Taking notes for any subject is usually personalized to the individual, but not all ways of note-

taking are created equal. Cornell Note Taking was devised by Professor Walter Pauk, an
education professor at Cornell in the 1950s, as a systematic format for condensing, organizing,
and reviewing notes for long-term retention. Most effective for students at the high school and
college level, Cornell Notes have been proven more effective in courses where synthesis and
application are required, as opposed to simple recall.

Cornell Notes also serve as content-knowledge checkers that will help you to realize when you
need more study or clarification. As you fill in your summary box or write questions in your left-
hand column, keep in mind where your content knowledge has holes and could use supplemental
study.

Versions of this method vary, but the most common method requires the notetaker to create two
columns, one for general note-taking, another for asking questions and listing keywords. Using
this method strengthens studying skills and streamlines the review process. Each page includes a
summary of the information at the bottom, so in total, each page contains room for important
information at its most distilled, reflection on the subject matter, and guidance for clarifying any
hang-ups in the future.