Note-Taking Strategies

Sam Vito
9th Grade
This is an individual-focused lecture focusing
on note-taking strategies. In this lesson you
will learn the qualities of a good note-taker,
the five Rs of note-taking, Cornell notes,
outlines, and mapping. Please read through
the information thoroughly and take notes!
You can access the information by pressing
the arrows at the bottom right corner or by
clicking the pictures at the bottom.

Note-Taker

5 Rs

Cornell

Outlines

Mapping

Citations

What Makes A Good Note-Taker?

I bet you did not know that when you take notes you learn. Note-taking is an essential skill that does
require some practice. Here are some key qualities that you can work on in order to be a good note-taker.
A good note-taker is someone who actively listens. They take the time to think about what they are going
to write before they actually write it. A good note-taker understands that it is not necessary to write
down everything that is discussed, but rather focus on the key concepts mentioned throughout the
lesson. Main ideas and concepts can typically be deciphered through repetition, gestures, or the tone of
voice from the presenter. An important thing to remember when taking notes is to always write clearly
and neatly so that you are able to go back and study. Also, whenever an instructor takes the time to write
information on the board it usually means that they are writing something of importance. WRITE IT
DOWN! Notes should always be labeled with a date and title on top of the page so that you are able to go
back and easily retrieve them. A good note-taker chooses their own form of organization and method to
taking notes. There are many different methods to note-taking, but we will only focus on a few in this
lecture.
Note-Taker

5 Rs

Cornell

Outlines

Mapping

Citations

The Five Rs Of Note-Taking

We will use the five Rs when taking any kind
of notes. First, you must RECORD anything
that is important pertaining to the cue. Next,
you must REDUCE the information you are
writing. Focus on the key concepts and
ideas of the cue. Cornell notes are also
useful to RECITE information. You can
either cover up the cue or your notes to see
what you are able to remember.
REFLECTING on your notes help you
connect the information gathered to the
topic, but also to other topics you may have
learned. The more connections you are able
to make to new information, the more likely
you are to remember the information.
Lastly, you must REVIEW your notes when
studying for an exam.
Note-Taker

5 Rs

Cornell

Outlines

Mapping

Citations

Cornell
Although the Cornell system takes the most effort and time, it is the most
formally organized method of note-taking when used properly. Walter Pauk, an
educational development professor at Cornell University, developed this notetaking system in the 1940s. He believed that his way of note-taking helped
students defeat their forgetfulness when studying for an exam. Cornell Notes are
split into three sections. These sections include cues, personal notes, and a
summary. Now that we have some background knowledge, lets get into how to
take notes using the Cornell method.
From the left side of your paper measure about 2 inches and draw a line going
down the paper. The 2 inches will be used as the Cues section of notes. The
right side of the page will be used for your personal notes based on the cues.
Remember the five Rs when taking notes. Record any important information.
Reduce your notes to key concepts and ideas. Use your notes to recite the
information you have gathered. Reflect on the information you have leaned.
Finally, use your notes to review for your exams.

The last section of the Cornell System is the summary section. At the bottom of
each page, you need to leave some space so that you are able to summarize your
notes after each lecture. These summaries will help you decipher the key ideas
and concepts that surrounded the lesson.
Note-Taker

5 Rs

Cornell

Outlines

Mapping

Citations

Outline
Outlines are another note-taking strategy that is used to
organize thoughts in a formal and structured way. This
strategy focuses on the key concepts and details that
support those concepts. Outlining uses a hierarchy system
to organize information. The main ideas are written closest
to the margin because they are the most important
information. For novels, chapters will be written by the
margin so that the information that is collected throughout
the chapter is all in one place. Next, secondary information
is indented underneath the main idea. The supporting
details will include characters, setting, conflict, symbols,
and any other information that you find important in the
chapter. Further supporting details are indented underneath
the secondary information. This might include how a
character is feeling or a detailed description of the setting.
When you come to the end of a chapter, the next chapter will
be written closest to the margin because it is a new topic.
Note-Taker

5 Rs

Cornell

Outlines

Mapping

Citations

Mapping
Sometimes notes are better when we are able to
see the visual connection. Mapping is a
strategy of note-taking that organizes thoughts
in a visual manner so that the relationship
between items of information are seen. The
main topic is centered in the page inside of a
circle or box. Lines are then drawn connecting
the main topic to a subtopic. Further lines are
made to connect a subtopic to more significant
details that support it. The amount of
information you put into the map, all depends
on the topic of information and how detailed
you want your notes to be.

Note-Taker

5 Rs

Cornell

Outlines

Mapping

Citations

Citations
http://www.ucc.vt.edu/academic_support_students/study_skills_information/note_taking_and_in-class_skills/index.html (=
http://www.alextech.edu/en/collegeservices/SupportServices/StudySkills/LectureNoteTaking/MethodsOfNoteTaking.aspx Slides 4-6
http://archives.avid.org/dl/Cornell%20Notes%20Background%20information.pdf : Slide 4
Picture, Slide 4 found: http://deephousepage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263360
http://www.noupe.com/how-tos/tips-and-tricks-on-how-to-become-a-presentation-ninja-2.html
MS Clipart Slides 1-7
Picture, Slide 5 Found: http://wps.pearsoncustom.com/pcp_longman_rrtmaster_4/35/9013/2307478.cw/index.html

Picture, Slide 3, Found: http://rebeccajadeedu.wordpress.com/the-five-rs/

http://tutorials.istudy.psu.edu/notetaking/notetaking_print.html : Slide 2
Picture, Slide 6 Found: http://www.flaguide.org/cat/conmap/conmap7.php
http://www.usask.ca/ulc/studyskills/resources/notetaking

Note-Taker

5 Rs

Cornell

Outlines

Mapping

Citations

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