Good notes do three things: capture the idea, organize it so it’s retrievable, and support later review. Different methods excel at different roles. Here’s a practical guide to choosing and using them.
Cornell Method
What: Page divided into cues (left), notes (main), and summary (bottom). Best for: lectures and materials you’ll review later.
How to use: During class write main points. After class, add cue questions in the left column and a 2–4 sentence summary at the bottom. Use cues for quick active recall.
Mind Mapping
What: Central concept with branches for related ideas. Best for: brainstorming, seeing relationships, and subjects like history or literature.
How to use: Start with the main idea in the center, branch to themes, add short keywords and small images. Use color to group relationships.
Outline Method
What: Hierarchical bullets and sub-bullets. Best for: structured, sequential topics (math, coding, recipes).
How to use: Use levels to indicate importance and sequence. Keep phrases short and add examples or worked steps.
Hybrid tips
- Use Cornell for lectures but add a small mind map for the "big picture".
- Convert outlines into flashcards for active recall.
- Digitize and tag notes so you can search them later (Obsidian, Notion, or even simple folders).
Review strategy
Regardless of method, build a review step: the same day, 2–3 days later, and 1–2 weeks later. Convert the most important cues into flashcards for spaced repetition.
Conclusion
No single method is perfect. Choose the one that matches the subject and your thinking style, and add retrieval practice to turn notes into knowledge.