THE CORNELL NOTE TAKING SYSTEM

The Cornell system for taking notes is designed to save time but yet be highly efficient. There is no rewriting or retyping of your notes. It is a "DO IT RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE" system.

1. First Step - PREPARATION

Use only one side of the paper. Draw a vertical line two inches from the left side of your paper. This is the recall column. Notes (from your text, a lecture, etc.) will be taken to the right of this margin in the notes column. Later key words or phrases can be written in the recall column.

2. Second Step - WHILE YOU ARE READING OR DURING A LECTURE

Record notes in bullet form in the notes column (right-hand side). Write down general ideas in your own words. Do not try to copy down all or even most of what is written in your book or said during a lecture. Skip lines to show the end of ideas or thoughts. Using abbreviations will save time. Write legibly (so you can understand your notes later on).

3. Third Step - AFTER YOUR READING OR LECTURE

• Read through your notes and make them more legible if necessary. • Now use the left-hand column (recall column). Write down ideas or key words which give you the main idea of the information in the notes column. You will write these words or phrases in the recall column to the left of the notes column information they go with. Remember, use only short phrases or key words in the recall column. • To review your notes, you will cover up the notes column by overlapping your paper and use the key words and phrases from the recall column to do your review. The key words and phrases will trigger your mind to recall the more detailed information from the notes column. Using this system each time you take notes will make studying faster and easier. • Summarize the main ideas of each page of notes at the bottom of the page.

(Example follows)

{EXAMPLE)

Ch. 3 – Moving Westward Cornell Notes

Recall Notes Frontier tales; Davy People's ideas of frontier based on Crockett exaggerated stories (e.g. Davy Crockett). p.197

Daniel Boone Dan Boone famous scout/leader; led settlers into Kentucky. Knew Indians. Captured by Shawnee. p.197

J.F. Cooper James Fenimore Cooper's Natty Bumppo based on D. Boone. Famous best sellers. Inspired some to move west. p.197

Summary:

Continue with Notes and Recall columns until the whole lesson or reading is completed. Pay particular attention to key concepts (e.g. Westward Movement), and key terms and historical figures (e.g. Daniel Boone). Listing the page number you got the info from is optional but may be helpful if you need to refer back to the text when studying but is not mandatory.