NOTE-TAKING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
Workshop sponsored by:
The Dr. Mack Gipson, Jr.,
Tutorial and Enrichment Center
Presented by:
Carole Overton, Director
The Dr. Mack Gipson, Jr.,
Tutorial and Enrichment Center
Gipson Building
Paine College
(706) 821-8345
SPEED WRITING ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS
When taking notes, try to use shortcuts. Also use diagrams, charts, and lists whenever possible, instead of
trying to write complete sentences. Try to use abbreviations and symbols that you will be able to interpret
when you go back to your notes later on. Here are some suggestions:
SYMBOL
MEANING
SYMBOL
MEANING
+
add
ch.
chapter
@
at
e.g.
example
=
equals, is the same as, is defined as
etc.
and so on
≠
does not equal
ex.
example
→
leads to, causes, results in
i.e.
therefore
←
results from, comes from
lk
like
==
implies
lrn
learn
==
does not imply
Q
question
>
greater than, larger than
ref.
reference
<
less than, smaller than
subj.
subject
#
number
wd.
word
therefore
w/
with
b/c
because
w/o
without
b/f
before
vs.
versus, as opposed to
Try to abbreviate prefixes, suffixes, and other word parts. Try to come up with special abbreviations for words
and names used frequently in each course. Many shortcuts can be made by dropping letters from the words.
Write these special abbreviations along with their meanings at the top of the first page on which you use them,
or keep a separate list of all of your special abbreviations, in case you forget what your shortcuts mean.
SYMBOL
MEANING
SYMBOL
MEANING
′t
-ment (example: treatment = treat’t)
′n
-tion or -sion (example:
comprehension = comprehen′n)
rdg
reading
mat′l
material
C.
Columbus
mot. fac.
motivating factor
REVIEW YOUR NOTES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT ALWAYS WITHIN 24 HOURS SO THAT
YOU CAN CLEAR UP ANY CONFUSIONS IN YOUR NOTES!!
Dr. Mack Gipson, Jr., Tutorial and Enrichment Center, Paine College, Augusta, GA -- Developed by Carole D. Overton, Director
Note-Taking Tips and Technique
page 1
rev. 6/19/08
NOTE-TAKING TECHNIQUES
PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION:
PATTERN
SIGNAL
WORDS
LIST
also
in addition
furthermore
and
“There are 3
things to
remember . . .”
NOTES
write notes in the
form of a list (if
necessary, put
them in a specific
order – from
smallest to largest,
from most
important to least
important, etc.)
CHRONOLOGY
first, second, third,
…
next
then
finally
at last
meanwhile
afterwards
now
soon
later
in the first place
list the information in
the order in which
things happened
CAUSE/
EFFECT
because
thus
as a result
consequently
accordingly
and so
causes
leads to
results from
results in
list the reasons why
something
happened or list the
causes that
produced a specific
effect
COMPARE/
CONTRAST
however
nevertheless
on the contrary
still
yet
but
contrast
like
in the same way
on the other hand
although
similarities
differences
compare 2 or more things to
show how they are alike
contrast 2 or more things to
show how they are different
VISUAL TECHNIQUES:
TECHNIQUE
Sorted list
Outline
Hierarchy
Table or Chart
Time Line
DESCRIPTION
make a list to classify, sort, or categorize the information in a particular way
make a list to organize main points and their related details
make a diagram or “tree” to show relationships
make a chart to show interactions
make a simple diagram to show the order in which events took place
USE THE BEST METHOD TO FIT THE MATERIAL.
A COMBINATION OF METHODS MAY BE NEEDED.
Dr. Mack Gipson, Jr., Tutorial and Enrichment Center, Paine College, Augusta, GA -- Developed by Carole D. Overton, Director
Note-Taking Tips and Technique
page 2
rev. 6/19/08
NOTE-TAKING TECHNIQUES: SAMPLES
OUTLINE:
Pioneers
Motives
A. Economic
1. Land
2. Gold
3. Trade
B. Personal
1. Country
2. Family
3. Self
II. Difficulties
A. Transportation
1. Train
2. Wagon
3. Boat
B. Survival
1. Food
2. Shelter
3. Safety
I.
