Note Taking & Summarising
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Knowing how to effectively take notes in high school and beyond is necessary for interpreting, organising, summarising and memorising information. It is essential though, to first understand the information you are trying to summarise. I highly recommend students become accustomed to using SQ3R - Reading for Understanding.
Typically high school students will need to use notetaking for listening to lectures given by teachers, summarising class notes, homework, reading and researching from books and the internet. Most importantly, you should create summarised study notes based on syllabus dot points. These should be regularly revised, especially leading up to your exams.
Effective notetaking is essential to help students to retain information. Having good notes will play an important role in helping you maximise your final results. Invest time in learning creating effective notes using a method that suits you best.
The most popular methods used are:
- Linear notes - using headings and sub-headings and abbreviated note taking
- Cornell Technique - detailed below
- Using a Mind Map, Concept map or Lotus chart to graphically organise topics and concepts.
Typically high school students will need to use notetaking for listening to lectures given by teachers, summarising class notes, homework, reading and researching from books and the internet. Most importantly, you should create summarised study notes based on syllabus dot points. These should be regularly revised, especially leading up to your exams.
Effective notetaking is essential to help students to retain information. Having good notes will play an important role in helping you maximise your final results. Invest time in learning creating effective notes using a method that suits you best.
The most popular methods used are:
- Linear notes - using headings and sub-headings and abbreviated note taking
- Cornell Technique - detailed below
- Using a Mind Map, Concept map or Lotus chart to graphically organise topics and concepts.
Bibliographic details
- Whatever method you prefer remember to record the bibliographic details of the information source for referencing purposes and keep with your notes.
Paraphrasing skills are also important to help you summarise information into your own words.
- Whatever method you prefer remember to record the bibliographic details of the information source for referencing purposes and keep with your notes.
Paraphrasing skills are also important to help you summarise information into your own words.
The Cornell Note Taking Technique
This is a tried and true method for organising your notes so that you can later identify the key points and actions, and recall information easily. With this system, you organise the notes as you take them; there is no need to go extra effort of rewriting your notes. So the system is both effective and efficient
This is a tried and true method for organising your notes so that you can later identify the key points and actions, and recall information easily. With this system, you organise the notes as you take them; there is no need to go extra effort of rewriting your notes. So the system is both effective and efficient
How to get started with Cornell note taking
Review and Revise
This is probably the most important part of taking notes!
After taking notes, it is important to re-read and review the information on a regular basis (every couple of days). When reading the notes, it is a good idea to highlight or underline important ideas and add any details that might have been missed. (If you add information to your notes, make sure it is accurate). The notes are a great study guide for tests, quizzes and assignments.
Watch the video below
- Use a blank A4 sheet or fresh page in your lecture pad. Write the topic and date at the top
- Divide the page into two portions by drawing a line roughly 5 cm from the left margin of the page
- On the right side is the note-taking column. This is where you write brief summarised notes.
- On the left side is your Key word or Prompt column. Here you write key words from your notes or other prompts to help you
- Now draw a line roughly 4 cm above the bottom of the page. This is where you summarise your notes from the page. The aim is to be brief, yet capture the essence of the passage
Review and Revise
This is probably the most important part of taking notes!
After taking notes, it is important to re-read and review the information on a regular basis (every couple of days). When reading the notes, it is a good idea to highlight or underline important ideas and add any details that might have been missed. (If you add information to your notes, make sure it is accurate). The notes are a great study guide for tests, quizzes and assignments.
Watch the video below
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References
Alexandria Technical and Community College,. (2013). Methods Of Note Taking. Retrieved from http://www.alextech.edu/en/collegeservices/SupportServices/StudySkills/LectureNoteTaking/MethodsOfNoteTaking.aspx
DesRochers, J. (2012). How to take Cornell notes. Video. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtW9IyE04OQ&feature=youtu.be
EduNova,. (2015). Note Taking for High School Students. Retrieved from
http://www.edu-nova.com/articles/note-taking-high-school/
Melbourne High School,. (2012). Note-Taking. Retrieved from http://resources.mhs.vic.edu.au/english/students/takenote.htm
Mind Tools,. (2013). The Cornell Note Taking System: Effective and Efficient Note-Taking. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_98.htm
Ranganath, V. (2013). Cornell Note Taking System by Walter Pauk for better understanding. Retrieved from http://tipsinterviews.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/cornell-note-taking-system.html
Alexandria Technical and Community College,. (2013). Methods Of Note Taking. Retrieved from http://www.alextech.edu/en/collegeservices/SupportServices/StudySkills/LectureNoteTaking/MethodsOfNoteTaking.aspx
DesRochers, J. (2012). How to take Cornell notes. Video. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtW9IyE04OQ&feature=youtu.be
EduNova,. (2015). Note Taking for High School Students. Retrieved from
http://www.edu-nova.com/articles/note-taking-high-school/
Melbourne High School,. (2012). Note-Taking. Retrieved from http://resources.mhs.vic.edu.au/english/students/takenote.htm
Mind Tools,. (2013). The Cornell Note Taking System: Effective and Efficient Note-Taking. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_98.htm
Ranganath, V. (2013). Cornell Note Taking System by Walter Pauk for better understanding. Retrieved from http://tipsinterviews.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/cornell-note-taking-system.html
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