Notetaking can be easy if you develop a system and use it in each class. There are three systems of notetaking. Each one is useful for different student personalities. The Cornell Method is useful if you are very organized and plan to read the chapters before the lecture. The informal outline is easy to do and is useful in almost every class.
Clustering is for more artistic students.
It is a visual method that can be used by itself or in conjunction with another method. When you take notes, you will save time and energy by using abbreviations. The following list shows some common abbreviations. If you are in a class that uses a specific word over and over, such as Civil War in American History, it may be helpful to make up your own abbreviations. The most important thing is that if you make up abbreviations, you should be sure to remember what they mean.