CHART:
CLIMATE
PHYSICAL
FEATURES
NATURAL
RESOURCES
HABITAT
PRODUCTS
TRANSPORTATION
Dr. Mack Gipson, Jr., Tutorial and Enrichment Center, Paine College, Augusta, GA -- Developed by Carole D. Overton, Director
Note-Taking Tips and Technique
page 3
rev. 6/19/08
HIERARCHY:
Pioneers
Motives
Economic
Difficulties
Personal
Transportation
Survival
Land
Country
Train
Food
Gold
Family
Wagon
Shelter
Trade
Self
Boat
Safety
TIME LINE:
1800
U. S. C.
U. of Georgia
1825
1850
Emory
Furman
1875
1900
Paine
Augusta
THE CORNELL METHOD
Identify the
course
Keep track of
special
abbreviations
used in the notes
Take notes
Dr. Jones
Psych 201
8/27/02
Def.
resp. = response(s)
frust. = frustration
behvrs. = behaviors
frust. = psych. consequences of not being able
to ach. a goal
3 sources
3 sources of frust.
1. physical factors
2. social factors
3. personal factors
3 criteria
3 criteria control resp. to frust.
1. does it help us succeed?
2. does it last?
3. does it lead to more frust.?
Write key words
7 new behav.
frust. may lead to new behvrs.
1. aggression
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Summarize
apathy
rationalization
fantasy
compensation
regression
fixation
Frustration comes when we can not achieve a
goal. Frust. comes from physical, social, and
personal situations. Our response to frust.
depend on if it helps us, if it lasts, and if it
causes more frust. Frust. may lead to 7 new
behaviors.
Important Steps:
1. Take notes in the larger column during class.
2. Review your notes as soon as you can after class.
3. Write key words in the smaller column to help you study and review for tests.
4. Write a summary of the notes on each page at the bottom of that page.
5. Review and recite aloud in addition to writing your key words and summaries.
Dr. Mack Gipson, Jr., Tutorial and Enrichment Center, Paine College, Augusta, GA -- Developed by Carole D. Overton, Director
Note-Taking Tips and Technique
page 5
rev. 6/19/08
TAKING NOTES IN MATH CLASS**
3
1
KEY WORDS/
KEY IDEAS
2
EXAMPLES
REASONS
DISCUSSION
NOTES
5(w+3) + 3(w+1) = 14
Distributive prop.
5w +15 + 3w + 3 = 14
mult. to remove parentheses
Commutative
prop.
5w + 3w + 15 +3 = 14
prepare to combine in like terms
Associative prop.
(5w + 3w) + )15 +3) = 14
8w + 18 = 14
Addition prop. of
addition
8w + 18 - 18 = 14 - 18
8w = - 4
Multiplication
prop.
Summary
1/8(8w) = (1/8)-4
group like terms
add like terms
add opposite of 18
simplify (do the math)
mult. by reciprocal
w = - 4/8
reduce
w = - 1/2
answer
SOLVING EQUATIONS
 Put variable on one side.
 Put numbers on the other side.
 Simplify
CHECK ANSWER:
 See if it seems right
 Put ans. back into equation
 Solve equation
Rework your notes as soon as possible after each math class:
1. Rewrite the information you can not read or will not be able to understand in a few weeks.
2. Fill in the gaps.
3. Add additional key words and ideas in the left-hand column.
4. Spend at least 5 minutes reviewing the most important parts of the lecture. Try to summarize these
major parts and think about how they fit in with what you learned in past lectures.
** Based on discussion in Nolting, P. (2002.). Winning at Math (4th ed.). Bradenton, FL: Academic Success Press
Dr. Mack Gipson, Jr., Tutorial and Enrichment Center, Paine College, Augusta, GA -- Developed by Carole D. Overton, Director
Note-Taking Tips and Technique
page 6
rev. 6/19/08