(Originally published in Buffalo News NeXt in Aug 2017)
School is back and we’re… ready as ever? School is often associated with studying, and everyone is itching to improve their grades to show colleges (and most importantly, themselves) what they’re worth. So how do you do it? How do you get better grades? Studying is definitely a big part of it, but the material you’re studying, like your notes, also play a role.
Taking good notes is like a creating the perfect dessert - can’t add too much yeast or it might collapse, but you can’t add too little otherwise it won’t rise at all - you need something just right. That being said you can certainly find some methods that cater directly to your note taking needs. Even if theses specific methods don’t work, they could inspire a different note taking method that does work for you. I personally like these methods:
1. The Dutch Door Method
Part One:
I discovered this method through a YouTuber named “Haley Cairo”. Now I know that YouTube isn’t the first place people look for for study advice, but her ideas certainly worth taking into consideration. The first part of this method involves a sheet of paper, tape, and your notebook. Turn the paper horizontally and tape it onto the inside part of the back cardboard page of your notebook and fold it in so that it’s not visible when the notebook is closed. This exterior is used as protection for the inside contents. Now, no matter where you are in the notebook, if you have to refer back to say a formula, just open the door-like piece of paper to find it. This saves a lot of time by cutting down on unnecessary page flipping.
Part Two:
This method can be used in a different way as well. Choose an amount of pages to perform this note taking method on and go to the middle of the page. Then use your scissors to cut it clean down the middle splitting all the pages into two halves.
This method works best for subjects that require a lot of memorizing. For example, in math there are a lot of formulas required to solve problems. The cut down the middle creates two “doors.” Write all your formulas on the top door and solve all your problems on the bottom. This way, you can flip the top page to get to your desired formula while still staying on the same page of your problems. Haley Cairo can be found at her website: http://maemovement.com/
2. The Cornell Method
For the Cornell Method, you will also need to divide your note taking spread into three sections. Separate the top part into two sections. I usually make the top one longer than the bottom. The column on the left is for keywords and important events while the right column is for notes. The very bottom section (so the third box) is for summarizing the notes taken. I’d typically use this method for subjects with multiple units or to separate specific topics within units.The Cornell method automatically organizes your notes, which is one of many great things about it.
3. The Mapping Method
This method is very similar to a flow chart. You start off with the main topic then you divide this topic into all the subcategories, which are the other circles that surround your initial main topic. Expanding the map allows you to add more details. This method is visual and easy on the eyes which can be helpful in locating information quickly.
4. The Charting Method
Separate your page into several sections - the number of sections you divide the page into all depends on personal preference and topic. An example to use while reading a book divides the paper into four categories - time period, important people, events, and significance.
This method is easy to organize and it helps you isolate the most important facts.
Once again, these note taking methods are just ones that I personally like - but what works for me may not work for you so experiment with different ways until you find the right fit. Good luck!
Anna Lin is a Freshman at Williamsville East High School.