Note-taking Handouts

Wide-Margin Notes

The best-kept secret in college success is the wide-margin system of note-taking. This system will keep you organized--and double as a review tool when the time comes to study for exams.

Using Graphic Organizers

If you're a visual learner, this handout will give your visual brain a number of graphic organizer models that you can use to organize your learning material.

Note-taking Links

Follow these links for resources on note-taking. Each of these sites offers learning resources appropriate for college-level learners. Please note that neither SPU nor the Center for Learning is responsible for contents on the following pages.

• "Note-Taking Skills"

  Evaluate your present note-taking system and use these quick tips for becoming more effective.

  http://www.arc.sbc.edu/notes.html

• "Note-Taking Systems"

Five different systems to try for taking notes… see what works best for YOU.

http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/notetaking.systems.html

• "Cornell Notes"

A well-organized description of the Cornell Note-taking system complete with PICTURES!

http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes.html

• "The Cornell Note-Taking System"

Another brief description to help you understand the Cornell Note-Taking system.

http://ccc.byu.edu/learning/note-tak.php

• "Take Notes Faster"

ISWAM: A mnemonic designed to help you take notes when the professor talks fast.

http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/iswam.html

• "Take Notes from Reading Material"

SCROL: A mnemonic designed to help you take notes from an assigned reading.

http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/scrol.html

• "Taking notes from a taped lecture"

PP 123: A mnemonic designed to help with note-taking from a taped lecture.

http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/pp123.html

• "Don't get distracted while taking notes in class"

TASSEL: A mnemonic to help you avoid distraction while taking notes in class.

http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/tassel.html

• "Note-Taking"

Nine concise points to help with note-taking during class and six to help with out-of-class work.

http://success.oregonstate.edu/note-taking.html