CORNELL NOTES

What are Cornel Notes?  Where did this style of note-taking originate? 

Cornell note-taking system is a widely-used notetaking system devised in the 1950s by Walter Pauk, an education professor at Cornell University.

How does one take Cornel Notes?

To create such notes, a student divides the paper into two columns; usually the right column, the note-taking column, is twice the size of the left column, the key word column. While the student listens to a teacher's lecture or reads the assigned textbook, the student takes notes in the note-taking column. After lecture, questions or key words are written in the key word column, based on material in the note-taking column. The student also writes a short summary on the last four lines. 

During class, take down information in the six-inch area. When the instructor moves to a new point, skip a few lines. After class, complete phrases and sentences as much as possible. For every significant bit of information, write a cue in the left margin. To review, cover your notes with a card, leaving the cues exposed. Say the cue out loud, then say as much as you can of the material underneath the card. When you have said as much as you can, move the card and see if what you said matches what is written. If you can say it, you know it.

What are the advantages of taking Cornel Notes?

• Organized and systematic for recording and reviewing notes
• Easy format for pulling out major concept and ideas
• Simple and efficient
• Saves time and effort
• "Do-it-right-in-the-first-place" system

Click here for example implementations and printable Cornel Note forms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Notes

Return to Lessons Page