Shaffer's Study Skills

Note Taking Skills

There are many different methods for taking notes. I tend to focus on three primary methods. Beginning with the outline method, followed by the Cornell note taking format and round out with the webbing system. A critical element of learning to take good notes is to learn the "do's and don't" of note taking.

The following sites are excellent sources for note taking.

Notemaking site provides examples of note taking from "Conventional Roundtable" to "T-Notes."

Lecture Note Taking is a good site that covers methods, more "do's and don't" along with verbal cues as to what teachers may feel are important facts to know.

Taking Notes in Lecture site is another great source that can be used to introduce the "Five R's of note taking" (record, reduce, recite, reflect and review)

The following documents are examples I use in classes to help teach note taking.

Note Taking Guide is a guide I use for guided discussion on the topic of note taking. Wow! how many times can you use guide in a sentence?

Cornell Note Taking format- is one of many great examples of how to use the Cornell format.