Surname of Professor Erwin F.

Cipriano 1

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson the students will be able to

 Organize information using note taking
 Write paragraphs using paraphrasing
 Plot schedules using the Eisenhower Matrix for time management

NOTE TAKING
If you’re in-class notes are messy, unorganized, and unclear at first glance, you’re not going to
get much use out of them. This has nothing to do with how neat your handwriting is — it’s all
about how your notes are structured.
According to Richard Nordquist (2019) Note-taking is
the practice of writing down or otherwise recording key
points of information. It's an important part of the
research process. Notes taken on class lectures or
discussions may serve as study aids, while notes taken
during an interview may provide material for an essay,
article, or book. "Taking notes doesn't simply mean scribbling down or marking up the things
that strike your fancy," say Walter Pauk and Ross J.Q. Owens in their book, "How to Study in
College." "It means using a proven system and then effectively recording information before
tying everything together."

Cognitive Benefits of Note-Taking

Note-taking involves certain cognitive behavior; writing notes engages your brain in specific and
beneficial ways that help you grasp and retain information. Note-taking can result in broader
learning than simply mastering course content because it helps you to process information and
make connections between ideas, allowing you to apply your new knowledge to novel contexts,
according to Michael C. Friedman, in his paper, "Notes on Note-Taking: Review of Research
and Insights for Students and Instructors," which is part of the Harvard Initiative for Learning
and Teaching. Shelley O'Hara, in her book, "Improving Your Study Skills: Study Smart, Study
Less," agrees, stating:

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 Surname of Professor Erwin F. Cipriano 2

"Taking notes involves active listening, as well as connecting and relating information to ideas
you already know. It also involves seeking answers to questions that arise from the material."

Taking notes forces you to actively engage your brain as you identify what's important in terms
of what the speaker is saying and begin to organize that information into a comprehensible
format to decipher later. That process, which is far more than simply scribbling what you hear,
involves some heavy brainwork.
Learning how to take better study notes in class helps improve recall and understanding of what
you are learning because it:
 Ensures you are actively listening to what the teacher is saying
 Requires you to think about what you are writing
 Helps you make connections between topics
 Serves as quality review material for after class
Using different note taking strategies is important, especially as you progress through high
school and transition to college or university. There are several note taking techniques you can
use to start taking better notes in class.

5 BEST NOTE TAKING METHOD TO TRY

 THE CORNELL METHOD

The Cornell note taking method helps organize
class notes into easily digestible summaries. This
method is effective because the main points,
details, study cues, and summary are all written
in one place.
ADVANTAGES:
 Notes are neatly organized, summarized,
and easy to review
 Allows you to pull out major ideas and concepts
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
The paper is divided into 3 sections: a 2.5” margin to the left, a 2” summary section on the
bottom, and a main 6” in-class note section.
1. Use the main notes section to take notes during class.

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 Surname of Professor Erwin F. Cipriano 3

2. Use the cues section to review your notes. After class, write down things you’ll need to
remember and a prompt for each. You can also use this section for vocabulary words
and study questions.
3. In the summary segment at the bottom, write a summary of your notes. This is where
you will highlight the main points.

 THE MAPPING METHOD

The Mapping note taking method is a more visual
way to organize your class notes. This technique is
useful when learning about relationships between
topics.

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ADVANTAGES:
 Useful for visual learners who struggle with studying from notes.
 Helps you remember and connect relationships between topics.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
The page is organized by topic. The main topics branch out into subtopics with detailed
information about each.
HOW DO YOU USE IT?
1. While in class, begin the map with the main topic.
2. Branching off the main topic, write a heading for each of the subtopics.
3. Write any important notes underneath each subtopic.
4. Continue the pattern.

 THE OUTLINING METHOD

The Outlining note taking method uses headings and bullet points to organize topics. This
method is most useful when learning about topics that include a lot of detail.
ADVANTAGES:
 Allows notes to be neatly organized.
 It is easy to see the relationship between topics and subtopics.
 It is easy to turn points into study questions.

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WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Each section starts with a heading of the main topic. Each subtopic and supporting fact is
written underneath the proper heading.
HOW DO YOU USE IT?
1. During a lesson, begin your notes with a
single bullet point and write the main topic.
2. Place the first subtopic below and indented
slightly to the right.
3. List any details below your heading and
slightly to the right.

 THE CHARTING METHOD

Charting note taking method uses columns to organize information. This method is useful for
lessons that cover a lot of facts or relationships between topics.
ADVANTAGES:
 Facts are organized and easy to review.
 Highlights key pieces of information for each topic.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
The page is divided into columns labeled by
category. The details of each category are filled out
in the rows below.

HOW DO YOU USE IT?

1. When information about a category is mentioned, jot it down underneath the proper
column.
2. When the next topic begins move down one row and begin again.

