• Developed in 1949 at Cornell University by Walter Pauk.

• Designed in response to frustration over student test scores.

• Meant to be easily used as a test study guide.

• Adopted by most major law schools as the preferred note taking method.

The Cornell SystemThe Cornell System1. Purpose of Note Taking•Aids comprehension and retention•Outline of important points•Clarification of ideas•Source for review

2. Before the Lecture•Read or skim text•General overview•New items and concepts•Unclear material•Gaps in information

3. During the Lecture•Structure and organization •Content

4. After the Lecture Record Reduce Recite Review Recapitulate

Effective Note Taking

• Cornell note taking stimulates critical thinking skills.

• Note taking helps students remember what is said in class.

• A good set of notes can help students work on assignments and prepare for tests outside of the classroom.

• Good notes allow students to help each other problem solve.

• Good Notes help students organize and process data and information.

• Helps student recall by getting them to process their notes 3 times.

• Writing is a great tool for learning!

First & Last NameDate

PeriodTopic

Questions,Subtitles,Headings,Etc. go here.

Remember,we want higher levelcritical thinkingquestions.

Class Notes-Write general ideas.-Use abbreviations.-Skip lines between ideas & topics.

2 1/2”

3 to 4 sentence summary across the bottom of the last page of the day’s notes

Essential Question:

RECORD (During the lesson)RECORD (During the lesson)

• Record your notes on the right side Record your notes on the right side column, in simple paragraph form. column, in simple paragraph form.

• Don’t bother to make elaborate outlines. Don’t bother to make elaborate outlines. Strive to capture general ideas. Strive to capture general ideas.

• Skip lines to show the end of thoughts Skip lines to show the end of thoughts and/or ideas. Use abbreviations or and/or ideas. Use abbreviations or symbols to give yourself extra time. symbols to give yourself extra time. Write legibly. Write legibly.

• Your objective should be to make your Your objective should be to make your notes complete enough so they will have notes complete enough so they will have meaning for you weeks and months later.meaning for you weeks and months later.

REDUCE (after the lesson)REDUCE (after the lesson)

• Read and consolidate your notes right Read and consolidate your notes right after class or sometime that evening after class or sometime that evening and make them more legible. Using and make them more legible. Using the recall column on the left side of the recall column on the left side of the page, jot down key words or the page, jot down key words or phrases, or formulate questions based phrases, or formulate questions based on the facts & ideas. Fill in any blanks on the facts & ideas. Fill in any blanks or make incomplete sentences or make incomplete sentences complete.complete.

RECITERECITE

• Cover the notes on the right side of the Cover the notes on the right side of the paper, leaving the cue words & questions paper, leaving the cue words & questions uncovered. Now read each key word or uncovered. Now read each key word or question and state out loud and in your question and state out loud and in your own words the ideas & facts that you are own words the ideas & facts that you are trying to learn. trying to learn.

• If your answer is correct, continue If your answer is correct, continue through the lecture.through the lecture.

ReflectReflect

• Here you want to think about the Here you want to think about the information you have learned. Ask information you have learned. Ask yourself…yourself…

• How do these facts & ideas fit into what I How do these facts & ideas fit into what I already know?already know?

• How can I apply them?How can I apply them?• How is knowing this important?How is knowing this important?• What is the significance of these facts & What is the significance of these facts &

ideas?ideas?

REVIEWREVIEW

• The only way to keep from forgetting The only way to keep from forgetting information is by reviewing it often!information is by reviewing it often!

• Review the notes nightly, or at least Review the notes nightly, or at least several times in a week by reciting, not several times in a week by reciting, not rereading.rereading.

• Many smaller review sessions helps Many smaller review sessions helps comprehension much more than comprehension much more than cramming the day of the test.cramming the day of the test.

• It cuts the stress too!It cuts the stress too!

RECAPITULATE (summarize)RECAPITULATE (summarize)

• After having reduced, recited, & After having reduced, recited, & reflected on your notes, you will be reflected on your notes, you will be able to summarize the facts & ideas.able to summarize the facts & ideas.

• The summary should be in your own The summary should be in your own words & reflect the main words & reflect the main ideas/points you want to remember ideas/points you want to remember from the notes. from the notes.

• Use complete sentences!Use complete sentences!

MetacognitionMetacognition

• We need to think about how we We need to think about how we think. think.

• The Cornell Note Taking process is The Cornell Note Taking process is structured to allow us to use higher structured to allow us to use higher order thinking skills. order thinking skills.

• We want to try and stay on the top We want to try and stay on the top two floors of Costa’s Three-Story two floors of Costa’s Three-Story Intellect!Intellect!

