Your guide to Note Taking

Note taking is an important tool to surviving high school. Even if you don’t think you need to take them right now, you will sooner or later. Contrary to what most people think, I believe that you don’t need to go back and reread your notes if you don’t need to. Simply the act of writing down the information will make it easier to recall it later. Do not ask me why or how but trust me, it works. The most important thing to remember, however, is that everybody learns differently. So not everybody’s notes are going to be the same or written in the same style. But it is important to note that there are different styles to choose from.

Finding and using the style that works best for you is the only way you will benefit at all from writing things down. If the notes don’t make sense, then you won’t be able to use them. Even if your teacher has an assigned method, I recommend taking your own notes first then transferring it over. It can be more work but it will be worth it.

There are many different styles of note taking and I don’t think one is particularly better than the other. Some like to create webs in which the central topic is in the center of the page and supporting details/ ideas surround it. I know people who love using this method because they think it organizes things better for them. For me, I can never get the spacing right and my webs end up looking like a big mess. But I think it is great if this method work for you.

My style of note taking is mostly just bullet points. But when o have enough time, I do like to color code my notes: one color for topic headings, one for vocabulary words, and one for extra important information. I have no idea why, but it helps me to be able to recall information more efficiently.

Try not to write down things you see word for word. Try to make sure you understand it and, if you can, rewrite the information in your own words. Understanding the concept now will be a lot easier than trying to later when reviewing your notes.

Helpful Tip:  Keeping your notes organized is a must. Trying to decipher your own notes when trying to study does not work, believe me.

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