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Introduction:
Good notetaking is much more than fast writing. Good notetakers listen actively while they write (type), think while they listen, and make conscious choices about what to record. In general, they capture as much of the lecture content as possible. They take notes they can use for effective learning, and then, most importantly, they review those notes regularly and with focused attention. Below is a list of suggestions, and a list of things to avoid as well, that may help you in your academic endeavors.

THINGS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER:

BEFORE CLASS:

Do assigned readings:
● This can be very difficult to keep up with but will prove beneficial come time to study for the exams.
● Check your syllabus regularly.
● Reading before class will help you identify, understand, and organize main points and content in the lecture and class discussion

Organize:
● There are different systems; find something that works consistently for you.
● Do you take better notes the “old-school” way or with a laptop?
● Label your notes well with things like the date, subject, lecture number and topics for the day. This will greatly aid your studying later if you already have a system set up to find things easily. It also helps immensely with finding corresponding info for classes with online material.
● If you like notebooks, try keeping one notebook per course.
● Consider using loose-leaf binders with pockets which give more flexibility in organizing your notes and allow you to add handouts and other material easily in a useful order. Everything is in one place with a binder. In addition, binders allow you to carry a lighter load during the beginning of the semester since you add notebook paper and material as-you-go, unlike notebooks.
● Buy sticky tabs/bookmarks to mark important pieces of information both in your notes and your textbook.
● Don’t just highlight your book, highlight your notes! If you review the material you wrote, it will help you learn better than reading and highlighting a textbook or other literature.
● If you take notes on your laptop, make sure your files and file labeling system are very organized and easy to navigate.

Engage fully:
● Be positive about learning
● Plan to start listening (and taking notes!) as soon as the instructor starts talking: tune in, have your pen&paper (or laptop) ready, do not let others distract you.

DURING CLASS:

Listen for Structure:
● Listen for introductory and concluding phrases and transitions indicating how the lecture is organized (“Today’s topics will include…”)
● Listen for repetition
● Listen as closely to the end of the lecture as to the beginning (easier said than done!). At the end of lecture, the instructor may summarize the most important points!

Be complete and accurate:
● Write down key points, theories, facts, theorems, definitions, etc.
● Write down examples and indicate the point(s) they demonstrate.
● Write down anything given in list form (“Three causes were:…”)
● Write down what is written on the board, powerpoint presentation, or projected on the screen.
● Pay attention to the instructor’s body language and tone of voice. Note when she or he uses the most emphasis or enthusiasm (which may not exist for some professors).
● Especially pay attention to and record comments the instructor makes that may provide extra insight to the material even though they may not write this on the board or have it on the screen.
● Listen for main points but generally it is better to write as much as possible! (Despite the material seeming trivial in class, you will probably not remember it after a night at the frats or even over the weekend.)

Keep up:
● Abbreviate! Every subject has words that can be shortened. For example, use S for Shakespeare, b/c for because, w/ for with, or re: for regarding.
● To save time, use a system of symbols and develop your own system of symbols.
● Leave space in your notes if you fall behind or get confused. Consult friends, TA, or professor later to fill in gaps.
● Circle terms you do not understand.
● Write question marks next to places you want to clarify later, but do not stop taking notes.
● If the professor is going too fast, ask them to slow down, go back to the previous slide, or ask a question! (It can be a bogus question just to get him or her to talk more, write less, and give you a chance to catch up with the notes.)

AFTER CLASS:

Review within 24 hours:
● Compare notes with classmates to supplement or clarify what you wrote down.
● Locate gaps or confusion in your notes. Ask peers, TAs or professors for help in class or during office hours.
● Check for accuracy of material (especially formulas, definitions, spelling of terms) since professors can write very sloppy or get things wrong sometimes. (Use your text book, Wikipedia, Google, or any other supplementary sources you can find)
● Identify connections with what you already know and with material from previous related classes or previous lectures in the class. How does the material extend or clarify your knowledge? What is the “big picture” that is starting to emerge?

