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There are a variety of different ways and styles of note-taking. The best thing is to find the style that works best for you. Also, it is best practice to write (or type) your notes at least twice. The first time is active note-taking during class. The second is after the reading and class, when you review and write your notes and summarize the content in your own words.
Learn more in the section below. Each method can link out for additional information.
These methods are some of the best options when taking notes in class. It can also be helpful to take in-class notes using one method and then rewrite your notes after class using another method.
Select a method below to jump to its section:
Advantages: The Cornell Note-Taking Method helps students organize information clearly and encourages active
engagement with material. Dividing the page into sections for cues, notes, and summaries promotes better comprehension, retention, and review. The structure helps learners identify key ideas, develop effective study questions, and create quick-reference summaries that make exam preparation more efficient.
Disadvantages: Despite its strengths, the Cornell Method can be time-consuming and rigid. It requires consistent effort to review and summarize notes after class, which some students may find difficult to maintain. The format isn’t ideal for every learning style or subject, especially those that rely on visual, spatial, or step-by-step problem solving. Without regular practice and review, the method loses much of its effectiveness.
Advantages: The Outline Method helps students organize information in a clear, hierarchical structure that shows how ideas connect. By using main topics, subtopics, and supporting details in an indented format, it makes relationships between concepts easy to see at a glance. This method is especially useful for lectures or readings that follow a logical order, helping learners quickly identify key points and review material efficiently for tests or writing assignments.
Disadvantages: The Outline Method can be difficult to use in fast-paced or unstructured settings where information doesn’t follow a clear sequence. It requires strong listening and organizational skills to determine which ideas are main points versus details in real time. Students may miss information while deciding where to place each point, and subjects that rely on visuals, examples, or problem-solving may not fit neatly into the outline format.
Advantages: The Charting Method helps students organize information by dividing notes into columns and rows, creating a clear visual layout. It’s great for subjects that involve comparing facts, timelines, or characteristics—like history, nursing, or business. The structure makes it easy to spot patterns and differences, and reviewing later can be quicker since key details are grouped together instead of buried in paragraphs of notes.
Disadvantages: The Charting Method works best when the information fits neatly into categories, so it can be hard to use during lectures that move quickly or don’t follow a clear pattern. It takes some planning ahead to decide what each column should represent, which can be tricky for new topics. If the layout doesn’t match the lecture’s flow, students might miss information or spend more time trying to fix their chart than focusing on the content.
Advantages: The Mapping Method is a visual way to take notes that shows how ideas connect to one another. It starts with a main topic in the center and branches out to related points, almost like a web or concept map. This style helps students see the “big picture” and how details fit together, which can make studying and remembering information easier. It’s especially helpful for visual learners and for subjects where understanding relationships between ideas—rather than memorizing facts—is important.
Disadvantages: The Mapping Method can be harder to use in fast-moving lectures or classes that present information in a list or sequence. It also requires a bit of practice to set up effectively, and students who prefer structure might find it too open-ended or messy at first. Because it focuses on visual connections, it may not capture all the details or definitions needed for later review unless students add those afterward.
Advantages: The Sentence Method is one of the simplest ways to take notes. Students write down each new idea, fact, or concept on its own line, forming a list of short sentences. This method works well for fast-paced lectures because it allows you to capture a lot of information quickly without worrying about structure. It’s also easy to review later, since each sentence can serve as a prompt for recalling more details or organizing information into clearer sections after class.
Disadvantages: Because the Sentence Method focuses on writing everything down, the notes can become long and hard to organize. Important ideas might get buried among smaller details, making it harder to study from later. Without taking time after class to group or highlight main points, the notes may look cluttered and overwhelming. This method can also make it easier to copy information passively instead of actively thinking about what’s most important.
The videos below have additional information on note-taking.
Prefer a book resource? Chapter 11 of this OER ebook has additional information on Note-Taking. Click here to access the chapter.
How you take your notes may also be something to consider; the embedded links go to research papers. Many students prefer to take notes using their laptops or a note-taking app while in class. Note-taking is complex, and you have to find the system that works best for you, while continuing to refine that system. Some research suggests that the slower pace of writing by hand forces your brain to summarize and process the information more deeply (encoding benefit). At the very least, taking notes with pen and paper will help prevent digital distractions.