Making notes in class

Making notes from lectures and other taught sessions

Lectures and seminars tend to contain so much information that it is often difficult to know where to start making notes. Lecturing styles vary considerably, some lecturers will use handouts, others will use overheads, and some nothing.

Different note-taking techniques

Abbrieviations to speed up note-taking

Tips on taking notes

Different Note-Taking Techniques

Everybody takes notes differently in classes; it is important that you find out which approach works best for you. Three different approaches are explained below, why not print off this template and try out each of these techniques to see which you prefer?: Note_taking_techniques.pdf

Cornell Method: This template divides the page into 4 sections for including information on sources covered in the lecture, questions/keywords, general notes and a summary

Linear Method: This approach involves you structuring your notes into ordered clusters by using subsections and breaking points

Concept Mapping: This method organises notes around a central concept with different concepts branching out going into more depth. Drawings, abbrieviations and colours can all be used to make it as memorable as possible

Note-taking Abbrieviations

e.g.	for example	NB	import, notice this
i.e.	that is, that means	C19	nineteenth century
re.	regarding	?	woman/female
etc.	and the rest	?	man/ male
p.	page (pp. =pages )	@	at
para.	Paragraph	/	per
Ch.	Chapter (Chs. = chapters)	=	equal to/ same as
Edn	edition	≈	almost equal to
Info.	information	≠	not equal to
Cd	could	&	and
Wd	would	w/	with
Impt	important	.·.	therefore
Devt	development	b/c	because
Diff	difference	>	greater/better than
→	this leads to/causes/produces	<	less/smaller than