Page 206 - Keys to College Success

KEY 7.1 Save time with standard abbreviations.

Note Taking, Memory, and Studying
w/, w/o with, without Cf compare, in comparison to
Ur you are Ff following

→ means; resulting in Q question

← as a result of gr8 great

↑ increasing Pov point of view

↓ decreasing > less than

∴ therefore < more than
b/c because = equals

≈ approximately b&f back and forth

+ or & and Δ change

Y why 2 to; two; too

No. or # number Afap as far as possible
i.e. that is e.g. for example

cos change of subject c/o care of

Ng no good lb pound

POTUS President of the United States hx history

Sometimes, using shorthand results in forgetting what your writing means. To
avoid this problem, review your notes shortly after class and spell out words that
are confusing. Also, don’t forget to eliminate shorthand from any work that you
turn in.
Finally, don’t stop taking notes when your class engages in a discussion. Even
though it isn’t part of the instructor’s planned presentation, important information
often surfaces. If you can focus on important concepts better when involved in a
discussion, like Chandra, you may benefit significantly from staying focused at
these times.

Review and Revise Your Notes
Class notes are works in progress, incomplete in some places, confusing in others, and
illegible in still others. Getting what you need out of notes requires that you review and
revise them as soon as possible after class. Read your notes over and revise by filling in
gaps, clarifying sloppy handwriting, and raising questions.
If you can review your notes within 24 hours of taking them down in class, you are
likely to reactivate and strengthen the new neural pathways you created when you
learned the material. Waiting longer increases the possibility that you will forget what
you worked so hard to record.

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