The Cornell Note Taking Model

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The Cornell Note Taking Model
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Step 1 Prepare your notes
Recall/ Connections Column
Record Column
--6 Inches--

• --2 Inches--

Reduce Column
--2 1/2 Inches-
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Step 2 Recall Column

• As you read or listen, write down main ideas,
  characters, themes, or literary devices, into a
  few words.
• Recall column should include bulleted ideas, not
  necessarily lengthy phrases, explanations, or
  definitions.
• Ideas for Recall Column
• Categories (characters, setting, themes, events,
  literary devices)
• Vocabulary words (could be words you know or need
  to know)
• Connections (connections to external information
  or contents with the novel)

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Sample Recall Column

• Bentrock, Montana
• David Hayden, 12 years old
• Father is town sheriff
• Marie Little Solider
• David thinks Dad isnt tough as sheriff

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Step 3 Record Column

• Elaborate on Recall Column. Define terms,
  explain themes, conflicts, or issues. Explain
  characters and connections. Define vocabulary or
  literary devices.
• What to look for as you read
• Character descriptions and development
  (relationships)
• Theme progression (impact and connections)
• Meaningful quotes that get at theme and
  characters (significance)
• Literary devices that support plot development
• Vocabulary definitions
• Predictions of what is to come
• Make connections to today, other works, your own
  life and experience
• You dont have to do all of these things all the
  time

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Expanding the Record Column

• Record in Class
• If you dont fully develop your ideas on your
  own, you may add information from class
  discussions.
• You may often be asked to use information from
  your Cornell Notes to answer Discussion Questions
  or generate analysis topics.
• Notetaking tip During class discussions, write
  as many facts and ideas as you can.
• Use shorthand to get the full idea.
• Leave spaces between ideas so you can fill in
  more later.

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Sample Record Column
Recall Column
Record Column

• Bentrock, Montana
• David Hayden, 12 years old
• Father is town sheriff
• Marie Little Solider
• David thinks Dad isnt tough as sheriff

• Location of story hard country, dry and sparse
  and the wind never stops blowing
• David Hayden, 12 years old narrator of the
  story. Is fond of Marie, respects his dad, but
  curious about his profession
• Father is town sheriff
• Marie Little Solider the beloved housekeeper who
  cares for David. A Sioux Indian who falls ill
  during the first part of the novel.
• David thinks Dad isnt tough as sheriff My
  father didnt fit the ideal of what he should be
  in his occupation

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Step 4 Reduce

• Reduce after reading or discussion
• As soon after you read or after class discussion
  as possible, summarize these ideas and facts in
  as few words as possible in the Reduce Column.
• This includes summary of material, the most
  important parts of the reading, or questions you
  still need to answer.
• Helps show relationships between points
  strengthens memory.
• Prepares you for exams gradually ahead of time.

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Sample Reduce Column

• Wes is faced with a difficult decision of family
  loyalty or duty to uphold the law.
• The literary device of irony is demonstrated with
  Mom, as she worries about what David is exposed
  to, however, look at his own family.

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Notetaking Tips

• Date your notes and number all pages.
• Notes for each chapter or section of assigned
  reading should begin on a new page.
• Use abbreviations and symbols wherever possible.
  Note down unfamiliar vocabulary and unclear
  areas.
• Never use a sentence when you can use a phrase,
  or a phrase when you can use a word.
• Put most notes in your own words. However, the
  following should be noted exactly
• Quotes , page numbers, and characters names