<p>Pen and paper. My notes are usually way too detailed so I always make sure I have plenty of paper. I usually write notes in outline form.</p>
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<p>I do the same, but last year this proved useful because my professor would ask the most random questions from his Powerpoints. I did great on the tests because I wrote every single word down and thus could recognize it on the test. I’m terrible at taking notes from textbooks though, my notes are never too effective and it takes me way too long to read chapters.</p>
<p>For me, I write everything out. Writing it helps me remember, and if necessary I can type it up later. </p>
<p>For the binder/notebook question, I use 3 ring binders for classes that I know I’m going to have a ton of notes in and when I’m going to want to keep those notes (usually my science classes). My humanities classes tend to be neglected in the note-taking department and I just use a folder/spiral notebook for those. </p>
<p>I’d recommend trying out a few different organization styles and seeing what works best for you.</p>
<p>I write about basically anything and everything the teaher says in fear that I won’t be able to remember the lecture clearly. I have to have at least two different colored pens to write my notes and highlighters on hand.</p>
<p>For this year I plan to have one single 3 ring binder with inside a folder for each class I have (4), a planner/calendar of some sort to jot down any important deadlines and events, and my schedule and syllabi in plastic sleeves. This binder serves as the center of all my classes.</p>
<p>Then for actual notes I just have spiral notebooks outside of the binder colored correspondingly to my folders.</p>
<p>I used to rely on 3-ring binders, looseleaf, and hole-punching everything, but I always got frustrated when the binder would get filled up and pages started to rip their way out! Plus, my sophomore year of college, I began to realize that some really big handouts just can’t be hole punched.</p>
<p>So in the summer class I am taking, I have been trying a different method: notebooks that come with folders inside. They might be a little more expensive, but they are worth every penny. (I stocked up on them when I saw them on sale.) So far (keep fingers crossed) it’s working much better for me than the 3-ring method did!</p>
<p>Also, some of my favorite pens (Pilot V5/V7/VBall) bled too easily through looseleaf. In contrast, the “premium” notebook that I am using (Mead Z-Wipes) works well with any type of ink.</p>
That’s why you get those reinforcement things to put around the holes on the loose leaf paper and that makes them stronger so they don’t rip out. Or, you can get the loose leaf paper that already has a reinforcement thing along the whole side where the holes are.</p>
as opposed to line paper for certain topics