Are you going to Box, Chart, Outline, Map or do the Cornell?
Introduction
I have somehow managed to reach a long way into my life and career without ever having a preferred method of note taking let alone be able to justify why I take notes the way I do. This post attempts to save you from the same pain by introducing a set of research based note-taking techniques. Each technique will be described and its pros and cons explored.
Your notes and those of your colleagues, students and friends will never be the same again!
The Cornell Method
This technique is my current favourite and is a system for taking, organizing and reviewing notes devised by Prof. Walter Pauk of Cornell University in the 1950s. It involves creating and then using a specific page layout. The page is divided into four sections each with its own role (title, notes, questions and summary). Sections are completed either during the activity to capture main points and recall prompts or after the activity to deepen understanding and promote storage in the long-term memory.
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This technique is best for: Any type of content session
Method:
- Separate your page into the four sections as per the image below;
- In the large right-hand column of your paper, take notes like you normally would (text, diagrams etc) Leave spaces to separate themes or topics;
- In the left-hand column, create questions about your notes. These questions should prompt your recall and understanding of the content. (Why, How…);
- The left-hand column can also be used for, key terms, people, events, dates etc;
- When finished with each page, use the bottom section to write a 2-3 sentence summary of your notes.
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Pros
- A quicker way to take, review, and organize your notes
- Summarizes all the information in a systematic manner
- Helps in effective learning as it enables to absorb information in a shorter time
- Helps you to extract main ideas
- Cuts down time for reviewing
Cons
- Pages need to be prepared
- Requires some time for reviewing and summarising the key concepts
The Outline Method
This technique is a simple but extremely popular technique for taking notes. It allows you to organize your notes in a structured form, helping you save a lot of further reviewing and editing. This technique requires you to organise your notes in the form of an outline by using bullet points to represent different topics and their subtopics. In order to use the technique, you need to start writing main topics on the far left of the page and add related subtopic in bullet points below using indents.
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This technique is best for: Content with a clear structure (Topic 1 + Topic 2 + Sub-topic etc)
Method:
- Major topics are placed farthest to the left of the page;
- Subtopics are then added underneath using an indent to the right;
- Supporting facts or notes are placed below the subtopic, using another indent;
- The start of the next major topic signals the return to the far left and the process starts again.
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Pros
- Highlights the key points of the lecture in a logical way
- Ease of use allows the students to focus
- Reduces the reviewing and editing time
- Gives a proper and clean structure to your notes
Cons
- Not suitable for content that uses formulas and charts
- Doesn’t work well if the session does not follow a clear structure
The Mapping Method
Often used when the content is complex, the mapping technique helps organize your notes by dividing them into branches, enabling you to establish relationships between the topics and add accompanying detail. Mapping helps users visualise and organise information in a creative and visually appealing way. Colour and images can be added to further enhance the information and leverage the benefits of dual-coding.
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This technique is best for: Content with no pre-set structure (exploratory sessions or discussions).
Method:
- Start with writing the main topic at the top of the map;
- Branches are then created as new sub-topics are introduced;
- Associated notes (facts, dates etc) should be added around each sub-topic;
- Colour and arrows can be added to highlight relationships;
- Images can be added to further emphasise key points.
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Pros
- Visually appealing
- Can be used for noting down detailed information but in a concise form
- Allows easy editing of the notes
Cons
- While mapping your notes, you might run out of space on a single page
- Can be confusing if the information is wrongly placed while taking notes
The Boxing Method
With this technique all notes that are related to each other are grouped together in a box. You can divide the boxes by topics or sub-topics and it allows you to compartmentalize ideas in an organized and effective. During the review you can focus on one box thoroughly first before you move on to another. These dedicated boxes also cut down the time needed for reading and reviewing. This technique works best if the content is already split into different sections.
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This technique works best for: Content with a clear structure
Method:
- The page can be separated into boxes as a first step if the content structure is made clear (agenda items etc);
- If not, start in the top left with the first major topic;
- Add the notes for the topic below;
- Once the topic has been completed a box is drawn around the notes;
- Sub-topics can be included in the initial box, attached as a sub-box or given their own box;
- Topics, sub-topics and notes should be spaced around the page;
- Colour and arrows can be used to highlight relationships.
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Pros
- Segregates and organizes your notes in the form of boxes
- Let’s you focus on one box at a time while reading
- Help you memorize the relation between notes in a visual way
- Perfect for people that take notes on an electronic device (tablet)
Cons
- Not suitable for every content type
- Doesn’t work well if no overall topics can be assigned to a group of notes
- Requires additional time to group the notes in the end or during the session
The Charting Method
This technique is an ideal for notes that involve a lot of information in the form of facts and statistics, that need to be learned by heart. The information is organized in several columns, similar to a table or spreadsheet. Each column represents a unique category which makes it easy to identify relationships and make comparisons. The technique takes time to set up and so is not well suited to live note-taking but more suited to review and revision sessions.
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This technique is best for: Content with lots of facts and figures and where relationships and comparisons need to be made.
Method:
- Set up your paper into columns and rows;
- Add the relevant titles to each column and row;
- Insert the information in the relevant box;
- Add colour or arrows to show relationships.
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Pros
- Information is clearly structured
- Fantastic for reviewing
- Notes are easily comparable
- A lot of information can be memorized rather quickly
Cons
- Very time-consuming method
- Hard to apply this method in a session where the content isn’t clear beforehand
- Doesn’t work for information that can’t easily be categorized
