Cornell Notetaking
• To minimize your “rate
Why should you of forgetting”
take notes? Dr. Walter Pauk, Cornell
University Reading Center
Don’t take notes = Forget 60
% in 14 days
Take some notes =
Remember 60 %
Take organized notes and
do something with them=
Remember 90-100%
indefinitely!
The More the Better!
Cornell Notetaking
• Dr. Pauk created the Cornell
Notetaking System, which is
Date
used at Stanford, UCLA’s Topic
Web,
School of Engineering, most Picture
Law Schools, and of course,
Draw
at Cornell University
• The Cornell System requires ??’s
the student to review notes
and think critically after
learning has taken place Summarize
Cornell Notetaking
• Notes are a record of
When should you your learning, so take
take notes? them when:
You listen to a lecture
You read a text
You watch a film
You work in a group on an
activity
You need to recall
information about what
happened to you in a class,
meeting, or activity--which
means always!
Cornell Notetaking
What do you notice • They are divided into
that is different two parts: questions
and notes
about Cornell
• There is a reflection at
Notes? the end
• There is room for a
topic
• They are labeled with
name, date, class,
period or other
information
Cornell Notetaking
What types of • Questions which are
answered in the notes on
questions should the right
I place on the • Questions you still need
left side? the answer to--ask a friend
or the teacher after class
• Questions the teacher
might ask on a test
• Higher level thinking
questions
Cornell Notetaking
What else could • Key terms, vocabulary
words, or dates
I place on the
• Diagrams or figures
left side? • Reference pages in a text
• Steps in a solution process
• Notes to myself about
actions I need to take
Cornell Notetaking
What are some • Write only what is most
important:
good tips for listen for repetition, change in
pace or volume, numbering,
taking the explicit clues (“this is important,”
notes on the or “on the test”);
watch for gestures, or clues to
right? organization;
look for material being written
down by instructor or shared in a
visual manner
Cornell Notetaking
What are some • Write in your own words
(paraphrase)
good tips for • Write using abbreviations (check
a dictionary for these and create
taking the your own)
notes on the • Draw a figure or diagram
• Leave space where you think
right? you might need to “fill in” info
later
• Use bullets, arrows, and
indenting to list key ideas
• Write legibly
Cornell Notetaking
What are some • Actively listen
Use SLANT
good tips for Maintain eye contact with the
taking the speaker, group, or presentation
source
notes on the Nod your head at appropriate
times
right?
Frown when you do not
understand
Ask relevant questions
Answer questions posed by the
instructor
Make a written record
Cornell Notetaking
What are the • Set up your page
Draw your margins
steps to taking Label clearly
Cornell Notes? • Take notes
Use your best strategies
• Actively listen, analyze, ask
questions
• Review, revise, reflect
Look over notes and highlight, edit, or
add info
Write your questions and reflection
