Using Cornell Notes

36 Cornell Notes Templates & Examples [Word, PDF]

Cornell Notes Taking System Explained

According to the book, the Cornell University briefly defines the method of using the notes in the effective manner. Here are some of the main things that should be followed in a Cornell notes template. Students should focus on it in order to make the efficient use of the Cornell notes.

Record

As a student, you should record and write every single thing told by your instructor. So, the first step in order to make the best use of the Cornell notes is to record the lecture using telegraphic sentences. These are the shorter sentences just containing five to six words or even less than that. This is a name given to the shorter sentences. These sentences would help you write quickly. When you read those recorded phrases, you will securely recall all what was explained in the class by your instructor.

Questions

As soon as you are done recording the telegraphic sentences, next step is to make questions based on the notes on the right hand side. These questions would help you reveal the relationships, understand the meanings of what was explained in the class, strengthen your memory and establish continuity in the context. Apart from this, these questions would be great for studying during the exam days or some time later. Also, they are good for combined studies if you are studying with your friends.

Recite

You should cover the section under the recitation with a paper. After that, you should look over the questions or key words in the questions. Once you have seen the cue-words or the keywords, say them out loud and give answer to all of those questions, ideas and facts.

Reflect

When you ask questions from yourself, you get to explore the topic and go in the depth of the context. This can help you in understanding the context even better and explore the insight. You can ask questions like what are the principles on which they are based on, what the importance of those facts is, how to apply for those facts and how does it fit inside what you have understood from the context.

Review

When you have maintained your notes, make sure that you review them too. In order to make the best use of Cornell notes, you should spend at least ten minutes every week and review all your previous notes. Reviewing them daily would help you in retaining the deal for your exam, current use as well as later.

Cornell notes are a very simple way to take notes interactively. Also, they help students review notes systematically. Those students who want to score high and get good grades, this note taking method is effective for them ensuring higher level of thinking skills.