Preparing For Taking Notes

Prior to Attending Class

Being prepared for class includes completing assignments as well as looking ahead at what will be covered in the next class. Following are some tips for what to do to prepare for class and what to do during class:

1. Preview your text or reading assignments prior to lecture—use active reading skills. Previewing allows you to identify main ideas and concepts that will most likely be presented during the lecture.
2. Read over your notes from the previous class.
3. Look at the course outline to see where you've been, where you're going, and how it all fits together.
4. Meet with your instructor/TA to clarify concepts from the last lecture.
5. Obtain notes from any class session you've missed.
6. List unfamiliar terms and concepts prior to the lecture. Compose a simple definition for unfamiliar terms prior to the lecture. This gives you a general understanding of the material that will be presented in class.
7. Compose clear questions you can ask about terms or concepts you don't understand. You might request clarification from fellow students prior to the lecture. If you are still uncertain, ask for clarification during the lecture. If a term or concept has not been clarified during the lecture, ask the instructor before the class period ends.
8. Note portions of the text or reading assignment that you do not understand, as you did with terms and definitions. Listen for explanations during class. Prepare a question to ask during class if you are still confused.

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During Class

1. Mark each set of notes with a date and title, and keep notes from different classes separate.
2. Sit where you can hear and see clearly without distractions.
3. Don't crowd your notes! Leave blanks to fill in missed items and to expand upon your notes later.
4. Ask your instructor, TA, or classmates to help you fill in the gaps if you think you missed one or two important points.
5. Stay involved in the class and ask questions. Volunteer for demonstrations. Join in class discussions.
6. Take too many notes, rather than not enough. You can always omit unnecessary information later.
7. Think to yourself, "Why is this important?"
8. Focus on the point the professor is making, rather than scrambling to copy the entire overhead without listening to what the professor is saying.
9. Write down notes in your own words when possible and think about what the professor is saying. However, definitions of technical terms should be recorded exactly as given.
10. Use abbreviations and symbols to save time. Make sure you understand your abbreviations.
11. Take notes in different colors to highlight important points.
12. Use underlining or symbols, such as an asterisk or star, to identify points your instructor emphasizes.
13. Stay alert for and highlight points your instructor emphasizes through his or her verbal cues. Watch for lists such as "the following five steps" or "the four major causes", and for summaries signaled by words such as "consequently" or "therefore."
14. Add examples your professor provides in order to clarify abstract ideas and to jog your memory when studying later.
15. Don't be a clock-watcher. Instructors do not always pace themselves accurately and may cram half of the lecture into the last fifteen minutes.
16. Learn as much as you can in class because this will help you to better understand and complete outside assignments.
17. Use a recorder only to clarify lecture points—use the counter to make referencing the recording easier.
18. Meet a conscientious and success-oriented student in each class at the beginning of every semester and share notes.