Taking Notes from a TextTaking Notes from a Text

Be an Active ReaderBe an Active Reader

• Think about the reading– Consider how the parts relate to the

whole; how the text relates to previous ideas

– Create questions about new words/ terms, why emphasized points are important

– Examine what you have learned from visuals

• Look for the pattern in elements like chapter /subsection headings, summary points, graphics

• Know where to find the index and glossary

Be Aware of Textbook OrganizationBe Aware of Textbook Organization

• Become familiar with the font, symbols, borders, graphics, colors, and layout that highlight main ideas or terms

• Be alert to the writer's goal: highlight ideas/ references /opinions that seem significant to their point of view

Use the text style to identify important pointsUse the text style to identify important points

• Include headings, key terms, & graphics

• Take down only the important ideas: brief, but clear

• Summarize in your own words

• Use symbols to highlight for review

• Use textbook review questions to develop study questions

Take notes while readingTake notes while reading

Taking Notes from a Movie or Taking Notes from a Movie or DiscussionDiscussion

• Use discussion topics/questions organize your notes

• Use symbols for important ideas

• Include your own responses in notes

• Develop questions to review later

• Add references to other material as they come to mind

Reducing your NotesReducing your Notes

Review textbook notesReview textbook notes

• Identify & write main ideas/questions on left column

• Fill in details for better understanding

• Identify unclear information and/or questions - collaborate for answers

• Delete unnecessary information

• Review note organization; add symbols or rewrite

Reciting & ReflectingReciting & Reflecting

• Cover the right side of your notes; review and answer study questions from the left using the right side as an answer key

• Quiz yourself out loud

• Cover the right side with blank paper; write out answers to the left column study questions

Make use of the formatMake use of the format

Review & RecapitulateReview & Recapitulate

• Look over notes frequently to keep information and questions still unanswered fresh in mind

• Recite information from notes

ReviewReview

• Write summaries of the most important material in the summary/reflection section

• Write a quiz for others using notes; exchange and correct

• Write anticipated test questions beyond those already in the left-hand column and write answers

Write!Write!

• Exchange notes with others to flesh out information and understanding

• Use notes in study groups to provide a common ground of material for reference and review

• Rewrite notes if necessary

Study in a GroupStudy in a Group

Let’s See an Example!Let’s See an Example!

(Diagram copied during lecture)

(Questions about it )

• How do the ticks find the cattle?

• Why don’t the ticks usually kill their host?

• How could tick infestations in cattle impact humans?

Students’ Note Taking Students’ Note Taking QuestionsQuestions

Students’ Frequently Asked Students’ Frequently Asked Question 1Question 1

I often get sleepy in class; do you have I often get sleepy in class; do you have any advice on how I can stay awake?any advice on how I can stay awake?

AnswerAnswerWhen you become sleepy in class it may be due to lack of oxygen. When you become sleepy in class it may be due to lack of oxygen. There is a four step, 30 second exercise you can do if this occursThere is a four step, 30 second exercise you can do if this occurs ..Step 1.Step 1. Straighten your spine. Put both feel on the floor, Straighten your spine. Put both feel on the floor, uncross your arms and legs, sit up straight and hold your uncross your arms and legs, sit up straight and hold your head up straight. head up straight. Step 2.Step 2. Take a deep breath and hold it. While you hold it, tense Take a deep breath and hold it. While you hold it, tense the muscles in your body. Begin with the muscles in your feet, the muscles in your body. Begin with the muscles in your feet, then legs, thighs, and so forth, steadily moving up your body, then legs, thighs, and so forth, steadily moving up your body, ending with the arms and hands. Hold these muscles tense ending with the arms and hands. Hold these muscles tense for the count of five and then relax and exhale. for the count of five and then relax and exhale. Step 3.Step 3. Breathe deeply three times. Inhale slowly and deeply, Breathe deeply three times. Inhale slowly and deeply, breathing into your belly as well as your chest. Pause breathing into your belly as well as your chest. Pause momentarily at the top of the breath and then exhale momentarily at the top of the breath and then exhale completely. When you have exhaled as much as you can, completely. When you have exhaled as much as you can, force out more air by contracting your muscles. Do this force out more air by contracting your muscles. Do this breathing exercise three times. breathing exercise three times. Step 4Step 4. Repeat the steps mentioned in Step 2. You have now . Repeat the steps mentioned in Step 2. You have now successfully activated all of your muscles and filled your body successfully activated all of your muscles and filled your body with oxygen. With practice you can do this exercise in class with oxygen. With practice you can do this exercise in class without your classmates or professor noticing without your classmates or professor noticing

Students’Frequently Asked Students’Frequently Asked Question 2Question 2

I take notes in class, but cannot read my I take notes in class, but cannot read my own writing. What can I do?own writing. What can I do?

