This page and our Canvas module will teach you about different note-taking systems and styles and help you determine what will work best for your situation. To take Cornell notes, start by dividing your paper into 3 sections, making 1 section bigger than the other 2. Paraphrasing not only saves time and space, it forces you to make connections between the ideas presented and your own expression of them, which will help you remember material later.

Cornell Notes - Wikipedia

By creating a summary, you will begin to identify areas of the material that you need further clarification with, too. While listening to a lecture, or reading a text, take notes only in the right-hand section of the page. The student divides the paper into two columns: the note-taking column (usually on the right) is twice the size of the questions/keyword column, which is on the left. However, using color or special symbols when note-taking can help you associate certain ideas together and find them quickly. Well, there are several benefits, and they all revolve around the way you process and review information.

While the best method for taking notes is still hotly contested, one popular method has lasted throughout the past few decades: the Cornell note-taking method.

The Cornell Method for Note Taking: Better Notes for Revision

The LSC also recommends writing in-progress ideas into the cue column and making updates later if needed. Go for the big ideas in the lecture, rather than trying to record all the examples the instructor may give to illustrate these ideas. The process of revisiting your notes to fill the Cues and Summary sections ensures you’re engaging with the content multiple times, leading to better retention.Going through relevant textbooks or video materials can also help you formulate answers if you find your Note Column lacking in content.