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Academic Consulting Academic Intervention Psych 131 Supplemental Instruction Tutoring Services
1060 Hixson-Lied Student Success Center 294-6624 www.dso.iastate.edu/asc
Lecture Success:
Tips for Note Taking
Academic Success Center
Iowa State University
1. Before the lecture – Prepare to take notes
♦ Read assigned material and complete assignments.
♦ Bring the best equipment:
o 8 ½ x 11 loose leaf paper
o 3-ring binder
o Pen/Pencil
♦ Sit in a distraction-free location:
o As close as possible to front and center of classroom
o Away from windows/doors
o Apart from “talkers,” noise makers, sleepers
o Resist temptation of sitting with chatty friends
♦ Do a 3-minute, pre-class warm-up:
o Look over notes from the last class
o Scan assigned reading from text
o Have questions in mind
2. During the Lecture – listening habits
♦ Listen to understand:
o Get ideas
o Assess their importance
o Connect them to other information
o If you disagree, note your disagreement and let it go
♦ Focus on content NOT delivery:
o Ignore personal quirks of lecturer
o Try to understand lecturer’s purpose
♦ Observe and listen for cues:
o Introductory remarks
o Summarizing or transitional statements such as:
“the most important consideration…”
“in summary…”
“the following three factors…”
“all in all…”
o Repetition
o Notice lecturer’s voice changes, facial expressions, and body language – indicate interest
level and importance, enthusiasm, excitement vs. fundamental delivery
o Watch lecturer’s eye movements – looking at notes for extra important information
o Watch the board/screen – copy down as much information as possible
3. During the Lecture – Writing tips
♦ Use a two column format
o 1/3 – 2/3 design
o Write on only one side of the paper
♦ Write in “formatted prose.”
o Use Roman numerals OR capital letters to indicate main points
o indent to indicate supporting details beneath main points
o leave plenty of “white space” especially when lecturer changes points
