5 Methods of Note Taking
This handout illustrates five common methods for taking notes.
Find whichever one suits you best!
The Charting Method
Separate your paper into columns headed
by categories. These could include
important dates, people, events, phrases,
etc. For example, the columns in a history
class could be “Date,” “Person,” and
“Significance.” During class or as you read,
write down the information that you learn
under the appropriate column. This is a
great method to use when the content is
difficult to understand or presented
quickly, as it allows you to get an overview
of the lecture in your own words. This is
also a good way to organize your thoughts
and helpful for visual learners to memorize
content.
The Cornell Method
Separate your paper into three sections
(pictured to the left). The largest section is
where you will record information from the
lecture using sentences. After the lecture is
completed, you will fill out the column to
the left of the largest section. This is where
you will record main ideas and anticipate
test questions. Finally, at the bottom of the
paper, is a summary of the lecture. This
should be completed immediately after the
lecture because this is when the
information will be freshest in your
memory. The Cornell Method of note-
taking is excellent because it utilizes the
“three pass” approach to learning—meaning
you encounter the material three different
ways. This is optimal for retaining the
information in your memory for good.
