Cornell Notes Method Cheat Sheet

Divide the Page

Create three sections: a wide note-taking column (right), a narrow cue column (left), and a summary section (bottom).

Example: Note-taking column: ~6 inches wide. Cue column: ~2.5 inches wide. Summary section: ~2 inches high.

Heading

At the top of the page, write the date, topic, and class.

Example: Date: 2024-10-27, Topic: Photosynthesis, Class: Biology

Record Information

Write down main ideas, supporting details, examples, and explanations during the lecture or reading.

Example: Use abbreviations, symbols, and your own shorthand to save time.

Paraphrase

Don't write down everything verbatim. Summarize information in your own words.

Example: Instead of 'The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell,' write 'Mitochondria = cell energy.'

Skip Lines

Leave space between ideas to add more information or clarify later.

Example: After writing about the reactants in photosynthesis, skip a line before writing about the products.

Key Words/Questions

After the lecture, review your notes and write key words, questions, or prompts in the cue column that relate to the information in the note-taking column.

Example: Note-taking column: 'Mitochondria = cell energy.' Cue column: 'What is mitochondria?'

Clarify

Fill in any gaps in your notes and make sure everything is clear.

Example: If you wrote 'ATP,' add a note explaining what ATP stands for (Adenosine Triphosphate).

Highlight

Underline or highlight the most important information in the note-taking column.

Example: Highlight the definition of photosynthesis.

Summarize

Write a brief summary of the main ideas and key points from the notes on the page.

Example: Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose.

Reflect

Think about how the information relates to what you already know and how you can use it.

Example: How does photosynthesis relate to the food chain?