Cornell notes

Table of Contents

1. Cornell notes

1.1. Resources

1.1.1. https://web.archive.org/web/20210413184539/https://shp.utmb.edu/asa/Forms/cornell%20note%20taking%20system.pdf

1.1.1.1. Summary
  1. Record
    1. left “clues” column ~1/3, right “record” column ~2/3, only one side
    2. Summarize and restate in your own words in the right column. Record definitions literally
    3. Organize topics with headings or by leaving a space between topics. Number, indent, or bullet key ideas presented with each topic.
    4. brief sentences, abbreviations, and symbols ⇒ faster notetaking speed
    5. write to your future self
    6. Edit as soon as possible.
  2. Question
    Write questions focused on specific definitions and “big ideas” on the left column
  3. Recite
    1. explain the information in the notes out loud (not silently), in your own words. The information should be triggered by the questions in the left column
      Recitation:
      1. Improves learning
      2. Ensures understanding
      3. Facilitates retrieval
    2. Step in recitation:
      1. Cover up the notes in the “record” column or fold notes back along line separating the “clues” from the “record” column.
      2. Use recall clues to stimulate your memory and recite the relevant information.
      3. Check your answers. This gives you immediate feedback on how well you have learned and are able to retrieve the information. If you have difficulty recalling the information or if your answers are incorrect, learn and recite over again.
  4. Reflect
    1. look for connections with your own experiences and observations and with other facts and ideas discussed elsewhere
    2. ask questions like: How do the main ideas fit together into a “bigger picture”? How do these ideas fit in with what I have already learned? What do I agree with? What do I disagree with? Which ideas are clear? Which are confusing? What new questions do I have?
  5. Recapitulate (summarize)
    1. Write a summary of the main ideas using your own words
    2. Use a section at the bottom of each sheet of notes to write your summary or write a summary of all the notes on the last page of your note sheets.
  6. Review
    1. A good guideline is to review nightly or several times during the week by reciting, not rereading.
    2. Frequent, brief review sessions aid more complete comprehension of the material than cramming the night before a quiz/test
1.1.1.2. Original
  1. Step One: Record
    1. Prepare your notepaper by creating a two-column table. The left-hand column should take up about 1/3 of your writing space, leaving the remaining 2/3 for recording information. Use only one side of each sheet of notepaper.
    2. Summarize and paraphrase (restate in your own words) the facts and ideas presented. Record definitions as stated or written.
    3. Indicate changes in topic with headings or by leaving a space between topics
    4. Number, indent, or bullet key ideas presented with each topic.
    5. Aim for telegraphic (brief) sentences, abbreviations, and symbols. This will increase your note taking speed.
    6. Write legibly so your notes make sense to you later.
    7. Edit as soon as possible.
  2. Step two: Question
    Formulate test questions based on the information recorded in notes and write them in the recall clues column on the left-hand side of notes. Questions should focus on specific definitions and “big ideas”
  3. Step three: Recite
    1. Recitation means explaining the information in the notes out loud, in your own words. The information should be triggered by the test questions in the recall clues column.
    2. Purposes of recitation:
      1. Improves learning: Psychologists who study how the memory works say that reciting aloud is a powerful technique for anchoring information in the long-term memory.
      2. Ensures understanding: Reciting requires you to think about and understand the information you are committing to memory.
      3. Facilitates retrieval: Understanding information improves your ability to retrieve it from your memory. Studies show that students who recite tend to do better on tests than students who just read their notes silently to themselves.
    3. Step in recitation:
      1. Cover up the notes in the “record” column or fold notes back along line separating the “clues” from the “record” column.
      2. Use recall clues to stimulate your memory and recite the relevant information.
      3. Check your answers. This gives you immediate feedback on how well you have learned and are able to retrieve the information. If you have difficulty recalling the information or if your answers are incorrect, learn and recite over again.
  4. Step Four: Reflect
    1. Reflection has to do with thinking about the information you are learning.
    2. One way to reflect is to look for connections with your own experiences and observations and with other facts and ideas discussed in class.
    3. Another way to reflect is to ask questions like: How do the main ideas fit together into a “bigger picture”? How do these ideas fit in with what I have already learned? What do I agree with? What do I disagree with? Which ideas are clear? Which are confusing? What new questions do I have?
  5. Step Five: Recapitulate (summarize)
    1. Write a summary of the main ideas using your own words. This is the best test of how well you understand the information.
    2. Use a section at the bottom of each sheet of notes to write your summary or write a summary of all the notes on the last page of your note sheets.
  6. Step Six: Review
    1. A good guideline is to review nightly or several times during the week by reciting, not rereading.
    2. Frequent, brief review sessions aid more complete comprehension of the material than cramming the night before a quiz/test

1.2. It seems better suited for a master class rather than meetings

You would use it when you want to apply the concepts you learned in a paper/conference etc

Author: Julian Lopez Carballal

Created: 2024-10-21 Mon 10:24