How do you take notes?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>How do you take and organize notes? Do you follow a specific system? How do you organize all your classes? </p>

<p>Do you keep one binder for all your classes all the time?</p>

<p>Do you keep one notebook for all classes, then seperate your notes at home? </p>

<p>What about the actual page, do you simply write everything the teacher says as he says it down the page, or do you organize the page differently?</p>

<p>I am curious because I have never been organized with my notes and I want that to change this year, especially since I am having a heavy courseload.</p>

2

<p>btw, did you ever consider having a journal for your classes? Or on a part of your page for notes where you write your thoughts on what you just wrote, etc? I hear that if you reflect on what you just learned and think about it then you are more likely to remember it.</p>

3

<p>I have seperate binders (1-.5 inch) for all my classes. I usually take notes on lose leaf, but you could get a spiral notebook and put it inside the binder, that works. Then while taking notes, just use an outline, and HILIGHT!</p>

4

<p>I use looseleaf paper, draw a margin of about 3 inches from the left, then write my scribbled notes on the right. When I get home, I will read through them and write down doubts and/or conclusions on the left, confirm with a teacher the next day, then transfer them to nifty 3x5 cards for easy revision.</p>

<p>Oh, and yes, the original notes can be filed in different binders for different subjects. The main discussion topic and the date should be filled in the top, too, so that you aren't mixed up.</p>

5

<p>culpa that sounds like the Cornell System I read about. There is a vertical line 3 inches from the left of the paper. You write all the notes from class on the right side, then after classs you review and summarize key words on the left side. On the bottom of the page you put your conclusion, thoughts etc.</p>

6

<p>Ah, it indeed is the Cornell system with a few modifications from my part. I was told to take notes this way when I was about 13, and since it's tested and proven effective, I continued using it. :)</p>

7

<p>It depends. There are certain classes where I'm simply forced to copy everything written on the board. For those classes, I'm inclined to purchase a separate binder/notebook. For the rest of my classes, I use the first week to gauge how much notes I'll be taking, and I'll usually combine a few subjects into a single binder/notebook.</p>

<p>My notes have to be the worst notes ever (except when I'm simply copying). You can see when I start to get bored, as the handwriting gradually deteriorates.</p>

8

<p>Usually I just take notes on the back of handouts or scrap paper. I don't normally keep a binder, most of time if I scrounge around my bag I can find the notes quickly.</p>

<p>But often I copy friends' notes, because they are much better note takers than me.</p>

9

<p>I take notes with my pencil, not with a stencil!</p>

10

<p>I keep seperate binders and folders for each class. When I take notes, I only take down important things the teacher says. I know what things are important because I looked over the corresponding text in our text book. I have a notebook where I write down notes from the text book (if I feel like it). It also helps to know your teacher. I have a teacher who goes on and on things that aren't important, but you wouldn't be able to tell if you had never taken one of her tests.</p>

<p>I don't use the cornell method because its annoying. Drawing lines and questions and what not. I do, however, write a summary at the end of each 'section'.</p>

<p>For classes like Science or Spanish or Math where I feel the need to always take notes, I have a spiral notebook.</p>

<p>I make my notes colorful. If I have the supplies or time to do it, I always like to draw diagrams or cartoons in my notes. ANd write important words in my favourite colors. I decorate my title and stuff. I suppose it helps, but mostly it makes it so its not boring. </p>

<p>I don't really 'reflect' on my notes. What happens is I see something in life that has something to do with the subject and I begin to reflect on it. Like "Why does ice crack when I put water in it?". I use what I've learned in class to answer my own questions about the world. Since school is so limited, I sometimes go do research on my own. It makes me feel very smart and confident when we have to take tests. But I don't know if anyone else does this. I think I'm a little odd.</p>

<p>These are tips from a normal kid so hopefully you found them helpful. I don't study 24/7 or anything. I try to make everything as easy or enjoyable as I can.</p>

11

<p>See, all my classes require notebook - electives are only .5-1" but full year classes require 1.5" easily. Plus, there are huge books. To try and not kill my back so much, I try to leave the notebooks (binders) in my locker or at home. I normally carry one spiral notebook with the class text and a multitude of pens/highlighters. </p>

<p>For the class notes, I write the date on the margin and then the title of the lesson/notes. Then I make I/A/1/a outlines. I use a different colored pen for headliners, qoutes, info, and drawings. If I have my own comment, then another color too. I try to keep my handwriting as neat as possible because I have trouble re-reading my notes or taking them seriously if my handwriting is messy. Also, if there aren't enough colors I'll ignore the notes. I'm picky like that, haha. There are times I've rewritten notes because the teachers lecture was sloppy. Normally then at the end of the week, I hole punch the notes into the corresponding place of my binder. </p>

<p>Any worksheets/assignments I normally end up folding and placing them in the textbook. Only one clean fold. Once it's graded and handed up I place it in my binder. </p>

<p>I'm a neat freak when it comes to school.</p>

12

<p>Oh, and like burnsk8er said, I tend to go research things outside of class. It really does make you feel more confident on tests. I also like to stay a chapter ahead of the teacher since normally the lecture will start creeping into the next chapter and then I'm not left confused. Plus, I tend to know more answers that way. I don't like raising my hand, but I do enjoy it when teachers think I'm not paying attention, call on me, and still knowing the answer.</p>

13

<p>I have a binder for my Before Lunch classes and After Lunch classes since my idiot school only lets us use the locker at the beginning of the day, end of the day, and beginning of lunch period. so i change my binder halfway. the only exception is a spiral notebook for my math class and latin class, because its just a habit. the before and after lunch method works so so so well for me so i am sticking with it.</p>

14

<p>Oh yes, I too put the date in the corner. I always through away worksheets and what not. The only thing I keep are tests. I go back in my notes and put a star or something next to the things that were in the test so I know what to study for when we take final exams. This has worked well for me so far.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I don't like raising my hand, but I do enjoy it when teachers think I'm not paying attention, call on me, and still knowing the answer.

