How secure do you need to feel that you
will learn the material presented in class?
If you have any doubts at all, plan to add one more component to
your basic notetaking method: The Summary Space.
As you take notes, leave a 2-inch space
at the bottom of each page.
After class, read through your notes and
summarize each page of notes in the summary space at the bottom.
On the last page of notes, summarize the
entire lecture in a few sentences.
By writing a brief summary, you are
translating the instructor's words and ideas into your own way of
thinking. This translation
process helps your memory retain the information better which will
enable you to learn the material and recall it with ease on exams.
Here's an example of a summary space with
Key Word notes:
