9 Best Tips to Take Lecture Notes in Class : Ultimate Guide for College and University Students

How to take lecture notes in class? 

Seriously, taking handy notes in class is a crucial factor for academic success in college and university. But a lot of students don’t care a fig. keenly taking notes during class can help you focus and better understand main concepts. Here I am mentioning 9 best strategies to take lecture notes in an effective way from my personal experience.

1. Read the Chapter Before the Lecture 

You'll get more out of attending class lectures if you read the chapter (or at least skim through it) before the lecture. You'll build background about the topics, get a sense of how the material is organized, and become familiar with important names and technical terms, which will help you better understand the lecture and take better notes.

2. Review Your Notes from the Last Lecture

As you're sitting in class waiting for your professor to begin, take a few minutes and review the last set of notes you took. Most course instructors pick up just where they left off at the end of the last class. Your review will help you get a better sense of how the new information is connected to what you already have in your notes.

3. Sit in the front of the Classroom

There are many advantages to sitting in the front of the classroom. The obvious ones are that you'll see and hear better, but you'll also find that you tend to be more actively involved in the class when you sit near the front. You'll also find that you have many fewer distractions, so you'll be able to concentrate more on the lecture.

4. Be an Active Listener

Getting involved in the lecture is essential for understanding the material you're hearing. Pay attention and tell yourself you want to listen. Participate by asking and answering questions in class and taking notes.

5. Take Notes

If you're a new college student, you may think that sitting back and listening carefully to the lecture will help you learn the material. That may be true; however, you won't be able to remember it. You must take notes so you'll have a record of the information from which to study.

6. Write Down Main Points and Details

As you take notes, listen for the main points (topics) that your instructor is presenting and write them next to the margin. Then indent a little and write down as many details as you can. Until you learn more about how to take lecture notes, just write as much as you possibly can during each class.

7. Record lectures on your Smartphone

If you're a slow writer or struggle a bit with taking notes, get your Smartphone ready out of your pocket and immediately start recording lectures. Believe me this is a good back-up in case you're worried about missing anything. 

8. Edit Your Notes After the Lecture 

As soon as possible after the lecture, edit your notes. Think back to the lecture, use your textbook, or get together with a classmate or study group to fill in gaps, check for accuracy, clarify meaning, and improve the organization in your notes. Write questions about the important information in the margin of your notes.

9. Review Your Notes

At the end of the week and before exams, you need to review your notes to put the information into long-term memory and to keep it accessible. Instead of reading over your notes, write or recite the information using the headings and questions in the margin as cues.

Also read

• 11 Reasons Why Students of English Literature Fail

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11 Reasons Why Students of English Literature Fail

11 Reasons Why Students of English Literature Fail

Within my short span of teaching career I have made a small survey on the majority of beginners and students of English Literature entirely relying upon my own assumption. On entering into the degree course, raked up by emotion and excitement they used to believe that they are going to win the world by storm as they are pursuing such a ROYAL subject of international repute. As if they speak English, eat English, dream English, and live English and what’s not. Yes they move by fashion rather than passion. They don’t understand the basic difference between language and literature.

After attending few lectures their spur and zeal of learning English Literature is gradually getting slow and fading away. A few turn their wheel on the reverse direction, while others drive their car by merely pushing forward in a limping manner. That’s the reason why they have to kiss the dust at last.

I have noticed so many students without text books while I was teaching on topic. And also I have seen a good number of students took books from library for show and after several days returned those without turning a single page.

Without a least trace of doubt that the steady and serious minded students guided by love and passion for English literature succeed in securing handy marks at the end and thus they win the race. 

I have seen in many groups that boys and girls often complaint about their supply in B.A or M.A English. And those who pass the exam have very low marks.

Keeping in view the above fact I am sharing you some facts about their failure and low marks.

1. They join private tuitions or online academies where same stuff is given to hundreds of candidates. Stuff is given to the candidates to clear their main idea about the topic, to clear the concept and write in their own language. But most of the students remember the same stuff and paste it on the paper as it is. When an examiner checks the copy he finds that there is no creativity in the answer and it becomes the very first reason of failure.

