The Cornell Method to Effective Note Taking

The Cornell method, which was originally developed by Dr. Walter Paulk at Cornell University, provides a system and format for condensing and organizing notes without laborious recopying. This method requires the learner to create a 2 inch left-hand margin. The rest of the page (6 inches for a standard page) is used for actually taking notes. After writing the notes in the main space, the learner uses the left-hand column to label each concept, idea, or detail with a keyword or "cue."

6 Steps to Effective Note Taking

  1. Record - The practice of taking notes or capturing course content
  2. Reduce - Review your notes to reduce them into related keywords, phrases or questions
  3. Recite - Restate out loud and in your own words the content of your notes
  4. Reflect - Ponder what you have learned for new applications and deeper understanding
  5. Review - Review your notes often through recitation (not re-reading) to make your knowledge sure
  6. Recapitulate - Summarize your learning by page or by lecture to ensure a knowledge of key points