Hints for Good Note Taking

-Ten Basic Steps

1. Don’t write down everything that you read or hear. Be alert and attentive to the main points.  Concentrate on the “meat” of the subjects and forget the “trimmings.”
2. Notes should consist of key words, or very short sentences. . . .  [Make sure your notes are legible (readable), and that you wrote enough to understand what you are trying to record.]
3. Take accurate notes.  You should usually use your own words, but try not to change the meaning. If you quote directly from the author, quote correctly and record the citation. (For  your notes you will already have the citation recorded on Edmodo.  Since all your notes from one source go on one paper, you will know where they are from.)
4. Know your purpose! Think a minute about your material before you start making notes. Don’t take notes just to be taking notes! Take notes that will be of real value to you when you look over them later. [As you take your notes, remember that you are looking for specific facts about your famous person to use when you create your PowerPoint or Fakebook or Prezi. You'll need at least 24 facts covering the person's life.]
5. Have a uniform system of punctuation and abbreviation that will make sense to you. You can  leave white space for later additions, or add more on the back of the page. 
6. Omit descriptions and full explanations. Keep your notes short and to the point. Condense your material so you can grasp it rapidly. .  . . 
7. Don’t keep notes on oddly shaped pieces of paper.  Keep notes in order and in one place. . . . 
8.  If you're not sure about what you're doing, ask the teacher or another student (one of the students who does well) -- after you have carefully read any instructions you may already have.
9. Compare what you're reading with what you already know and have read about.   Is this new material that you need to write down?  Do two different sources disagree about something?  

adapted from http://www.chapman.edu/students/academic-resources/tutoring-center/resources-success/study-strategies/note-taking/index.aspx