Study Guide

NOTE-MAKING: Why Should I Make Notes In Class?

There are four main reasons for making notes in class:

• Memory may be unreliable. It may let you down.
• Your notes provide a summary from which to study.
• Making notes encourages you to put the main ideas down on paper, in your own words. This makes them easier to remember.
• Notes expand on the information in the textbook. Instructors and class discussions add current real-life ideas, examples, and explanations.

Written Notes

Develop your own note-making style, so that your notes make sense to you when you review them at home. Think of your notes as an outline.

• Use headings and sub-headings.
• List items 1,2,3, etc.
• Use a phrase or word, rather than a sentence.
• Note examples with a one-word reminder.
• Develop your own short forms (e.g. MKT for marketing).
• Don't spend time rewriting your notes to make them look better. As long as they make sense to you, that's what is important.
• Don't try to write down every word. Go for the main ideas.

Helpful Tips

Watch for signals. Note-making depends on your active listening in class. Listen and watch for signals that will help you select the main ideas, for example the instructor may:

• repeat a point several times
• speak loudly to emphasize
• write on the board or put on an overhead
• distribute a handout
• say things like: "There are three reasons for this..."/"The most important thing to remember is..."

Review notes that same day. The class is still fresh in your mind, and you can add to your notes if you need to. Recalling material that day signals the brain that this material must be stored for future use.

Could you summarize the class to someone who wasn't there, using your own words? If you can, you've done a good job of note-making.