Study Skills General Tips on Notetaking Write phrases, not complete sentences. Fill in later from memory and books. Take notes in your own words, but do not alter technical terms that have specific meanings. Listen for summary statements instead of writing down everything.
Good instructors summarize their key points.
These are often principles, concepts, or general ideas that help you understand related facts. Use abbreviations whenever possible. These can be confusing sometimes so leave a space behind the abbreviation. Fill in the complete work after the lecture. In one column note facts from the lecture, in the other note the principles or concepts they relate to.