 2. Students focus more on mere reading rather than real reading. If Hamlet (Shakespeare’s play) is there in the syllabus most of the student will not study a single word than the play. What is the background of the play? What is writer’s ideology and inspiration behind the play? In nutshell, they don’t focus on Why When and How of the play.

3. Cramming the note and vomiting on the answer paper is a quite common practice among the students. yeah this may be necessary for obtaining good marks. Remember at the end of the day, talent differs. Before cramming any note go through it minutely and understand the meaning, context, author's intention, structure etc.

 4. Academies don’t focus on making you creative rather they spoils you. They provide you stuff which is already in some books or there on internet. Ask you to remember that clear the story and their job is done. They don’t tell you about the theories, they don’t tell you about criticism being made on the play, novel or poetry. They don’t ask you to go through different research paper on the same topic. They may be well-educated teachers but not well-trained for the purpose of teaching.

5. Procrastination is a deadly habit specially for the English Literature students. They browse and collect notes and books and save those in the cart thinking they have enough time before exam. But finally they are trapped in their own crafted trap. 

6. Only reading doesn't make you sense. There are quite a few students who only read and read and read. Writing earns your perfection. So after clearing a note go with your pen and paper. Besides writing helps your time management and boost your writing speed in the exam hall. So plant the habit of writing.

7. Students don’t have writing skills. There are some students with exceptional ideas but they don’t know how to pen down those ideas. They don’t have stock of words. They are unable to write what is there in mind and ultimately in finding substitute for the words they make mistakes.

8. Lack of consciousness in English grammar skill may kill a student. So be serious about following strict grammatical rules. one or two minor or unintentional mistakes can be accepted. But extensive use of ungrammatical sentences is a serious offence in the lens of English Literature.

9. One of the major mistakes that English Literature students commit is spelling mistake which has never been acknowledged even at this standard.  

10. One must keep one thing in mind. There is no hard and fast rule for the success. If you want to have good marks in subject like English Literature you need to work hard.

11. It is good to collect material from books, notes, internet, pages, etc… But it’s not enough. It only works if you will write answer of your own merging all the facts on a single paper sheet. 

Don't forget to share your knowledge on this article in the comment section.

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My Favourite Teacher

A man of quality must be loved by all. In my short span of student life so many loving and qualified teachers shower their blessings on me. But I love my present English teacher Mr. X all the most. His style of teaching, his pronunciation of English, his command over the subject and moreover his towering personality attract me. He is gentle, dynamic and serious with a good sense of humour.  As soon as he enters into the class his way of introduction and presentation of the subject enchant me and make me spell-bound. When he takes classes, there is pin-drop silence in the class. If required he shares inspiring stories and shows pictures and videos on subject. He teaches the hardest topic in the simplest manner. He is very much punctual and dedicated to his duty. Mr. X is very much simple in his way of life but very much smart in his way of teaching. He never hurts us. Whenever we face any problem he gives us fruitful advice. In a word he is my “Friend, philosopher and guide.” If needed he takes extra classes and exams as well. He treats all students in the same eye. Sometimes he supports poor but meritorious students from his own pocket. Every student loves his charming personality and student loving attitude. To be frank, the said teacher is an idol for me. I wish a long-term teaching life for him and pray to the God that number of such teachers be increased day by day.

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“Early to bed and early to rise, / Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” So is the dictum goes on. Early rising followed by morning walk turn our body and mind full of vitality and liveliness. No diet or tonic is as effective as the morning walk. One has to pay nothing for it. We all know that a sound body is the temple of sound mind. Morning welcomes us with its gush of cool, soothing breeze laden with sweet fragrance of flowers. Birds chirp and sing sweet. Grass takes pride dressed with morning dew. A person sees nature in its exquisite form without any pollution. The fresh morning air is beneficial for the lungs. The mild rays of the rising sun are good for healthy skin. Besides, a walk gives exercise to the whole body. It invigorates the blood vessels, energizes the entire system, thus making the body ready to face the daylong strife and turmoil. It also improves and increases appetite and regulates digestion. Doctors recommend morning walk to their patients suffering from diabetes, obesity and heart disease etc. So keeping in mind “Health is wealth” we must include morning walk in our daily routine.

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