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00:00Good morning, class.
00:14First things first, there's going to be a test tomorrow on what you learned today.
00:18So, you know, fair warning.
00:30Without further ado, today's topic.
00:34Dear Professor Tim, I'm a good listener and I pay attention in class.
00:39Why do I need to take notes?
00:41From Jeffrey.
00:43Excellent question, Jeffrey.
00:45I'll put it as simply as possible.
00:47Writing stuff down is not the same as learning.
00:50You can't truly learn something if you only hear it once.
00:54Writing stuff down helps you focus as you listen and gives you something to review later.
00:59Now, you may ask, why not just record everything?
01:07Because recording gives you an excuse to zone out.
01:12Maybe you could just listen again later.
01:14You may not pay attention the first time around.
01:18Just a second.
01:20You don't want to write down every word you hear.
01:23For one thing, most people can't write fast enough to keep up with a speaker.
01:27See how many words you can get down in the time it takes me to say this sentence.
01:32The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
01:36If you're focused on transcribing or copying word for word, you can't think about what you're writing.
01:42Note-taking should help you break down what you hear.
01:46Since you only have time to write down the highlights, you need to paraphrase or summarize the main points.
01:52Ask yourself, what details are the most relevant and useful?
01:56What are the main ideas, key points, and vital connections?
02:00In short, what's the gist of the material?
02:05Chances are, your teachers will let you know what's important.
02:08So listen to what they say.
02:10They might introduce noteworthy information with phrases like,
02:13a major cause of the Great Depression was, or three consequences of the Civil War were.
02:19These clues basically scream, this is important.
02:23So be sure to listen for them.
02:25And keep your eyes peeled for anything the teacher writes on the board.
02:29If I write it down, it's a good bet you should too.
02:33That includes dates, names, definitions, theories, and arguments for and against important issues.
02:47Can you please read back what you wrote?
02:55That's what I was afraid of.
02:57Sloppy handwriting is a recipe for confusion when you review your notes.
03:01So write clearly.
03:03If you're using a notebook, start a new page for every class, and put the date at the top.
03:08Be sure to leave some blank space in case you need to go back and add new information.
03:14And if you make a mistake, don't waste time blacking it out or erasing it.
03:18Just draw a single line through it.
03:20It's faster, and who knows, you might need that info after all.
03:24Using abbreviations and other forms of shorthand will save you time too.
03:29Just imagine that you're... texting.
03:37As long as you can decode your notes later, you should shorten wherever you can.
03:42Well, the way you arrange your notes is up to you.
03:46Some people use an outline to organize ideas by numbers, letters, and bullet points.
03:52Others prefer graphic organizers, like word webs and fish bones.
03:57Then there's the Cornell system, which divides the page into three sections.
04:01You take your notes in the main section during class.
04:04Afterwards, you fill in this section with key terms, dates, and other study prompts.
04:09Finally, write a short summary in your own words here.
04:13Now you've solidified the information in your head and created a great study tool along the way.
04:20The point is, find a format you're comfortable with and stick to it.
04:24Your notes should reflect the way you think.
04:27Some people use colors to represent different concepts.
04:30And drawings can help you visualize complex structures.
04:34All that matters is that your notes help you learn effectively.
04:41Well, to each his own, I guess.