Cornell Note-Taking Strategy

Description and Purpose:

The Cornell Note-Taking Strategy is a technique for helping students take notes using a
two-column format. The left column is labeled “Key Words” and the other column is labeled
“Notes from Reading or Discussion.” The students write notes in the right-hand column and then
decide on key topics that would help them organize and remember their notes. This strategy is
suitable for text structures that focus on main idea and supporting details.

Procedure:

1. Tell students that you will teach them a new way to take notes.

2. Model the strategy with a passage from your content area that contains the main idea and
supporting details text structure. Students must understand this text pattern before they
can use Cornell Note-Taking.

3. Have students divide several sheets in their notebook into two columns. Have them label
the left column “Key Words” and the right column “Notes from Reading or Discussion.”

4. As they read, direct students to jot down information they consider to be important to
remember.

5. Then place students in groups to discuss their notes and to decide upon key words to help
them organize and remember the important information.

Cornell Note-Taking

Key Words Notes from Reading or Discussion