Virginia Tech Study Skills Self-Help Information http://www.ucc.vt.edu/academic_support_students/study_skills_information/
The Cornell system is a systematic technique of note taking which is designed to efficiently organize and condense subject material. Notes are written only once which saves a great deal of time and allows more time for students to study rather than rewrite lecture notes. Pages are divided by a vertical margin, which is placed about 2.5 inches from the left side of the paper. This division is used to separate the right side which is used for note taking and the left side which is used to note key words or phrases. This column is referred to as the recall column. During a lecture, notes should be written legibly in paragraph form and should capture general ideas rather than illustrative ideas. The use of abbreviations is highly recommended to achieve the most efficient notes possible. After the lecture, the recall column is used to take down ideas or key words. This system of note taking can be a great way of studying and preparing for an examination.
Texas A & M University http://scs.tamu.edu/?q=node/74
When preparing or reviewing for an examination, notes taken during lectures are crucial and can greatly influence your academic performance. It is important to record the main ideas as well as any additional information that is given by the professor. A good way to learn the skill of great note taking is to be well prepared. This means reading the assignments before the class and also reviewing notes from the previous class. It is recommended that students sit where they can clearly hear the professor as well as see what is written on the board. When note taking, it is important to listen to signals that indicate ideas of importance. Enumerations, summations, and verbal cues such as pauses, inflections, and/or repetitions are all cues that indicate main ideas that may very well be