There are times that you struggle to take notes during class. A lot of information is coming in, and you don’t know what to write. Fortunately, though, for those studying at Singapore Management University, you can always find SMU subject notes online.
While writing notes can be intimidating, there are few strategies that you can do to write it without missing a piece of single information effectively.
Why is taking notes important?
Effectively taking notes in class plays an essential role in your college academic success. Doing so can help you focus on and understand the topic. Moreover, taking notes can enhance your listening skills, retention, and comprehension of materials. It enables you to remember things you see and hear.
A good note will still help your review everything that has been discussed during the course after class. It will help you understand the topics better and prepare if you have an exam the next day. Taking notes effectively can save you time and effort and remove the confusion from disorganised sense, information overload, wordy or insufficient words.
Ways to take good notes in class
Often, it is hard to capture all the information being discussed, as a lot of things happen during the course. A part of effective note-taking includes reviewing your notes after class to clarify and find any missing information. By doing this, you can organise your thoughts better. With that being said, having a good source material is crucial.
Preparing
Initially, you have to come to your class well-prepared. Check your past notes and assignments before the lecture starts. Doing so will help you get new ideas you will learn in class. Review your subject to know the topic and see which part is important to focus on.
Furthermore, it would help if you stayed organised so you can spot important information easier. Don’t forget to write the date and the class name and keep it in a separate notebook or notebook section for each class to avoid confusion.
Taking notes during the class
If you are looking for conceptual information. You only need to focus on the topic’s main points, instead of writing the whole presentation down. With these critical points, you can always fill all the gaps or understand the concepts you did not get. On the other hand, getting factual information requires you to write the lecture verbatim.
Don’t forget to write down any thoughts or questions you have or any confusing content so you can do some follow-up later. You may also use abbreviations and symbols if you want to keep your notes brief. Use bullets instead of sentences to help you save energy and help you focus on main topics.
Once you have found the best structure for you, stay in this format to keep your notes uniform each day.
How to know the important notes?
Introduction remarks always have the summaries of the topic. Wait for signal phrases such as “To sum up…” “There are three main…” or “The main reason why…”
Remember that repeated concepts or words are usually important. Also, observe the lecturer’s gestures, non-verbal cues and tone of voice as these indicate vital points. Furthermore, make sure that you capture the final remarks as it will give you a summary of the lecture’s essential points.
There will be times that taking notes can be hard, and this is the time that you need to browse some SMU subject notes to help you study. This is useful, especially if you missed the class for some reason.
Overall, these simple guidelines should help you take notes effectively, which could help you become successful in college.
