Page 204 - Keys to College Success

Review what you know. Taking 15 minutes before class to review pre-
vious notes and reading will help you to follow the lecture from the start.

Set up your environment. Find a comfortable seat, away from friends
if sitting with them distracts you. Set up your notebook or, if you use a
laptop, open the file containing your class notes. Be ready to write (or
type) as soon as the instructor begins speaking.

Gather support. In each class, set up a support system with one or two
students so you can look at their notes after an absence. Find students
whose work you respect.

Choose the best note-taking system. Take instructor style, the course
material, and your learning preferences into account. Discussion of various
systems appears later in this chapter.

Record Information during Class Good listening powers note taking. When taking
notes in class, listen carefully to the information
before deciding what to write down.
The following practical suggestions will help you record information to
review later:

■ Record what your instructor emphasizes by paying attention to verbal and nonver-
bal cues.
■ Write down all key terms and definitions.
■ For difficult concepts, note relevant examples, applications, and links to other
material.
■ If questions are welcome during class, ask them. If you prefer to ask questions after
class, jot down questions as you think of them through the class period.
■ Write down every question your instructor raises, since these questions may be on
a test.
■ Be organized, but not fussy. Remember that you can always improve your notes later.
■ Draw pictures and diagrams to illustrate ideas.
■ Be consistent. Use the same system to show importance—such as indenting, spacing,
or underlining—on each page.
■ If you have trouble with a concept, leave space for an explanation and flag it with
a question mark. After class, consult your text or ask a classmate or instructor
for help.
■ Go beyond the PowerPoint. When instructors use electronic resources, expand on
the main points listed there with details from the lecture.
■ Consider learning preferences. The Multiple Intelligences table in this chapter
(see page 168) suggests MI-related note-taking strategies.
Using a personal shorthand helps you write faster when taking notes in class.
Consider these shorthand suggestions. You may already use some of them to speed up
texting or tweeting.

1. Use standard abbreviations in place of complete words (see Key 7.1 for ideas)
2. Shorten words by removing vowels from the middle of words (prps = purpose)
3. Substitute word beginnings for entire words (info = information)
4. Make up your own symbols and use them consistently (b4 = before)
5. Use abbreviations for proper nouns such as places, people, companies, scientific
substances, events, and so on (DC = Washington, DC).
6. If you know that a word or phrase will be repeated, write it once, and then estab-
lish an abbreviation for the rest of your notes.

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