Cornell Note Taking: An Effective Method for Organizing Your Notes

Anelim Gingery
Everything Self Improvement
2 min readMar 27, 2023
Photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash

Cornell note taking is a popular and structured method of note taking that helps students to organize their notes efficiently. This method was developed by Walter Pauk, an education professor at Cornell University. The Cornell note-taking method divides a page into three sections: the cue column, notes column, and summary section. The cue column is on the left, where students write down keywords or questions that correspond to the notes they take in the notes column. The notes column is where the students take the actual notes, while the summary section is located at the bottom, where the students write a brief summary of the main points.

To create Cornell notes, one can either use a blank sheet of paper or a template available online. During a lecture or while reading, students take notes in the notes column, writing down all relevant information, keeping them brief and to the point. They can use abbreviations or symbols to save time and space. After taking notes, students go back and add cues to the cue column. Cues are keywords or questions that will help them remember the main ideas and topics covered in their notes. At the bottom of the page, students write a summary of the main points covered in their notes.

Cornell note taking is highly effective as it helps break down complex information into manageable parts and creates a visual representation of the material. The summary section helps to review and remember the material effectively, and the cues in the cue column serve as helpful study aids when reviewing for exams or quizzes. It is an excellent method for organizing notes and improving the overall learning experience.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

In conclusion, having a note-taking method that works for you is crucial for effective learning, and Cornell note taking is one such method that has proven to be highly effective. By dividing your notes into three sections, taking cues, and summarizing the material, you can retain information more effectively and review material more efficiently. Try Cornell note taking, and see how it works for you.

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