Note Taking Style #2
Cornell Notes
Walter Pauk
An endorsement.
Graduation
made possible
by Cornell
notes.
The basics.
Higher
Level
Thinking
Words
Use cues to
* you’er
Record
textbook and lecture
Categorize
– put
into different
categories
review
notes
and
notes
here using:
prepare
Compare for
- howtests
it is the same
or different


• Outline
Connect – link things you don’t
know withformat
things you do know (like to real

Diagram – draw a picture that explains how something works

Explain - tell how and why about a subject, tell howWhen:
it works,
describe
During
class /
• Words to define
• Main ideas  details
life)
• HIGHER LEVEL
•
Short
sentences
 Contrast
thinking- how
?s it is different
• Summarization
based
on
notes
 Describe - explain, tell – use who, what, where, when, why and/or how
While reading
• Paraphrase
• Diagrams
• Abbreviations
hours
 When:
Rank –Within
put in 24
a hierarchy

Summarize - re-tell briefly, tell in your own words, and tell like an ESPN
clip

While reading
3-4 sentences that summarize the
topic
Trace - follow event from beginning to end
Don’t do at end of every page, just at end of topic
When: Within 24 hrs, but
AFTER Notes and Cues
• Describe
Judaism’s
founding.
Judaism
• Founding
• 4,000 yrs ago in Fertile
Crescent
• Founded by Abraham
• Define: 10
• Jerusalem, Israel
Commandments
• 10 Commandments – rules for
While reading
behavior
• Summarize the
• Moses got them from God
major beliefs
• If Jews follow  messiah will
of Judaism
reappear
Judaism is a monothesitc religion practiced by the Jews. The religion was
founded by Abraham. Jews follow behavioral and ethical rules, including the
10 Commandments, recorded in the Torah, as delivered to Moses from God.
It’s cool. For real.
Higher Level Thinking
Questions

Categorize – put into different categories

Compare - how it is the same or different

Connect – link things you don’t know with things you do know (like to real life)

Contrast - how it is different

Describe - explain, tell – use who, what, where, when, why and/or how

Diagram – draw a picture that explains how something works

Explain - tell how and why about a subject, tell how it works, describe

Rank – put in a hierarchy

Summarize - re-tell briefly, tell in your own words, and tell like an ESPN clip

Trace - follow event from beginning to end
Questions in
the left
Notes go on the right side.
column, go
Write what the teacher
ahead try to
emphasize
guess what
the teacher’s While reading
going to ask
When: Within 24 hours
When: Within
24 hours
When: During class /
While reading
I like my summary like a mini-skirt:
short – enough, but still covers all
the important stuff