This is the method most of us were taught growing up, and it’s also the default style for lists in Microsoft Office, Google Documents, and most digital platforms. I was taught to use roman numerals (I, V, X, etc...) which has never ceased to confuse me, but most students - the lucky ones - are probably taught using the Arabic system.( 1, 5, 10, etc...)
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For example:
i. Title: Roman Emperors
a. Subtitle: Julius Caeser
i. Subheading: the most remembered emperor
1. Minor Subheading: Little Caesars Pizza
ii. Subheading: a dictator
iii. Subheading: killed by members of the senate
b. Subtitle: Alexander the Great
According to Studyright.net, the science behind this method is to improve the retention of information by classifying and separating information. Meaning, the purpose of this method is to allow note-takers to record information in lectures and textbooks in a way that’s easier for them to read. I believe, roman numerals are enforced in schools because it’s an easy way to grade students on their note-taking. I learned from how I take notes that the two aspects you must focus on are: 1) Intentional indentation and 2) A proper key.
Indentation: Information separated from one another by the differing amounts of spacing. It’s not outlining unless each detail is intentionally classified by how important it is. It needs to be consistent, of course. For example: if you start your first title on the left side of the page, then ALL your titles need to be on the left side of the page. If the first key term is four spaces from the left side of the page, then ALL of your key terms need to be four spaces from the left side of the page, etc.
The Key: How you label the information. You need to be consistent with your labeling too.
For example: Is A or I for titles? Is a or i for key terminology?
The Key: How you label the information. You need to be consistent with your labeling too.
For example: Is A or I for titles? Is a or i for key terminology?
Outlining is a great go-to because it forces you to find the important points in pages of definitions and authors' ramblings and order them by category and relevance. It's also the easiest method to use for lectures because most are already in outline form. This is the trap most students fall into, including me. I misused this method for Research Methods last year. Essentially, I copied the lecture slides word for word, so when it was time for exams I had to reread the slides and rewrite the vocab, just to understand the material. If I realized then to focus on indentation and created a proper key, I could have studied from my notes. This is the trap many students find themselves in. Even though they take a ton of notes, they still don't understand the material.
Common Pitfalls
Too Many Words
Since the purpose of this method is to allow students to record the information in lectures and textbooks in a way that's (supposedly) easier to review, writing paragraphs for each numeral is pointless. I understand the need to write out the definitions of terms, but at some point you wind up in a zombie-like state, simply copying word-for-word. This is common for courses that contain a lot of information like biology or psychology. Why bother taking notes if your notebook is just a copy of the textbook? Try rewriting the text in your own words. Not only will this help with your comprehension of the material, but when reviewing for tests you'll actually understand what was written. Look through the links in your textbooks, other websites, and YouTube videos to find different ways to phrase the information.
Copying the Lecture Slides
This is the mistake I made my freshman year, and the mistake I made the first few weeks of classes this semester. For classes that don't require learning a lot of vocabulary, this may not appear to be a problematic way to take your notes. After all, you can review the information when studying, and not be overwhelmed. Professors speak fast, so copying their format allows you to document all the information as it comes. On the exams, what's printed on the lecture slides may not be as relevant as what the professor is saying. I know when I look at the slides before class, I have no idea what any of the terms means, and simply copying them down doesn't show how they relate to one another. Pay attention to what you're writing and rephrase it in ways you will understand later. Don't be afraid to ask your teacher to clarify a definition for you or repeat an example. Ask your classmates if you can look over each others' notes to further clarify any remaining questions.
Helpful Hints
If outlining your notes using roman numerals doesn't appeal to you, there are several other note-taking methods I've researched and summarized for you. Check out my Intro to Note-Taking post, if you haven't already. It's the proper introduction to why I've written about notes, and contains the links to all the other methods. Feel free to comment down below, and have a wonderful day!
Sources:
Skylar Anderson. “4 Effective Types of Notes to Try Note-Taking In”. StudyRight. 2018, https://www.studyright.net/blog/types-of-notes/. Accessed 28 Aug. 2018.
Too Many Words
Since the purpose of this method is to allow students to record the information in lectures and textbooks in a way that's (supposedly) easier to review, writing paragraphs for each numeral is pointless. I understand the need to write out the definitions of terms, but at some point you wind up in a zombie-like state, simply copying word-for-word. This is common for courses that contain a lot of information like biology or psychology. Why bother taking notes if your notebook is just a copy of the textbook? Try rewriting the text in your own words. Not only will this help with your comprehension of the material, but when reviewing for tests you'll actually understand what was written. Look through the links in your textbooks, other websites, and YouTube videos to find different ways to phrase the information.
Copying the Lecture Slides
This is the mistake I made my freshman year, and the mistake I made the first few weeks of classes this semester. For classes that don't require learning a lot of vocabulary, this may not appear to be a problematic way to take your notes. After all, you can review the information when studying, and not be overwhelmed. Professors speak fast, so copying their format allows you to document all the information as it comes. On the exams, what's printed on the lecture slides may not be as relevant as what the professor is saying. I know when I look at the slides before class, I have no idea what any of the terms means, and simply copying them down doesn't show how they relate to one another. Pay attention to what you're writing and rephrase it in ways you will understand later. Don't be afraid to ask your teacher to clarify a definition for you or repeat an example. Ask your classmates if you can look over each others' notes to further clarify any remaining questions.
Helpful Hints
If outlining your notes using roman numerals doesn't appeal to you, there are several other note-taking methods I've researched and summarized for you. Check out my Intro to Note-Taking post, if you haven't already. It's the proper introduction to why I've written about notes, and contains the links to all the other methods. Feel free to comment down below, and have a wonderful day!
Sources:
Skylar Anderson. “4 Effective Types of Notes to Try Note-Taking In”. StudyRight. 2018, https://www.studyright.net/blog/types-of-notes/. Accessed 28 Aug. 2018.
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