Strategies for Effective Listening & Notetaking

gleaned from all over the place and adapted by Prof. Rich Slatta
  • You may not find all of these approaches useful, but many should help you take notes more effectively. One size does not fit all, so develop a system that works for you and your learning style. In note taking, we're looking for quality not quantity. Second, good courses develop "synergy" (working together, complimenting, reinforcing) between class work and assigned readings. Use the indexes to your textbooks to get more information on people, events, and concepts presented in class. [Visit the web sites listed as "sources" to get more detail and to read other study and learning strategies.] notetaking sample page

    Intructions for HI 216Q students on notetaking and course theme presentations

  • Follow the guidelines below, using one of the recommended notetaking procedures. Two parallel columns might work well, such as in the example to the right. Put the main points gleaned from instructor and students comments and discussions in the lefthand column. From time to time, review your notes, adding interpretive comments and reflections in the right-hand column. Do you find certain themes, problems, and topics repeated throughout the semester? What issues surprised you or challenged your assumptions?
  • Toward the end of the semester, glean the most important course "take-aways" from your notes. History includes both big and little things. Focus on the big things--concepts, processes, long-term continuities, perspectives. Reflect on what makes them important and explain it. Give an example or 2 of each. Total reflective response on course themes should total about 1000 words. Turn in your notebook and reflective response. Prof. Slatta will return your notes for storage in your personal archive.

    Five Important Reasons to Take Notes

      Notetaking. . .
    1. triggers critical cognitive processes.
    2. helps you to concentrate in class and remember information.
    3. you prepare for tests and other assignments.
    4. provides valuable clues for what information, themes, processes are most important
    5. records information, perespective, and ideas not found elsewhere

    First Evaluate Your Present Listening & Notetaking Skills

    1. Am I an attentive, active listener? Not certain? Check here for active-listening tips. Dog Actively Listening
    2. Do I outline and use concise phrases rather than complete sentences?
    3. Do I use different notetaking systems for classroom activities (lectures, discussions, brainstorming sessions) and for taking notes from written materials (primary sources (documents), scholarly articles, books)?
    4. Do I use a standard format?
    5. Are my notes clear, accessible, organized?
    6. Do I capture main points, subpoints, and a few supporting examples?
    7. Do I streamline, using abbreviations and shortcuts?
      If you answered no to any of these questions, you may need to develop new note-taking skills! Below you'll find some suggestions for improvement.

    Active Listening and Notetaking Checklist

    Before Class

    1. Use notebooks that will help you organize your work.
    2. Quiz yourself over topics covered in the previous meeting.
    3. Review reading assignments and thought question(s) to bring to mind key ideas.
    4. Take action to improve physical and mental alertness—dinner? Caffeine? Sugar?
    5. Focus: Quiet your mind to prepare to listen and respond.
    6. Don't be distracted by multitasking—no computing, texting, etc. FOCUS!

    During Class

    1. Be attentive at the beginning of the class for possible review, important announcements, and summary of main points.
    2. Look and listen for the outline, agenda, or main points for the day's session.
    3. Avoid distractions. If something is amiss (room temperature, noise, equipment failure), notify the instructor.
    4. Write enough notes to be meaningful later but don't try to write down everything. Record big points and an example or 2 of each. Prioritize—you'll improve with practice.
    5. Use a consistent, logical format for notes.
    6. Use the instructor's verbal and written cues to recognize important points. (for example, "The point I have been making. . . , " "There are three arguments for this view. . . ").
    7. Listen to, participate in, and take notes on class discussions. You also learn from your fellow students.
    8. Include in notes the instructor's summary of important points in the discussion.
    9. Don't just record what you hear verbatim. Paraphrasing and reflecting on what you hear helps cement learning.

    After Class

    1. Clear up points of confusion by talking with the instructor and/or classmates. If you don't have time after class, use email or raise the issue during the next class.
    2. Use texts, online documents, and Internet searches to fill in missing points, find specific examples of themes or processes, and to clarify doubts.
    3. Edit and expand notes as soon as possible. Mark what you consider big concepts.
    4. Jot down in margins the notes of your own reflections, ideas, and questions.
    5. Do assignments while the material is still fresh.

    Periodically

    1. Review your notes. Try to see the “big picture” of change over time.
    2. Jot down brief cues for recall, then use them to quiz yourself.
    3. Be alert to developing themes.
    Prepared by Richard W. Slatta/ based on De Sellers, "How to Learn in Class," in Jeffrey Gordon, The University in Your Life (McGraw-Hill, 1996).

    Additional Classroom Notetaking Strategies

    1. Develop notetaking strategies that work with different disciplines, instructors and their varying speeds, styles, and approaches. Sometimes you can persuade an instructor to slow down or repeat something, but you usually have to take notes quickly. Think of notetaking as an active listening process and to be selective in what you write down.
    2. Come to class prepared. Before class, read the assigned material. Surf the Internet for additional background information. Spend 5-10 minutes skimming the material before class. This will help you identify the most relevant information. If you can, quickly review your notes from the last class to give you better context. From time-to-time, review the course syllabus to see what topic you are focusing on.
    3. During class, watch for cues from the instructor as to what information is most relevant. Notice how the instructor has organized the material. If the organization is not logical to you, try to organize the material with headings yourself. If there are gaps in your notes, trade notes with classmates, or fill them in right after the class while your memory is fresh. And don't hesitate to stop your instructor and ask questions.
    4. Be selective in note taking: don't write down every word the instructor says, although you should write down any information which the professor puts on the blackboard or overheads. Develop a consistent set of abbreviations, your own type of shorthand, for taking notes. Also, develop a comfortable way of identifying key concepts and ideas in textbooks.
    5. After class, review your notes within 24 hours. Studies have found that we can remember more things within that time period. Add any details, thoughts, questions, and criticisms that come to mind. Add cross-references to elsewhere.
      Above suggestions from the University of Toronto.

