The Best Note-Taking Methods

By
Melike Sommer
Published on
November 14, 2022

Taking notes is one of the most important things to do when it comes to attending school in order to process all the information you're learning. But after a while, many students get lazy and don't care as much about note-taking. What many students fail to recognize is that knowing how to take notes correctly can bring you better grades than ever before.

If you feel like your note-taking skills aren't benefiting you, here are the best note-taking methods for students.

The Mind Mapping Method

Mind mapping is a working method that is flexible, creative, and allegedly,  brain-friendly. It was set up in the 1970’s by Tony Buzan based on a hypothesis of brain physiology.

The structure of notes is a one-on-one “Map” view, which is intended to make it easy to identify the central theme. It is a great way to break down complex topics into smaller, more manageable parts. It is also a very visual and creative way to take notes. The best way to use mind mapping is to start with a topic and then branch off in different directions. 

The Cornell Method

This method is designed to help students remember information more effectively. The Cornell Method was developed by Walter Pauk, who believed that there are two types of learners: visual and auditory. Visual learners need to see the information to retain it, while auditory learners need to hear the information. This method appreciates both types of learners.

The Cornell Method is a note-taking technique that involves dividing your paper into three columns: one for the passage, one for questions, and one for answers. This method will help you make connections between the passage and topics you know well. It is structured as follows: One block at the highest of the page, Two columns, and one block at the lowest of the page. The notes that you took in class go into the main note-taking column.

For comments and questions, there’s a smaller column on the left side. After the lecture, you can summarize the main ideas of the page in the section at the bottom. 

The Charting Method 

The Charting Method is a note-taking technique that involves creating charts with specific keywords or phrases from your topic. It can help you organize information in an orderly fashion and see relationships between different concepts. You can use this method by dividing your page into separate columns. Then you give each column a heading or a label. You should think about how you want to organize your notes to identify the most useful headings. Then enter notes under the relevant column.

The Sentence Method

The Sentence Method has been around for centuries. It is the process of writing a piece of content by filling in the blanks in a sentence. The sentence is usually one that you would like to read about on the topic. It is an effective strategy for writing the first draft, and it can be used to generate ideas for essays, blog posts, or any type of content. This method can be used to come up with compelling titles and subtitles as well as get you started on a post when you have writer’s block. The method is simple: The writer chooses one sentence from the text and then expands on it, adding new sentences as needed.

So, which method is best? The answer is that there's no best way to take notes. You may find that one method works well for you, while the other doesn't. If you don't know what works best for you yet, try out a few different ones until you find one that suits your needs!

Find more free resources here!

BLOG POSTS

see more

Blog Articles

GET THE LATEST FROM SIMPLE STUDIES + FRANK ADVICE

Get updates on resources, scholarships, & more 👇

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.