combination of Roman numerals,
alphabetic characters, and Arabic numbers
The main point or heading is in Roman numerals, such as I, II, III, IV
Important sub-points will be labeled with capital letters, such as A, B, C
Supporting details will be recorded with numbers, such as 1, 2, 3, 4 (Arabic numbers)
I. Introduction – topics we are covering todayII. Why Take Notes?
A. remember important informationB. study material for future examsC. turns information into knowledge
III. When to Take NotesA. textbookB. lecturesC. videos and other presentations
IV. What should I write?A. anything written on the boardB. instructor clues C. key words and termsD. Don’t attempt to write every word
1. only key points2. use abbreviations
V. Formal Outline formatA. general outline formatB. Specific example (this one)
Outline Example