Lamine Hajar

FAS 1203

Professor Al Hassani Aziz     

04/03/2014    

                                                Reflection 2: Note taking

For many years, I’ve never had to take any notes during classes, our teachers used to give us  all the information we needed at the end of the course, but once I came to this university I realized how much it is important to take notes because it helps recording my understanding of the ideas and concepts discussed in class for future uses such as essay writing, preparing to read, and studying for examinations and tests .However taking notes can be complicated especially if you are not used to it because you get confused between writing and listening to your professor .

I personally had this problem in the past and I couldn’t do both things at the same time; so at the end of the lecture, I miss a lot of information that was given by the professor .After reviewing this unit, I’m now able to take notes and organize them.

The most important thing in taking notes is to make them simple and constant for you .This note taking strategy is very helpful and useful .The first thing I did is to listen and prepare for the lecture topic and I also listened to the main ideas instead of writing everything down, I started paying attention to the summery and to the most important information, then I wrote it down in my own words  .The next thing is that I  learnt to talk to my professors and my classmates if I had any ideas. By the end of every lecture I summarized and reviewed my notes then I identified any problems I needed to ask about .I mostly focus on the important terms and new concepts of the topic .

After following these steps I moved to use different methods of taking note in order to reach the best methods for me .I started with the Cornell method dividing my papers on three parts, I used the left cone for the main idea and the right cone for the details and a section at the bottom for writing a summary after the lecture .Well, this method didn’t fit me because it took me a lot of time to draw and to classify; however, it’s my professor favorite method. Next, I tried the outline method and it’s similar to the way that many lectures are organized and this one is very useful at showing major points and supporting ideas but it still takes me a lot of time .The last but not least way of method is T-notes which is useful in some classes such math and accounting, etc. T-notes involves dividing a sheet of paper, and writing the formulas and terms in the left side, while writing the definitions and evidence on the right side .This one have worked the best for me since I find it to be very easy and useful.

Recording my notes was just the first step, it’s also important to reduce them and summarize them in one’s own words .I also learnt that reciting the information out loud can help me retain information .Finally, I learnt to review my notes the same day of class then summarize these notes for exam time .Thanks to the workshop on note taking skills I’m getting better in my studies than ever before.