In-Class Note taking

There are many different ways to take notes in class, yet there are few effective ways to retain important information. There are three important key factors for in-class note taking: pro-activeness, organization, and review.

Being pro-active is key to EVERYTHING done in school.  Whether it's getting help or getting an extension, the earlier the better. That being said, working ahead is never a bad thing. Working ahead can help you in so many ways! It can 1. keep you more engaged in class (because you already know what will happen next) 2. allow you to get the extra help you need and 3. leave you with less stress. Number 3 is HUGE. Everyone has had a night where they have way too much homework, they start feeling stress and panic and can eventually fall behind. This can so easily be avoided. It takes extra time in the moment, but in the long run, you'll be happy you read and prepared for class ahead of time.

Organization while taking notes in class is mandatory. Everyone is different, but if you are struggling with taking notes in class, you should utilize the Cornell note taking system. When reading, make sure to mark up the text, highlighting key points and phrases, not big blocks of text. Also, when taking notes in class, writing down exactly what the teacher says is not effective at all; be sure to listen deeply and engage during class. If the teacher says something more than once, it's important. Highlight it, star it, put a box around it--make sure you identify that the topic as something to look out for. These topics are the key topics to quiz yourself on for the next quiz/test or even incorporate into your next essay.

Lastly, if you don't review over the notes taken in class, you're your own worse enemy! It only takes 20 minutes to sit down and take the information given to you in class and read it over. Connect the notes given to the actual textbook, and even do outside research to keep yourself engaged and interested. Write down the information onto color-coded flashcards and arrange them by topic (country, time/era, etc).


With these 3 tools in mind, in-class note taking will be a breeze!