Trouble Studying  

The Cornell system for taking notes is designed to save time but yet be highly efficient. There is no rewriting or retyping of your notes. It is a "DO IT RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE" system.

1. First Step - PREPARATION

Use a large, loose-leaf notebook. Use only one side of the paper. (you then can lay your notes out to see the direction of a lecture.) Draw a vertical line 2 1/2 inches from the left side of you paper. This is the recall column. Notes will be taken to the right of this margin. Later key words or phrases can be written in the recall column.

2. Second Step - DURING THE LECTURE

Record notes in paragraph form. Capture general ideas, not illustrative ideas. Skip lines to show end of ideas or thoughts. Using abbreviations will save time. Write legibly.

3. Third Step - AFTER THE LECTURE

Read through your notes and make it more legible if necessary. Now use the column. Jot down ideas or key words which give you the idea of the lecture. (REDUCE) You will have to reread the lecturer's ideas and reflect in your own words. Cover up the right-hand portion of your notes and recite the general ideas and concepts of the lecture. Overlap your notes showing only recall columns and you have your review.

SQ3R - A READING/STUDY SYSTEM

SURVEY - gather the information necessary to focus and formulate goals.

1. Read the title - help your mind prepare to receive the subject at hand.
2. Read the introduction and/or summary - orient yourself to how this chapter fits the author's purposes, and focus on the author's statement of most important points.
3. Notice each boldface heading and subheading - organize your mind before you begin to read - build a structure for the thoughts and details to come.
4. Notice any graphics - charts, maps, diagrams, etc. are there to make a point - don't miss them.
5. Notice reading aids - italics, bold face print, chapter objective, end-of -chapter questions are all included to help you sort, comprehend, and remember.

QUESTION - help your mind engage and concentrate.

One section at a time, turn the boldface heading into as many questions as you think will be answered in that section. The better the questions, the better your comprehension is likely to be. You may always add further questions as you proceed. When your mind is actively searching for answers to questions it becomes engaged in learning.

READ - fill in the information around the mental structures you've been building.

Read each section (one at a time) with your questions in mind. Look for the answers, and notice if you need to make up some new questions.

RECITE - retrain your mind to concentrate and learn as it reads.

After each section - stop, recall your questions, and see if you can answer them from memory. If not, look back again (as often as necessary) but don't go on to the next section until you can recite.

REVIEW - refine your mental organization and begin building memory.

Once you've finished the entire chapter using the preceding steps, go back over all the questions from all the headings. See if you can still answer them. If not, look back and refresh your memory, then continue.

REMEMBER: THE INFORMATION YOU GAIN FROM READING IS IMPORTANT. IF YOU JUST "DO IT" WITHOUT LEARNING SOMETHING. YOU'RE WASTING A LOT OF TIME. TRAIN YOUR MIND TO LEARN!!!

Note Taking Tips

As you get involved with the complexities of notetaking, you may tend to forget the simple things that can make life a lot easier.  These tips are little hints that we all know but forget sometimes.  They can be summarized by four directives:

1.      BE ALERT – so you are aware of and prepared for the lecture content and situation.

2.      BE ORDERLY – so you can process the lecture now and for review later.

3.      BE SYTEMATIC – so you can establish a habit pattern and won’t miss anything important.

4.      BE UP TO DATE – so that your well designed notetaking system gets done.

 Below is a list of tips which may help you be alert, orderly, systematic, and up to date.

·        Attend lectures regularly.  Once you miss one, it will be easier to miss more.

·        Use a standard 8 ½” x 11” loose leaf notebook, for continued organization and review.  Spiral notebooks do not allow reshuffling your notes for review.

·        Keep the notes for one class separate from other classes.  Best yet, keep each class in a separate binder.

·        Write on one side of the paper for easier organization.  It’s possible to overlook material written on the back of a sheet.

·        Leave your notebook at home and carry with you only enough pages to keep track of the lecture.  This way you won’t lose your entire set of notes should you misplace them.

·        Carry extra pens and pencils for editing and unforeseen obstacles (UFO’s).

·        Don’t doodle because it distracts.  Keep eye contact when not writing.

·        Make notes as complete as needed and as clear as possible so they can be used meaningfully later.

·        Leave blanks where information is missed or misunderstood.  Fill in gaps after lecture or as soon after as possible when the aid of the instructor or classmates.

·        Develop your own system of enumerating and indenting.

·        Use symbols such as asterisks for emphasis.

·        Mark or separate assignments given in class in a space apart from the lecture notes.

·        Separate your thoughts from those of the lecture; record your own items after the lecture.

·        Be alert for cues, postural, visual, etc.

·        Record examples where helpful.

·        Listen especially at the end of the lecture.  If the instructor has not paced his lecture well, he may cram half of the content into the last 5 – 10 minutes.

·        Get into the five-minute technique and review your notes right after class.  At this time you can change, organize, add, delete, summarize, or clarify misunderstands.

·        Recopying by itself is a debatable advantage by the five-minute technique is not.

·        Have study sessions once or twice a week to learn omissions, clear up misinterpretations and get other students opinions about interpretations.

Bibliography:

Deese, James and Ellin K. Deese. How To Study (3^rd ed). New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1979.

Johnson, Sue. The 4 T’s: Teacher/You, Text, Talk, Test - A Systematic Approach To Learning Success. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Pauk, Walter. How To Study In College (2^nd ed). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974.

Raygor, Alton L. and David Wark. Systems For Study. New York: McGraw- Hill, Inc, 1970.

 http://www.howtostudy.org/ -- How To Study.org

http://www.adprima.com/studyout.htm - Effective Study Skills   

http://www.how-to-study.com/ - How To Study.com

http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html - VA Tech Study Skills Self-Help Info

http://www.sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl.html - Study Skills Library

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