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Note Taking

NOTE-TAKING TIPS

Strong note-taking skills are essential for your academic success here at UNCA. Becoming a good note-taker requires excellent listening and organizational skills, as well as the ability to discern the difference between important and irrelevant information. First of all, it’s important to point out why taking notes are an essential component to the learning process. A printable (.pdf) version of our Note-Taking Tips handout is also available.

5 Reasons to Take Notes:

1. Notes help trigger your memory and help you remember important concepts covered in a lecture.
2. Taking notes help you concentrate in class.
3. Notes help you prepare for upcoming exams.
4. Notes oftentimes provide clues as to what the instructor deems most important (and subsequently, what you will likely be tested on in future exams).
5. Notes usually contain information not available in other resources, such as your textbook.

With this in mind, a few tips to help guide your note-taking strategies are listed below

  • Take notes consistently. You need to take notes every time you go to class. If you miss a class, ask a trusted classmate if you can borrow his/her notes to copy so you will not have any missing gaps of information when it’s time for you to study for an upcoming exam.
  • Be selective in what you write down for notes. This is where you need to practice good discernment and judgment. You do not need to write down every word your instructor says.
  • Keep in mind that the goal of note taking is to capture the main points that are mentioned in a lecture, supported by any examples given by the  instructor.
  • Be brief. Focus on writing down the main points and supporting examples and information.
  • Use abbreviations and symbols when possible, but be sure you understand what you write down so you will not be confused when you return to your notes later on.
  • Write legibly. Be sure you can read your own handwriting. Otherwise, your notes will be useless when you return to them to review the material.
  • Leave blank spaces between different points made during the lecture. This will allow you the opportunity to revisit your notes at the end of the lecture and fill in those areas with additional information.
  • Write your notes in your own words. Translating the information into your own wording facilitates the learning process. However, you need to be careful not to actually change the meaning of the information. Also keep in mind that definitions, formulas, and specific quotes should be copied as they are originally presented.
  • Once you have completed taking notes, take a few moments to review and/or clarify your notes. This is a crucial part of the note-taking process, especially since we quickly forget information that we have just written down. This time will give you the opportunity to insert additional information to explain anything that may seem unclear.
  • Copy whatever the instructor has written on the chalkboard, overhead projector, PowerPoint slides, etc. One of the most important aspects of good note-taking skills is to notice what the instructor deems as important information, especially since this material usually shows up on future exams. As such, anything the instructor writes down can serve as a clue of what you will be tested on in the future.
  • Pay close attention to your instructor’s behavior and body language to determine which information is crucial. Your instructor will often provide clues as to which information he/she deems as important. Besides the previously mentioned tip, try to note when your instructor does the following:
    1. Emphasizes material through gestures, vocal intonation, or intentional pauses.
    2. Spends a significant amount of time addressing a particular subject using various examples for explanation.
    3. Uses word signals, such as “The second reason…” or “In conclusion…”
    4. Highlights the main points of a lecture at the end of class or at the beginning of the following class as a means of review. Sit near the front of the class. This will reduce the number of distractions that might hinder your note taking. Another advantage is that you will be in a better position to see and hear, as well as increase the likelihood of being engaged in the material covered during class.