Reorganize and rehearse:
● Reorganize your notes visually. Create an outline, diagram, or chart to show relationships among concepts.
● Consider reorganizing your notes via flash cards after each lecture or each week so that you will already have them to study with before the exam and do not have to spend your review time right before the exam making flash cards.
● Use different pen colors or highlighters for different types of material, or to distinguish your ideas from the instructor’s.
● Try writing brief summaries of the information in your own words.
● Review your notes regularly to improve your understanding and to prevent cramming at test time.
● Try to think of the questions your professor might ask you on the exam. Make sure you know how to completely answer those questions.

Evaluate your method:
● Are you finding a lot of gaps and errors in your notes?
● Do your notes actually help you study?
● Did your notes help you on your exams?
● If not, what can you do to improve your method?
● If you feel your notes are not helping you learn, and you do not feel that you know how to improve them, seek the assistance of your professor or TA as soon as possible.

THINGS TO AVOID:

● Chatting on IM, checking email, or browsing the internet during class
● Chatting on IM while trying to do homework (Turn off your instant messenger or you’ll never get anything done!)
● Texting during class (If you are, you are not paying as much attention as you should and it is also very distracting to your peers in the class.)
● Reading the newspaper during class (This is usually considered rude and most professors hate when people do it. If you do, at least be discrete about it!)
● Sleeping in class (Yes, some classes are very boring and it is hard not to fall asleep sometimes. However, there is not much point to going to lecture if you are going to sleep through it or are too tired to pay attention.)
● Being late to class (Sometimes it is unavoidable with class schedules and getting around campus. However, if you are late on a regular basis the professor may not be happy with you and you may miss important announcements or topic outlines that professors often mention at the beginning of class.)
● Sitting in the very back of the class (This sends the message that you are not there to learn or actively participate in lecture. It can also be hard to hear and there are more distractions. In addition, the people in the back of the class are typically not as motivated and it will be very hard to get help with notes you missed or find good study partners with those people.)
● Spending excessive time or trying to study in the “band lounge” or similar high-traffic loitering area. (Many alumni have warned of this hazard to the GPA!)
● Studying in your dorm room (Many people have trouble doing this, so if that is you, then find somewhere else to study away from distractions. Go to the library, computer lab, a coffeehouse, etc.)
● Studying alone all the time (While you need to be careful about too much socializing with your friends during study time, you can’t always study on your own. Even if your friends have been slacking, you will be benefiting yourself by bringing them up to speed. You learn much more by having to teach the material! Come time for the exams, you will have mastered the material better than they have if you taught it to them. Having a group discussion about the material will also help you figure out what you do and don’t know on the subject.)
● Procrastination (Everybody does it. Just keep the beast in the cage and don’t let it get out of control.)
● Beating a dead horse (If you’re not getting anywhere with your studying, take a break, switch subjects, go find help or get some sleep and come back to it provided you haven’t procrastinated to the extreme!)
● Excessive caffeine usage (Some times things can get desperate and caffeine will be very much needed to get through something. However, it is not very healthy, can be addictive, and causes a crash following your initial period of alertness. The best way to keep up and get things done is by following at least a loose schedule of work time, play time, and sleep time. Also, don’t procrastinate!)

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

Balance school work, jobs, and extracurriculars:
● Despite what your advisors or professors might tell you, grades can be very important when it comes to finding an internship, your first job, or your acceptance into grad school or other higher degree program. Grades can also affect your starting salary!
● While there are many important things to pay attention to in college, your school work and grades should be your #1 priority and not be superseded by any other activities. In addition, try to make classes in your major be a higher studying priority than electives or gen-eds. Some companies or grad schools may look at just your GPA for classes specifically in your major or required course of study.
● By choosing Purdue and the Purdue Bands program, you have chosen to continue your music career while not majoring in music. Remember that whatever major you have chosen should be your first priority. Everyone in band is in the same boat and some of them have great GPAs so it is possible to do both band and school. However, if you can’t handle both, choosing band over your other studies is like quitting your day job to pursue a hobby.
● Finally, in choosing your extracurricular activities, such as band or otherwise, try to follow these few guidelines: choose something you enjoy that will give you a change of pace from your studies; choose something that you can stick with a couple years or at least to the point where you can get some valuable leadership experience and networking; think of what experience it may provide that an employer might be interested in; and make sure it doesn’t consume your study time.

*** This guide was originally prepared by Jennifer Lutman, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT), 2001. It has been modified from its original version by Dan Jemison, 2008, in order to expand and modernize these suggestions. ***