#LectureLife – My Top 10 Tips on Note Taking During Lectures

Being a grad student is a lot of work with endless lectures, readings, essays, reports
and presentations. But if you think studying is stressful, try ignorance! For those of us
curious about “knowing the causes of things,” in line with the LSE motto, ignorance is
not an option.

So, we are impelled to soak in as much knowledge as possible, grabbing as much as

we can the torrent of information thrown at us. Here are some handy tips on pinning
down the crucial points during lectures.

1.      You can’t write down every word

A lecture is not a dictation exercise where you have to write down everything the
professor says. You need to watch out for key points, arguments and themes in the
lectures. It's a good thing that lectures are recorded at LSE, so you can always go back
and check if you missed a point.

2.      Pay Attention

It's very easy to start daydreaming during lectures and miss an important point. Try to
rest adequately before lectures so you don't doze off in class. Some take coffee before
lectures to keep them alert, others chew gum. Listen attentively to examples given by
the professor to explain a point. Sometimes the example helps us remember the point in
future.