A Note-Taking Checklist

One of the things you can do to ensure that you are doing a good job of taking notes is to work with a checklist. Use the following checklist several times to make sure you are using good note-taking practices. Note the date or occasion when you practiced good, active note-taking and check off the elements you completed. You may want to add some of your own hints to your list.

---

Did I?

• Review assignments using active reading.
• List and look up unfamiliar terms and concepts.
• List questions to ask or points where clarification is needed.
• Note difficult portions of the text.
• Put notes in the appropriate notebook or section.
• Arrange them according to type of notes.
• Begin each set on a new dated and numbered page.
• Abbreviate.
• Put notes into my own words.
• Keep the notes brief.
• Use the coding scheme I developed.
• Locate missing information.
• Check my texts and references to clarify a lecture.
• Number items or distinguish between major/minor points.
• Look/listen for word clues and other ways important concepts are highlighted.
• Review lecture notes within twenty-four hours.
• Check for errors and omissions.