Cornell Notes
Cornell Notes
Why take notes? Research indicates that unrehearsed information is forgotten in as little as 20 seconds and almost ½ of what is learned is forgotten within an hour. Taking notes using the Cornell method is a great way to capture the most important information while reading texts or listening to a lecture. Furthermore, it helps you retain more of what you learn. Cornell notes were originally developed by Walter Pauk at Cornell University in the 1950’s in response to his student failing his classes. By changing the way students were required to take notes in his class, Pauk was able to help his students improve their grades. Cornell notes include a section for questions, notes, and a summary.
Setting Up Your Paper
Heading
Name
Course name
Period
Date
Notes
In the notes section, consider writing the following:
Questions
In the questions section, consider writing the following within 24 hours of taking notes from a text or lecture:
In the summary section, consider:
Why take notes? Research indicates that unrehearsed information is forgotten in as little as 20 seconds and almost ½ of what is learned is forgotten within an hour. Taking notes using the Cornell method is a great way to capture the most important information while reading texts or listening to a lecture. Furthermore, it helps you retain more of what you learn. Cornell notes were originally developed by Walter Pauk at Cornell University in the 1950’s in response to his student failing his classes. By changing the way students were required to take notes in his class, Pauk was able to help his students improve their grades. Cornell notes include a section for questions, notes, and a summary.
Setting Up Your Paper
Heading
Name
Course name
Period
Date
Notes
In the notes section, consider writing the following:
- Answers to the questions written in the “question” section
- Vocabulary words and definitions
- Main ideas and details from reading
- Main ideas and details from lectures
- New concepts
- Facts
- Bolded or italicized information
- Tables, diagrams, charts, illustrations, or pictures to clarify reading or lecture material
- While reading, take notes one section at a time.
- Look away from the text and take notes from memory.
- Use your own words
- Use as few words as possible
- Leave at least three blank lines in your notes between main ideas so that you can add details later if necessary
- Use symbols, graphic organizers, or sketches
Questions
In the questions section, consider writing the following within 24 hours of taking notes from a text or lecture:
- Boldfaced headings in textbooks or main ideas from class lectures turned into questions
- Main ideas from class lectures turned into questions
- Vocabulary words turned into questions
- New concepts turned into questions
- Facts turned into questions
In the summary section, consider:
- Turning the essential question of your notes into a topic sentence for your summary.
- Turning each main idea written in the notes section into complete sentences in the summary section. Taking time to do this gives you one more opportunity to interact with your notes which will help you increase your retention of the content. Do this within 24 hours of taking the notes.
- Fold your notes so that the questions are on one side and the main ideas and details are on the flip side.
- Read the question. Try to answer the question without looking at the notes section. Once you answer the question, flip to the notes section to check your answer. If you answered completely, move to the next question. If you did not answer the question completely, mark the question so that you know you need to spend more time on it.
- Repeat the step above for each question.
- Short, fast, and frequent review of notes is better than studying them once for a long period of time.
| cornell_notes.ppt |
| cornell_notes.doc |
Cornell Notes Template
| cornell_notes_template.doc |
| cornell_notes_template_for_typing.doc |
| cornell_notes_template_math_notes.doc |
Cornell Notes Scoring Guide
| cornell_note_scoring_guide.doc |
Learning Logs
Occasionally in class, writing Cornell notes may not be practical. You may have a worksheet, a discussion, presentations, etc. that don't lend themselves to note taking. On these rare occasions, you may write a learning log. A learning log is a 5-8 sentence summary of what you learned that day in class. Each learning log counts as one page of notes. You may use the template below if you choose, but it is not necessary. Learning logs, like Cornell notes, may simply be written on college-ruled paper.
Learning Log Template
| learning_log_template.doc |