AnswerAnswer

• Set goals for improvement. Setting short Set goals for improvement. Setting short

term goals to improve your handwriting term goals to improve your handwriting

is a good step. Make sure you are is a good step. Make sure you are

specific about the results you intend on specific about the results you intend on

achieving. achieving.

• Use creative visualizations. Find a quiet Use creative visualizations. Find a quiet

spot during a time of the day when you spot during a time of the day when you

are typically relaxed. Close your eyes are typically relaxed. Close your eyes

and relax your entire body. Visualize and relax your entire body. Visualize

yourself taking notes in class and writing yourself taking notes in class and writing

legibly. Practice this daily and the results legibly. Practice this daily and the results

will come soon enough.will come soon enough.

• Cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s. The Cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s. The

time you spend dotting and crossing will time you spend dotting and crossing will

eliminate the time spent scratching your eliminate the time spent scratching your

head trying to figure out what you have head trying to figure out what you have

written!written!

• Change your pen to change your Change your pen to change your handwriting. Perhaps use two or three handwriting. Perhaps use two or three different types of pens and/or pencils to different types of pens and/or pencils to write your notes. Pens come with write your notes. Pens come with different ball points. Some are fine, different ball points. Some are fine, others are medium. See which one is others are medium. See which one is the better fit for you. If neither works, the better fit for you. If neither works, there is also a pen.there is also a pen.

• When all else fails, PRINT! Printing is When all else fails, PRINT! Printing is one way students can write lecture one way students can write lecture notes and limit the amount of notes and limit the amount of misunderstanding that comes with misunderstanding that comes with illegible handwriting. Printed notes can illegible handwriting. Printed notes can also be read faster when it comes time also be read faster when it comes time to review for midterms and final exams.to review for midterms and final exams.

• Photocopy notes. Ask one of your Photocopy notes. Ask one of your classmates or your teacher if you can classmates or your teacher if you can photocopy their notes. photocopy their notes.

Students’ Frequently Asked Students’ Frequently Asked Question 3Question 3

My teacher talks too fast. What can I My teacher talks too fast. What can I do?do?

AnswerAnswer• Take more time to prepare for class.Take more time to prepare for class. If If

you are familiar with the subject, you are you are familiar with the subject, you are

more likely to pick out key points during more likely to pick out key points during

the lecture. A thorough preview of the the lecture. A thorough preview of the

class reading should be conducted before class reading should be conducted before

you attend class. This will set the stage you attend class. This will set the stage

for your understanding of the material and for your understanding of the material and

the lecture.the lecture.

• Exchange copies of notes with your fellow Exchange copies of notes with your fellow

classmates.classmates. There may be people in your There may be people in your

class who are good at taking notes and class who are good at taking notes and

following the lecture, though the teacher following the lecture, though the teacher

talks fast. Ask one or two people in the talks fast. Ask one or two people in the

class if you can copy their notes to ensure class if you can copy their notes to ensure

you have not missed any of the main you have not missed any of the main

points from the lecture. This exchange points from the lecture. This exchange

could prove very valuable to all parties could prove very valuable to all parties

involved, because you are helping one involved, because you are helping one

another.another.

• Be willing to make choices.Be willing to make choices. You can be You can be

consumed with the fact that the teacher talks consumed with the fact that the teacher talks

too fast or you can focus you attention on the too fast or you can focus you attention on the

key points of the actual lecture. Choose what key points of the actual lecture. Choose what

you think is important, and revise your notes you think is important, and revise your notes

immediately after the class is over.immediately after the class is over.

• Leave large empty spaces in your notes.Leave large empty spaces in your notes. You You want plenty of room to fill in any information want plenty of room to fill in any information you may have missed during the lecture. Use you may have missed during the lecture. Use abbreviations and symbols, and when you are abbreviations and symbols, and when you are rewriting your notes after class, write the full rewriting your notes after class, write the full meanings of these items.meanings of these items.

• See the teacher after class.See the teacher after class. Some teachers Some teachers are willing to help you with your note taking. are willing to help you with your note taking. Share your notes with the professor and ask if Share your notes with the professor and ask if you have written the correct information. This you have written the correct information. This is also an opportunity to ask questions that is also an opportunity to ask questions that you were unable to during the class lecture.you were unable to during the class lecture.

Thanks to…Thanks to…

• www.uc.edu/learningassistance

• The Learning ToolboxThe Learning Toolbox

• Paul BullockPaul Bullock & & Anne Maben Anne Maben of of The The AVID ProgramAVID Program