    What Should Be "Noted"?:

    Identify what is important when a prof. . .
    1. mentions something two or more times.
    2. emphasizes a term two or more times you should asterisk it.
    3. writes it on the board
    4. increases general body activity by waving arms or pointing the finger in the air, voice inflection changes, pace changes
    5. pounds on the lectern
    6. does something physical to emphasize what he or she is saying.

    General Guidelines for Note-Taking

    1. Concentrate on the class activities (lecture, discussion) or on the reading material.
    2. Take notes consistently.
    3. Take notes selectively. Do NOT try to write down every word. The average lecturer speaks at 125-140 wpm; a note taker writes at 25 words per minute. If you miss an important point, ask the instructor to repeat it.
    4. Translate ideas into your own words.
    5. Organize notes into some sort of logical form.
    6. Use layout techniques. Space out your notes so that you can add later detail, personal thoughts, and information and ideas from further study. You might use the lefthand page in your notebook for "tree diagrams" or "concept maps" and the righthand page for details and examples.
    7. Be brief. Write down only the major points and important information.
    8. Write legibly. Notes are useless if you cannot read them later!
    9. Don't be concerned with spelling and grammar.
    10. Note Questions and Problems. Think of note taking as noting questions and problems, not just recording facts. Also note what you don't understand
    11. Consider keeping an Ideas Notebook or Reflective Journal. Carry a special, small personal notebook with you all the time to note questions. Record thoughts about your discipline, life, the universe, and everything. Relate what you're studying to who you are. Vent! Let off steam--it's good to get things down, not to bottle them up.

    No-Nonsense Note Taking

    1. Arrive to class prepared and on time.
    2. Sit up front so you can see and hear well.
    3. Use a loose-leaf notebook so you can rearrange pages and add in hand-outs where they belong. (Also, you're less apt to lose notes when using a loose-leaf.)
    4. Always title and date your notes.
    5. Be prepared for class. Read ahead so that classroom info makes more sense.
    6. Listen closely for changes in pitch, volume and tone. Watch for changes in movement and gestures that may signal that a main point is about to be presented.
    7. Try your hardest to take notes in your own words.
    8. Use keywords. It's best not to use complete paragraph and sentence form. Not only is it unnecessary, but you don't have time.
    9. Use as many abbreviations as possible. Make up your own!
    10. Use a pen, ink lasts longer!
    11. Use various notations to point out main ideas and important details. (*stars, arrows, [brackets], boxes, etc.)
    12. Use a good deal of paper. Give yourself plenty of room!
    13. If you miss something or fall behind, leave a space and move on. Get the missing information from a classmate or the instructor later.
    14. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
    15. Review your notes daily or as often as possible. This will help you learn the information, and it saves time on studying.

    Basic Rules in Taking Notes

    1. Try to ignore distracting mannerisms of the instructor—keep focused on the information.
    2. Some are so poor you count the number of times they say 'uh'.
    3. Some are so captivating that you forget to take notes.
    4. Avoid trying to make eye contact with your classmates or trying to pick up a date.
    5. If a prof speaks from lecture outlines, take your notes in an outline format. Later add in relevant info from texts, web sites, etc.
    6. Paraphrase. You think more actively by putting the ideas into your own words.

    Taking Notes on Readings

  • E-How to Take Reading Notes
    1. Use visual cues to recognize main points and concepts. For a textbook, skim the table of contents, then the chapter abstract (summary) and subheadings. Look for the flow of ideas; the logic of the material.
    2. Have a purpose in mind for your reading and notetaking. Are you preparing for a multiple choice quiz? Concentrate on who, what, when, where, why. Are you writing a research paper? Scan the text for key words and concepts--don't try to read everything. Write down only essentials.
    3. Be careful to distinguish "exact quotations" from your paraphrases in your notes. When quoting, be certain to include author, title, and page information so that you can cite the document properly.
    4. Standardize. Use 3x5 cards or another standard format and only write on one side. Attach a subject line to the top of each card.
    5. Stay focused. Keep your research question firmly in mind. Don't take notes just to take notes. Ponder whether the information will likely end up in your final paper.
    6. Keep an accurate, up-to-date working bibliography. Don't trust your memory-- all red books look alike after a few weeks.
    7. Prefer notetaking to photocopying. Unless you are certain that an entire document or article will remain relevant, don't photocopy. You're just delaying the inevitable--a close, critical reading of the information.
    8. Read critically and include questions and concerns in your notes. Don't accept everything at face value.
    9. Be careful, especially when quoting directly. Accidentally omitting the word "not" can make a huge difference. 1788 and 1888 are both excellent dates, but hardly interchangeable. Small stuff matters, so get it right!

    Still need more help?

  • More good ideas from Sweet Briar College Academic Resource Center
  • Class Notetaking, Listening, Participation