Note-taking is a skill that can help you do well in all your schoolwork—everything from taking tests to researching a paper. But unfortunately, most schools don't have classes that teach you how to take notes. So here are some tips.
Write down key facts. If you have a teacher who writes notes on the board, that's good: You can copy them down. If not, write down the most important points from class. Does your history teacher mention the date of a key Civil War battle? Does your English teacher give examples of Shakespeare's use of irony(讽刺)? Write them down!
Different teachers do things differently. For example, some teachers may mention lots of dates and facts in class but only write the key ones on the board. Other teachers may not write anything down, but they may repeat a certain date or a piece of information. After a while, you'll get to know a teacher's style.
Don't overdo it. Don't go crazy taking notes. You'll be frantic(慌乱的) if you try to write down every word that's said in class. And if you focus too much on getting your notes right, you might miss important points. Some people actually learn better by listening, writing down a few key points, and then going over the material after class.
Ask. Don't be afraid to ask the teacher to repeat something you miss. If the teacher is going too fast, your classmates will also be happy to hear the information again. If you don't want to ask in class, see your teacher afterwards. It's much easier than wondering if you got the notes right as you study.
Compare. Keep your notes handy when you're doing your reading homework. Compare what you wrote with what the reading says—you may even want to add to your notes as you read.
