Taking notes while reading is an effective study tool that improves concentration and retention. There are several note taking techniques, including writing marginal notes, outlining key points, or using visual mapping methods like hierarchies, webs, lines, or charts. The Cornell note taking system divides a page into sections for notes, key words, and summaries. Mapping creates a visual representation of material and requires reorganizing information in your own words.

1. How to get the most out of your reading

2. Taking Text Notes = Effective Study Tool
 Taking notes as you read is another way of
“marking” your text
 Note taking is the best way to get actively
involved with your course reading material
 Knowing that you are going to write forces you
to concentrate on what you’re reading
 When making notes, you are forced to
distinguish between important and unimportant
information
 Note taking provides you with the opportunity to
put the important information into your own
words as you organize it for review

3. Note Taking Techniques
1. Written notes
A. Margin notes
B. Notes outside of the text
A. Block form
B. Summary form
C. Outline form
2. Notes with Recall Columns
3. Mapping
A. Hierarchical maps
B. Semantic webs
C. Line maps
D. Charting

4. Written Notes
 Written notes can take many forms.
 They can be simple marginal notes in the text that help you focus
your reading and help serve as recall cues. Sometimes people
put post-it notes in their text to help annotate their reading
material.
 They can be notes taken outside of the text on a separate sheet
of paper. These notes can be in block, summary, or outline form.
○ Block form is organizing main ideas and supporting ideas in a
block pattern or paragraph format as you are reading.
○ Summary form involves first reading the entire section, then
breaking the information down into segments, and writing a
condensed version of the text in your own words.
○ Outline form is dividing the reading material into main points and
sub points as you condense and organize the information. It is
suggested you use informal rather than formal outlining methods.
 Another way written notes can be gathered is on note cards or
index cards. This is ideal for reading material that contains new
vocabulary or concepts. These cards then are useful for
preparing for quizzes and exams.

5. Notes with Recall Columns
 One note taking method is the Cornell Note
Taking System that involves dividing note paper
into sections. The larger section to the right is
for taking notes, the marginal section to the left
is for recall words or phrases and questions,
the bottom is for a summary statement. Click
on the link for more information on the Cornell
Note Taking System.
 The Cornell Note Taking System can be
adapted to suit your needs for example, the
recall column can be just questions for review
or it can just be word cues for recall. In other
words you can make the system work for your
learning style, your purpose, and your reading
material

6. Mapping Methods
 The Mapping strategy for note taking is useful
because it helps create a visual representation
of the reading material. It also is a more active
method of note taking because you have to
move outside of the author’s organizational
framework and create your own. There are
four different mapping methods:
1. Hierarchical Maps
2. Semantic Webs
3. Line Maps
4. Charting

7. Hierarchical Maps
 To create a hierarchical map:
1. Write the main heading or topic at the top of
the page and put a box around it.
2. Then draw lines to indicate the subdivisions
(the next level of headings) and write and box
each of them
3. You can then further divide each of these
points into one or more supporting points.
 Remember mapping is a very individual
method of note taking and many different
designs can be used. Maps can also be
focused in many different ways.

8. Sample Hierarchical Map

9. Semantic Web
 Instead of using a top-down display, as in the
hierarchical map, semantic webs radiate from a
central focal point. There are four main
components in a semantic web:
1. The core question or concept, which is the main
focus of the text chapter or section of your reading
material
2. The web strands – these show the subordinate
ideas that describe the core concept, the main
ideas the author makes about the topic
3. The strand supports – these are the information
that provides details and support the web strands
4. The strand ties – these are the words or phrases
that are written on the lines that connect all the
pieces of information.

10. Sample Semantic Web

11. Line Map
 If you do not like drawing circles or
squares, you may find that line or wheel
maps work well for you
 To draw a line or wheel map:
1. Write your topic in the center of the paper
2. Add subordinate points on lines that radiate
up, down, or out from it.
3. You can insert supporting details by adding
lines that extend out from the subordinate
points.

12. Sample Line Map

13. Charting
 This is generally something that is good for
sections of your reading material that
involves a collection of topics or headings
that are all related (types or forms of
something)
 In order to first create a chart, first
determine categories and headings. To do
this effectively, you will need to read and
think about the material in order to
determine areas of similarity among the
topics or subtopics.

14. Sample Note Taking Chart
Drug Categories
Categories Examples Short-term effects Long-term effects
Stimulants
Depressants
Hallucinogens
Narcotics

15. Source
 Van Blerkom, Dianna L. College Study
Skill: Becoming a Strategic Learner. 7th
ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing,
2011. Print.