Student Academic Services

California Polytechnic State University

San Luis Obispo, California
http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl.html
Academic Sills Center!
Study Sills Library
"O#$ #A%&"' S(S#$)
5 Methods
#he Cornell )ethod
#he Outline )ethod
#he )appin* )ethod
#he Chartin* )ethod
#he Sentence )ethod
#+$ CO,"$LL )$#+O-
#he Cornell method provides a systematic format for condensin* and or*ani.in* notes /ithout
laborious recopyin*. After /ritin* the notes in the main space, use the left!hand space to label
each idea and detail /ith a ey /ord or 0cue.0
Method ! ,ule your paper /ith a 1 2 inch mar*in on the left leavin* a si3!inch area on the ri*ht
in /hich to mae notes. -urin* class, tae do/n information in the si3!inch area. 4hen the
instructor moves to a ne/ point, sip a fe/ lines. After class, complete phrases and sentences as
much as possible. 5or every si*nificant bit of information, /rite a cue in the left mar*in. #o
revie/, cover your notes /ith a card, leavin* the cues e3posed. Say the cue out loud, and then
say as much as you can of the material underneath the card. 4hen you have said as much as you
can, move the card and see if /hat you said matches /hat is /ritten. &f you can say it, you no/
it.
Advantages ! Or*ani.ed and systematic for recordin* and revie/in* notes. $asy format for
pullin* out ma6or concept and ideas. Simple and efficient. Saves time and effort. 0-o!it!ri*ht!in!
the!first!place system.0
Disadvantages ! "one
When to Use ! &n any lecture situation.
Student Academic Services
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, California
http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl.html
Academic Sills Center!
Study Sills Library
#+$ OU#L&"&"' )$#+O-
-ash or indented outlinin* is usually best e3cept for some science classes such as physics or
math.
7. #he information /hich is most *eneral be*ins at the left /ith each more specific *roup of
facts indented /ith spaces to the ri*ht.
1. #he relationships bet/een the different parts are carried out throu*h indentin*.
8. "o numbers, letters, or ,oman numerals are needs.
Method 9 Listenin* and then /rite in points in an or*ani.ed pattern based on space indention.
Place ma6or points farthest to the left. &ndent each more specific point to the ri*ht. Levels of
importance /ill be indicated by distance a/ay from the ma6or point. &ndention can be as simple
as or as comple3 as labelin* the indentations /ith ,oman numerals or decimals. )arin*s are
not necessary as space relationships /ill indicate the ma6or/minor points.
Advantages 9 4ell!or*ani.ed system if done ri*ht. Outlinin* records content as /ell as
relationships. &t also reduces editin* and is easy to revie/ by turnin* main points into :uestions.
Disadvantages 9 ,e:uires more thou*ht in class for accurate or*ani.ation. #his system may not
sho/ relationships by se:uence /hen needed. &t doesn;t lend to diversity of a revie/ attach for
ma3imum learnin* and :uestion application. #his system cannot be used if the lecture is too
fast.
When to Use 9 #he outline format can be used if the lecture is presented in outline or*ani.ation.
#his may be either deductive <re*ular outline= or inductive <reverse outline /here minor points
start buildin* to a ma6or point=. Use this format /hen there is enou*h time in the lecture to thin
about and mae or*ani.ation decisions /hen they are needed. #his format can be most effective
/hen your note tain* sills are super and sharp and you can handle the outlinin* re*ardless of
the note tain* situation.
Example 9
$3trasensory perception
> -efinition: means of perceivin* /ithout use of sense or*ans.
>three inds 9
>telepathy: sendin* messa*es
>clairvoyance: forecastin* the future
>psychoinesis: perceivin* events e3ternal to situation
>current status 9
>no current research to support or refute
>fe/ psycholo*ists say impossible
Student Academic Services
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, California
http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl.html
Academic Sills Center!
Study Sills Library
#+$ )APP&"' )$#+O-
)appin* is a method that uses comprehension/concentration sills and evolves in a note tain*
form /hich relates each fact or idea to every other fact or idea. )appin* is a *raphic
representation of the content of a lecture. &t is a method that ma3imi.es active participation,
affords immediate no/led*e as to its understandin*, and emphasi.es critical thinin*.
Advantages 9 #his format helps you to visually trac your lecture re*ardless of conditions.
Little thinin* is needed and relationships can easily be seen. &t is also easy to edit your notes by
addin* numbers, mars, and color codin*. ,evie/ /ill call for you to restructure thou*ht
processes /hich /ill force you to chec understandin*. ,evie/ by coverin* lines for memory
drill and relationships. )ain points can be /ritten on flash or note cards and pieced to*ether into
a table or lar*er structure at a later date.
