Cornell Note-Taking Method

Overview

This lecture explains the Cornell Method, a structured and effective way of taking notes by hand to boost understanding and memory during lectures, meetings, or self-study.

When and Why Take Notes

• Notes are taken during lectures, meetings, or study sessions to help remember and organize information.
• Typing notes can be fast but is often passive and leads to distractions.
• Writing notes by hand is more active, requiring you to think and process information as you write.

Problems with Typing Notes

• Typing tends to result in copying everything word-for-word without processing the material.
• Using a computer can be distracting due to unrelated activities (e.g., social media).
• Studies show handwritten notes improve retention and understanding compared to typed notes.

The Cornell Method Structure

• Divide your page into four parts: title/date, keywords/main ideas, details, and summary.
• Top section: Write the lesson title and date.
• Left column: Write main ideas, keywords, or important questions from the lecture.
• Right column: Record supporting details, facts, definitions, formulas, examples, or diagrams.
• Bottom section: After the lesson, summarize the 4-5 most important things you learned.

Example of the Cornell Method in Use

• Main idea: “What is English?”; Detail: “Official in 60 countries, most widely learned 2nd language, Indo-European.”
• Main idea: “Dialects”; Detail: “Includes Jamaican, Indian, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, etc.”
• Main idea: “American vs. British”; Detail: “Different ‘er’ pronunciation, vocabulary differences, (e.g. ‘lift’ vs. ‘elevator’).”
• Use abbreviations for repeated terms to save time (e.g., "lang" for "language", "diff" for "difference").
• Add questions or items to review if you do not understand something during the lecture.

Benefits of the Cornell Method

• Organizes information clearly for easy review and exam preparation.
• Encourages active listening and deeper processing of material.
• Helps quickly locate main ideas and supporting details.
• Writing a summary aids memory retention and identifies key takeaways.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Passive Listening — Hearing information without processing or engaging with it.
• Active Listening — Engaging with information by processing, organizing, and summarizing it.
• Cornell Method — A note-taking system with divided sections for main ideas, details, and summary.
• Dialect — A regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Practice the Cornell Method with your next lecture or video lesson.
• Visit www.engvid.com for more videos and practice opportunities.
• At the end of each session, write a summary of at least four key things you learned.
• Use abbreviations to speed up note-taking and improve efficiency.