Focused

Note-Taking

5 Effective Note Taking

Methods
 ~The Cornell Method
~The Mapping Method
The Five ~The Outline Method
Strategies ~The Charting Method
~Graphic Organizers (Venn
Diagram, Frayer Model, Four
Corners, etc)

By the end of this series of lessons, you

will be able to select which strategy
works best for you!
Strategy #1:
The Cornell Method
Best for understanding key ideas
and relationships.
CORNELL METHOD • Fill out heading with the following:
• Name, date, topic, objective, essential
question
• During a class lecture, or using the notes
provided by your teacher, take notes on the
important ideas in the right-hand column.
• Within 24 hours, review and revise your notes
to identify the most important aspects of your
notes.
• In the left-hand column, generate questions
that can be answered by the notes on the
right.
• Summarize your notes on the bottom of the
page.
 Olympia Pahis-Cykiert September 9, 2018
Topic: Tennis
Strategy #2: EQ: What are the essential aspects of yoga practice?

Mapping
• A visual representation of the
material
• Uses words and images Questions

• Clearly shows a connection

among ideas
• Your heading should still
contain your name, date,
topic, and essential question.
• Summary is written at the
bottom of the page.
• Questions are written on the
back of the page.
Summary: Yoga is a practice where mindful breathing guides body
movement. Breathing techniques are used in order to promote
mindfulness and meditation as the body goes through a series of
movements. Practicing one of these styles will help improve muscle
tone. But even less vigorous styles of yoga such as vinyasa or hatha, can
provide strength and endurance benefits. It is a lifelong practice. 5
 Name: Date: 9/26/18
Topic: Brains and Bias
EQ: How do elements of personal history affect someone’s scores on
You Try It! cognitive tests?

• Watch the Crash Course

video on Brains and
Bias Questions

• Create a mind map of

all the important
aspects of the lecture.
• Summarize the map at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75g4d5sF3xI
the bottom of the page.
• Generate questions on
the back of your mind Summary:
map. 6
Strategy #3:
Charting
Best for organizing and reviewing
a lot of facts and for classifying
information.
You control the number of
columns and rows, based on the
complexity of the information.
• Directions: Name: Date: Topic:
1. Take out a piece of EQ: How do elements of personal history affect someone’s scores on cognitive tests?
loose-leaf and recreate
the chart to the right.
Standardized Reliable Valid
2. Write your name,
date, topic, and
essential question on
the top of the chart.
3. Leave space for note-
taking in the columns.
4. Leave space at the
bottom of the page for
your summary.
5. As you read through
the textbook pages,
record information in
the chart to the right.
6. Generate questions
about the material on
the back of the page or
in the column on the
8
left.
9
Strategy #4:
The Outline Method
Linear. Best for showing the
relationship between topics.
10
 Parts of an Outline:

• Heading
• Main Headings
• Supporting Ideas Questions

• Details (subordinating
points)
• Summary
• Questions to the left
(like Cornell method)
~Take out a piece of loose-leaf and write
your heading on top. Listen to the lecture,
and try to create an outline on Brains vs. 11

Bias.
You may use any
format (videos,
textbook pages,
Strategy #5:
YouTube lecture)
to create these Graphic Organizers
notes.
Best for organizing information and showing
relationships between ideas.

Venn Diagrams, Frayer Model, etc.

Graphic Organizers Practice
Choose the method you feel is best for organizing the textbook material

13
 Remember: No matter which method
you choose, be sure to include:

• Heading: Name, Date, Topic

• Essential Question
• Questions about the material
• A summary that answers the EQ
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 Parts ofMapping
an Outline: Outline Charting Graphic
Method Method Method Organizers
Daisy L Anny Evelyn Vanessa
• Heading
Mirkan Daisy M. Angelica Sky
• Main Headings
Bryan
• Supporting Ideas
Gigi Stephen Ale
• Details Gabbi
(subordinatingJullia Gisselle Angelica
points) Shelly Christian Raghib Diana
• Summary Laura Daniel
• Questions to the left
(like Cornell method)
Directions: Take out a piece of loose-leaf and create a draft of notes using the method you are assigned.
After you are done drafting, present your note-taking method on the piece of chart paper.

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