Studying Your Notes: Developing Understanding & Preparing for Tests

The SQ4R strategy for learning and remembering can be applied to lectures along with Cornell Notes. The SQ4R strategy includes the following steps: 

1. 1. Survey - Do at least a quick read of the assignment, chapters, or last lecture to get a general idea of the material before lecture. 
   2. Question - Write questions that you have about each section. This primes your thinking and attention to seek out informaton from lecture. 
   3. Reduce - In the left recall column of the notes, write a brief summary of ideas from lecture 
   4. Recite - Cover the main notes on the right side, read brief summary in left column, and say outloud to yourself in your own words the ideas from lecture. Re-read to verify accuracy. You can also reverse this by covering the left column, reviewing notes, and summarizing the key ideas. 
   5. Reflect - Write test questions, write your opinion about the ideas from lecture, compare and contrast with other ideas. Use your own words. 
   6. Review - Review summary column and notes for 10 minutes each week. Review summary column of last lecture just before next lecture. 

--> Handout: Cornell Notes & SQ4R Download Cornell Notes & SQ4R (printable PDF) 

 

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Use color: As you review your notes, you can highlight and color code them. Or you can write flash cards in color. The color grabs your attention, helps with your memory, and makes you think through how to categorize information. For example, you might put nouns and verbs in different colors in a language class or you might write the parts of the lymphatic and circulatory systems in different colors in a biology class. These colors help your brain to remember the connection between these words and pictures. 

 

Flash cards can be developed from your Cornell Notes. The summary information from the left column goes on one side of the flash card. The details from the right side (main column) go on the other side of the flash card. Be sure to test yourself by saying the answer in full sentences out loud to yourself. (Don't just think and flip to read the answer.) Saying answers in your own words forces you to evaluate whether you can truly explain the ideas you have learned. It also helps you to connect new ideas to information that is well established in your memory so that you can understand it better. These connections in your brain help you to find the information in your brain (to remember the information) on a test.