How to take good notes

• Some simple rules:

1. don't try to write down every word (only write down content word. Leave out articles and preposition.)
2. don't worry about spelling and grammar (try to use short words and abbreviations. Leave out helping and auxilliary verbs.)
3. translate ideas into your own words (this will help you remember the main idea.)

• Take notes if your professor:

1. pauses before or after an idea
2. repeats an idea
3. writes an idea on the board

• Some shorten your idea and words

1. don't write connecting words (like is, are, was, were, a, an, the, would, this, of
2. don't write pronoun (like they, these, his, that, them)
3. use symbols (like "+" for and, "x" for times)

Ex1: The diameter of the earth is  four times greater than the diameter of the moon
--> earth four times greater than diameter of moon
==> earth = 4x > diameter of moon
Ex2: After many long years, the 19th Amendment was finally passed in August 1920, which gave women the right to vote in United States elections
==> Aug 1920: 19th Amendment --> women vote U.S.

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