Taking Good Lecture Notes
The first step to taking good lecture notes is to prepare mentally for the
lecture. Make sure that you not only read any notes or lecture outline in the
study guide, but also browse through the relevant chapter, or article(s) in
your course materials beforehand. A brief (10 minute) “previewing” or
browsing of a set reading to get a general overview and locate key concepts
and ideas will enable you not only to comprehend the lecture far more easily
but also to take better notes much more efficiently. During the lecture you
need to be an active listener engaging your mind with the ideas and formulating
your own questions and responses rather than just slavishly and passively copying
down word for word what is said. Trying to identify what are the three most
examinable points of a lecture will also improve your listening and concentration.
Make note of any points or difficulties to be followed up with the lecturer
afterwards. In addition, pay close attention to the structure of the lecture
and all the cues - verbal, non-verbal and visual - given by the lecturer. For
example, many lecturers provide an overview of their lecture in the introduction
explicitly introducing their theme or argument and the main points to come.
They also provide a succinct summary of the main points in their lecture conclusion.
During the concluding remarks of the lecturer, rather than packing up your
belongings and thinking of what you are going to do next as many students do,
use this time to clarify your understanding of the main points and identify
any deficiencies in your notes.
It is important that you develop a note-taking system (linear
notes, patterned notes or mind maps) that works for you. You may find
it helpful to use different coloured pens, pencils and highlighters, and
employ underlining, numbering and indenting, so you can emphasise headings,
main and secondary points and examples. You should use abbreviations,
symbols and key words, and not write out whole sentences except for key definitions,
thesis statements and quotations. Leave plenty of space so you can add to
your notes later and write on one side only of the paper. One helpful method
is to rule a 3 cm margin down the left hand side of every page, so that key
words, questions and comments can be added both during the lecture and later
during the process of revision. Another useful strategy is to make mind-maps
from your lecture notes to provide a visual representation of the ideas and
their interrelationships. In a mind map, the central theme or thesis is placed
in a central circle or box on the page and all the main and subsidiary points
and sub-points are drawn using lines, arrows and circles etc. arranged showing
the links between the key ideas.
Linear Notes, Patterned Notes or Mind Maps
Abbreviations and Symbols
There are a number of different types of abbreviations and symbols that are invaluable for efficient note-taking. Utilise some of the common standard abbreviations, many of which are Latin based such as e.g., etc., cf., c., no., and NB. Most other abbreviations are based around the beginning and/or the final letters of a word (sometimes as superscript), usually leaving out most of the vowels. Create your own abbreviations for common words and concepts in your subject areas. Many useful symbols have also been adapted from mathematics. The important principle is that the abbreviations and symbols you use are consistent and readily understandable to you. You must be able to read back your notes easily and accurately at all times. The following is a brief and selective list of some abbreviations and symbols which you may find useful:
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