[/quote]

lol same here!</p>

<p>Also, I don't have a proper format for my notes. I take notes like this.</p>

<p>PHILOSOPHY 7/24/05
Epistemology-- question what we know
-------* perception - anti realism and reaslist theories created since plato
-------------* direct perception - what we know today
-------------* indirect perception - in themind</p>

<p>Since lectures are not super organized, I end up writing things on the side or in the margins. When its time for a really big test, I discern which things are important to know from my lecture notes and from the textbook (you know what's important by your teacher, homeworks, quizzes, etc) and put them on a new sheet. I don't need to be very detailed. Also, looking over notes every night or every other night helps a lot. You don't spend nearly as much time studying when you do this.</p>

15

<p>^^^ And this is how I take notes...</p>

<p>AP US History Section 2</p>

<h2>April 5, 2005</h2>

<p>FDR AND THE NEW DEAL</p>

<hr>

<p>REMINDER!!! ASK DAN IF I CAN COPY HIS NOTES AT THE END OF CLASS!!!!!
<em>doodle</em>
<em>doodle</em></p>

<p>:) Not a very good notetaker, mmm...</p>

16

<p>For last year, I had one of those big five subject notebooks that I carried around. I'd use that same notebook for lots of classes. I'd just go from one class to another, and continue on the next page with my notes, so at the end of the day, instead of having notes separated by subject, I'd have notes separated by day.</p>

<p>Does that make sense?</p>

<p>And when I needed to study, I'd just tear out all the info that pertained to the test and staple it all together to make a nifty study packet.</p>

17

<p>I've always used a 1" binder and keeping notes and worksheets only from the current unit in each class.</p>

<p>But I get lazy easily and so I lose notes easily by not punching holes and putting everything in my binder right away. That got me especially aggravated when it was time to study for tests and I didn't have all the material. Plus, the holes would get ripped and pages would get bent and that REALLLLLLY ticks me off.</p>

<p>So halfway through sophomore year I realized that I could use a notebook. at first I had a semi-used three subject notebook and wrote notes in no order. Like I would have two notes on history, followed by a page of french classwork, and then three pages of math homework. At times I tried keeping each class separate, but I soon found that wasn't very practical.</p>

<p>I love how everything is in chronological order now, and I know exactly what I did each and every day without having to search for missing pages.</p>

<p>My system has been awesome for me.</p>

<p>It started freshman year when I used 2 one-subject notebooks to take notes on Kaplan and Barron's SAT II Biology books. I did the same thing for my AP's this year, and eventually found out I could do the same thing in school.</p>

<p>Now I just have to decide whether I should get a five subject notebook or a few one subject notebooks for next year.</p>

<p>As for the notes themselves, I usually just write down whatever I hear or read on the board. But it varies from class to class, depending on the teacher. In math, we HAVE to copy everything exactly from the board. In science, I try to distinguish between separate topics (like the stages of cell respiration, for example). In American Studies we got outlines on the projector that we had to copy down. In french I just use the textbook to study and only use my notebook when we're doing exercises in class or for homework.</p>

<p>Question: when you guys discuss what you read in language arts/english (assuming that you do), do you take notes on your discussions? It seems like what we talk about in class really helps during tests, but usually I just sit and try to participate and understand the overall gist of what we're talking about, and I'll only write down details like people's names and such. I usually remember what happens during our discussions when taking tests and writing essays. What do you guys do? And do you take notes while reading?</p>

18

<p>Hahah yanners and I use the same system. Except I don't tear stuff out :P.</p>

19

<p>
[quote]
For last year, I had one of those big five subject notebooks that I carried around. I'd use that same notebook for lots of classes. I'd just go from one class to another, and continue on the next page with my notes, so at the end of the day, instead of having notes separated by subject, I'd have notes separated by day.

[/quote]

Works for you? That would be a HORRIBLE plan for me. Well, I don't know. I'll have to try it. But I bet I'll find it annoying rummage through past notes or to transfer things.</p>

<p>
[quote]
And when I needed to study, I'd just tear out all the info that pertained to the test and staple it all together to make a nifty study packet.

[/quote]

Good idea. I think I will incorporate that to my own study habits. I'll condense my notes like I always do, but keep the notes and tests behind that just incase.</p>

<p>
[quote]
But I get lazy easily and so I lose notes easily by not punching holes and putting everything in my binder right away. That got me especially aggravated when it was time to study for tests and I didn't have all the material. Plus, the holes would get ripped and pages would get bent and that REALLLLLLY ticks me off.

[/quote]

I hate that stuff. Maybe you should get a spiral with pockets in it or binder dividers with pockets.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Question: when you guys discuss what you read in language arts/english (assuming that you do), do you take notes on your discussions? It seems like what we talk about in class really helps during tests, but usually I just sit and try to participate and understand the overall gist of what we're talking about, and I'll only write down details like people's names and such. I usually remember what happens during our discussions when taking tests and writing essays. What do you guys do? And do you take notes while reading?

[/quote]

I only take notes if it has to do with my thesis statement (we write essays). Or if its something I didn't know.</p>

20

<p>I've actually never studied from notes...
I copy things off the board when the teacher requires us too, but besides that I pretty much just sit there and listen carefully(and it works out fine.)</p>