- Audio
- A few minutes
- Questions
- Several per talk
- Speakers
- One, sometimes with a student
- Tests
- Main idea, details, structure, purpose
Lectures follow a few structures
| Structure | Signal phrases |
|---|---|
| Definition and example | X is… / Take, for example, … |
| Cause and effect | This led to… / As a result, … |
| Compare and contrast | Unlike… / On the other hand, … |
| Process | First… / Then… / Finally… |
| Problem and solution | One challenge was… / Researchers solved this by… |
Spot the structure in the first 20 seconds and your notes almost organise themselves. Questions follow the same order as the talk.
Note-taking that works
- Two columns: main points on the left, examples on the right.
- Short forms: ↑ for increase, → for leads to, ≠ for different.
- Write new terms the professor defines. They are almost always tested.
- Never write full sentences.
Why did the professor mention…?
Purpose questions ask why something was said, not what was said. Examples are usually there to illustrate the point just before them. Ask yourself which idea the example supports.
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