Disadvantages 9 (ou may not hear chan*es in content from ma6or points to facts.
When to Use 9 Use /hen the lecture content is heavy and /ell!or*ani.ed. )ay also be used
effectively /hen you have a *uest lecturer and have no idea ho/ the lecture is *oin* to be
presented.
Example 9
Student Academic Services
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, California
http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl.html
Academic Sills Center!
Study Sills Library
#+$ C+A,#&"' )$#+O-
&f the lecture format is distinct <such as chronolo*ical=, you may set up your paper by dra/in*
columns and labelin* appropriate headin*s in a table.
Method 9 -etermine the cate*ories to be covered in lecture. Set up your paper in advance by
columns headed by these cate*ories. As you listen to the lecture, record information </ords,
phrases, main ideas, etc.= into the appropriate cate*ory.
Advantages 9 +elps you trac conversation and dialo*ues /here you /ould normally be
confused and lose out on relevant content. ,educes amount of /ritin* necessary. Provides easy
revie/ mechanism for both memori.ation of facts and study of comparisons and relationships.
Disadvantages 9 5e/ disadvanta*es e3cept learnin* ho/ to use the system and locatin* the
appropriate cate*ories. (ou must be able to understand /hat;s happenin* in the lecture.
When to Use 9 #est /ill focus on both facts and relationships. Content is heavy and presented
fast. (ou /ant to reduce the amount of time you spend editin* and revie/in* at test time. (ou
/ant to *et an overvie/ of the /hole course on one bi* paper se:uence.
Example 9 Chart format for a history class:
Student Academic Services
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, California
http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl.html
Academic Sills Center!
Study Sills Library
#+$ S$"#$"C$ )$#+O-
Method 9 4rite every ne/ thou*ht, fact or topic on a separate line, numberin* as you pro*ress.
Advantages 9 Sli*htly more or*ani.ed than the para*raph. 'ets more or all of the information.
#hinin* to tract content is still limited.
Disadvantages 9 Can;t determine ma6or/minor points from the numbered se:uence. -ifficult to
edit /ithout havin* to re/rite by clusterin* points /hich are related. -ifficult to revie/ unless
editin* cleans up relationship.
When to Use 9 Use /hen the lecture is some/hat or*ani.ed, but heavy /ith content /hich
comes fast. (ou can hear the different points, but you don;t no/ ho/ they fit to*ether. #he
instructor tends to present in point fashion, but not in *roupin* such as ?three related points.@
Example 1 9
A revolution is any occurrence that affects other aspects of life, such as economic life,
social life, and so forth. #herefore revolutions cause chan*e. <See pa*e 1A!8B in your
te3t about this.=
Sample Notes 9 ,evolution 9 occurrence that affects other aspects of life: e.*., econ.,
socl. $tc. C.f. te3t, pp. 1A!8B
Example 2 9
)elville did not try to represent life as it really /as. #he lan*ua*e of Ahab, Starbuc,
and &shmael, for instance, /as not that of real life.
Sample Notes 9 )el didn;t repr. Life as /asC e.*. lan*. Of Ahab, etc. no of real life.
Example 3 9
At first, 5reud tried conventional, physical methods of treatment such as *ivin* baths,
massa*es, rest cures, and similar aids. Dut /hen these failed he tried techni:ues of
hypnosis that he had seen used by Eean!)artin Charcot. 5inally, he borro/ed an idea
from Eean Dreuer and used direct verbal communication to *et an un!hypnoti.ed patient
to reveal unconscious thou*hts.
Sample Notes 9 5reud 7
st
9 used phys. trtmentC e.*., baths, etc. #his fld. 1
nd
9 used
hypnosis <fr. Charcot= 5inally 9 used vrb. commun. <fr. Dreuer= 9 *ot unhpynop, patnt
to reveal uncons. thou*hts.
Student Academic Services
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, California
http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl.html
Academic Sills Center!
Study Sills Library
Bibliography
-eese, Eames and $llin %. -eese. How to Study <8
rd
$d=. "e/ (or: )c'ra/!+ill, &nc.,
7AFA.
Eohnson, Sue. The 4 Ts: Teacher/You, Text, Talk, Test - A Systematic Approach to
Leari! Success" California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Pau, 4alter" How to Study i #olle!e <1
nd
$d=. Doston: +ou*hton )ifflin Co., 7AFG.
,ay*or, Alton L. and -avid 4ar. Systems $or Study" "e/ (or: )c'ra/! +ill, &nc,
7AFB.