 THE SENTENCE METHOD

The Sentence note taking method is simply writing down each topic as a jot note sentence. This
method works well for fast paced lessons where a lot of information is being covered.

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 Surname of Professor Erwin F. Cipriano 5

ADVANTAGES:
 Jotting main points helps you determine which information is important and which is not.
 You are able to cover a lot of details and information quickly.
 Notes are simplified for study and review.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Each line on the page is a new and separate topic. To organize your notes even more, you can
use headings for each main topic.
HOW DO YOU USE IT?
1. Write down important information the teacher
has emphasized. This can be in sentence
form or point form.
2. Start a new sentence or point for each new
detail.
3. Use headings to organize points by main
topics.
Determining what’s important enough to write down
You may be asking yourself how you can identify the main points of a lecture. Here are some
tips for recognizing the most important points in a lecture:
 Introductory remarks often include summaries of overviews of main points.
 Listen for signal words/phrases like, “There are four main…” or “To sum up…” or “A
major reason why…”
 Repeated words or concepts are often important.
 Non-verbal cues like pointing, gestures, or a vocal emphasis on certain words, etc. can
indicate important points.
 Final remarks often provide a summary of the important points of the lecture.

Now consider…what’s the best strategy for you: handwritten, digital, or both?
Taking notes in a way to fully understand all information presented conceptually and factually
may differ between students. For instance, working memory, or the ability to process and
manipulate information in-the-moment, is often involved in transcribing lecture notes, which is
best done digitally; but there are individual differences in working memory processes that may
affect which method works best for you. Research suggests that handwriting notes can help us
learn and remember conceptual items better than digital notes. However, there are some pros
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 Surname of Professor Erwin F. Cipriano 6

to typing notes on a computer as well, including speed and storage. Consider these differences
before deciding what is best for you.
Handwritten Digital
Easier to create diagrams and illustrations Faster; easier to take higher volume of
notes
Sometimes better for visual learners Easier to edit and reorganize for later
studying
Provides more focus for students prone to Can be backed up, shared, searched, etc.
digital distraction
Can be better for comprehension and Can be better for comprehension and
retention of conceptual information retention of factual information

Follow up after class

Part of good note-taking includes revisiting your notes a day or so after class. During this time,
check for clarity, fill in definitions of key terms, organize, and figure out any concepts you may
have missed or not fully understood in class. Figure out what may be missing and what you may
need to add or even ask about.
Many times, even after taking good notes, you will need to utilize other resources in order to
review, solidify, question, and follow-up with the class. Don’t forget to use the resources
available to you, which can only enhance your note-taking. These resources include:
 Office Hours: Make an appointment with your professor or TA to ask questions about
concepts in class that confused you.
 Academic Coaching: Make an appointment with an Academic Coach at the Learning
Center to discuss your note-taking one-on-one, brainstorm other strategies, and discuss
how to use your notes to study better.
 Learning Center resources: The Learning Center has many other handouts about related
topics, like studying and making the most of lectures. Check out some of these handouts
and videos to get ideas to improve other areas of your academics.
 Reviewing your notes: Write a summary of your notes in your own words, write
questions about your notes, fill in areas, or chunk them into categories or sections.
 Self-testing: Use your notes to make a study guide and self-test to prepare for exams.

Paraphrasing

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 Surname of Professor Erwin F. Cipriano 7

 Paraphrasing is presenting ideas and information in your own words and acknowledging
where they come from.
 Paraphrasing is one way to use a text in your own writing without directly quoting source
material.

Remember the paraphrase is...

 Your own rendition of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else,
presented in a new form.
 One legitimate way (when accompanied by accurate documentation) to borrow from a
source.
 A more detailed restatement than a summary, which focuses concisely on a single main
idea.

Why is Paraphrasing a valuable skill?

It is better than quoting information from an undistinguished passage.

· It helps you control the temptation to quote too much.
· The mental process required for successful paraphrasing helps you to grasp the full
meaning of the original.

Six Steps to Effective Paraphrasing

1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
2. Set the original aside and write your paraphrase on a note card.
3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you
envision using this material. At the top of the note card, write a key word or
phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase.
4. Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately
expresses all the essential information in a new form.
5. 5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have
borrowed exactly from the source.
6. Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it
easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

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 Surname of Professor Erwin F. Cipriano 8

The original passage:

Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse
quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should
appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact
transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers.
2nd ed., 1976, pp. 46-47.

A plagiarized version:

Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too
many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final
copy should consist of directly quoted material. So, it is important to limit the amount of
source material copied while taking notes.

A legitimate paraphrase:

In research papers, students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a
desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to
minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).

An acceptable summary:

Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the
amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47)

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publisher/compiler via pupenglishdepartment@gmail.com.
 Surname of Professor Erwin F. Cipriano 9

No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied by recording or other electronic/mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the
publisher/compiler via pupenglishdepartment@gmail.com.