Midterm Prep: Tips For Better Note Taking

Classes are further along and, sorry to say, the workload is getting heavier. Your folders are probably jammed with miscellaneous papers and your notes are anything but coherent. Don?t worry, we?re here to help! With helpful tips and advice from our friends at Her Campus National, you?ll soon be coasting through lectures with impeccable organization (and studying will be a breeze!).

1.  Use different colored pens and highlighters.
You?ve been eyeing those colorful pens at The SkidShop and now you can finally put them to good use! When taking notes in class, choose one color for the main ideas, one color for the supporting information, and one color for the vocab words. Going back to find information in your notes will be so easy (Careful not to let the color choice of your notes distract you from the actual lecture)! This color-coding method can also apply to class readings. We like using a highlighter for the main ideas and themes of a text and then underlining any other important details in pen. Use a different colored highlighter for quotes or key words.
 
2.  Caption each paragraph with a main idea.
Even with color-coding, it still may be time consuming to go back and find specific information in your reading. Speed up the process by writing main ideas and captions in the margins. Don?t worry about summarizing the paragraph, one or two words is all you need to catch your eye! For case studies or short stories, take it even further by jotting down the Who, What, and When at the top of the page.
 
3. Indent, indent, indent!
It?s easy for a page of notes to end up looking like a solid block of text. When study time rolls around (eek!), this is extremely intimidating to look at. Cut the dense notes with generous spacing between new ideas and lots of indentations. After writing a main idea or heading, indent before the supporting information. Then, indent again with examples or additional facts. This stair-like setup will break up your page, making it much easier to go back and find information.

4. Type up your class notes.
We know that rereading your notes is the last thing you want to do after class, but this can seriously help!
 
“Not only does this expose me to the information twice, but it also helps to clarify important points that would have otherwise been lost in translation due to messy, hasty handwriting”?” – Lindsay Shoemake ‘13, Georgia College & State University
 
Make a folder for each course and even a sub-folder for each class topic and type away! You can even play around with bolds, italics, and fonts to make your notes easily legible and, of course, colorful and fun!
 
And if that wasn’t enough motivation for you, you can even sell your notes online! Let?s be real, we could all use some additional cash flow. Websites like Flash Notes let you create a profile and post your course notes to classmates and other college students. You can name your own price and keep 80% of the sale! What?s not to love?
 
So now that you’re an expert note taker, grab your notebook, grab your (multicolored) pens and head to class!
 
Have any tips we missed? Tell us in the comments!