Capturing understanding.
WHAT NOTES ARE FOR
Building understanding as you write them Providing something useful to return to
WHAT MOST NOTES ACHIEVE
Neither, because they transcribe rather than process.
WHAT TRANSCRIBING PRODUCES
A record you did not think about, and will not reread.
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD
Write in your own words Record the point rather than the wording Note questions and gaps Mark what you did not understand
THAT LAST ONE
The most valuable thing in any set of notes.
WHAT TO CAPTURE
Main arguments Evidence supporting them Definitions Anything the speaker emphasised Anything that contradicts what you believed
WHAT TO LEAVE OUT
Anything already in the material you can return to.
WHAT TO DO SOON AFTERWARDS
Review and complete them, while you still remember the context.
WHY SOON
Notes make far less sense a week later than you expect.
WHAT TO ADD
Links to related material, and your own conclusions.
