How to Take Cornell Notes

1. How to Take Cornell Notes General Format • Draw line several inches from left side of paper • Take all notes on right side of line • Main points should be flush with line while supporting details should be indented and bulleted • Skip lines between main ideas • Create questions on left hand side to which the answer occur on the right hand side • At the end of the notes, write a paragraph summary of main ideas, 1. On which side of the paper do the notes go? 2. What should the questions on the left be about? 3. What is the final step to the process? Benefits • Questions on left can be used as a study tool. Fold the paper in half at the line or cover the notes and quiz yourself – the answers are right there to check. • Summary at the end provides extra writing practice. • Creating questions can be used as processing activity if notes are long or finished for homework as a reminder of material covered. 4. What are three benefits of using Cornell Notes over standard two column notes? 5. In what two ways can questions be used?

2. How to Take Cornell Notes (cont.) Alternatives/Options • Use to take notes from Powerpoint (each slide can be main idea) • Use to take notes from reading textbook (each subtopic can be main idea) • Use in conjunction with an Interactive Student Notebook (create margin for notes on outside of paper rather than always on left – will allow you to fold paper and have questions visible but not answers). • Have students quiz with each other’s questions to allow for more review. 6. List three options for the use of Cornell Notes. 7. How would you use Cornell Notes if you were putting them in an Interactive Student Notebook? Helpful Hints • The better and more detailed the questions are, the more they will help you study. (I usually make them write at least 2 questions per main point. • Have students read and critique each other’s summaries as a way to improve writing skills. 8. How is the question writing beneficial? Summary: Cornell Notes are creating by drawing a line three inches from the left side of the paper taking notes on the right of the line and asking questions related to those notes on the left. At the end of the notes, a paragraph summary should be written. Benefits of these notes include the ability to quiz oneself, extra writing practice, and information processing. Cornell Notes can be taken from a presentation or a textbook, and be put on loose paper or in a spiral notebook. The notes work best when numerous, detailed questions are asked and students are able to read each other’s summaries.