PART II. NOTE-MAKING:
Within 24 hours of taking the notes, revise these notes, generate questions, and use
collaboration to create meaning.
R Review and Revise
Step 3: Review and revise notes
Use the “Cornell Note Revision Checklist” to revise notes.
Separate main ideas from details by underlining.
Keep important information by highlighting or color coding.
Delete unimportant information by drawing a line through it or not highlighting.
Add your own thinking/fill in details to clarify, complete, or create greater meaning and
understanding.
Paraphrase information.
Identify information that needs clarification using a question mark to indicate the need to check with
a partner or teacher.
Add references from/to other materials as they come to mind or make connections to other
concepts/content.
Use symbols (star, checkmark, etc.) to indicate what is significant.
Use * for information that may be used on a test, essay, tutorial day, etc.
Create a visual or symbol to represent and help recall information.
N Note Key Ideas
Step 4: Note key ideas to create questions.
Use inquiry on the left side that connects to the key ideas.
Review the main ideas highlighted on the right side.
Determine the purpose of the lecture, reading, or activity.
Read aloud the highlighted main ideas on the page, and create a question that is answered with
this main idea.
Develop questions on the left side that identify the main ideas on the right side by interacting with
the information through the revision process in Step 3
o Lower-Level Questions
: Some material in the note section may not lend itself to generating
higher-level questions. In this case, link notes to a previously learned concept to write a higher-
level question or develop additional notes adding personal meaning and details to create
ownership of the material.
o Higher-Level Questions:
It is important for the Cornell notes to create higher-level questions by
applying Bloom’s or Costa’s vocabulary. It is necessary to understand the meaning of the word
used and how to use the terminology accurately ask a higher-level question. Adding “How do
you…” does not create a higher-level question.
E Exchange Ideas
Step 5: Exchange ideas by collaborating.
Collaborate with a peer(s), as a small group, in your tutorial group, whole class, outside of class,
etc., to compare, enhance, and revise your notes.
Using a different color pen, fill in any gaps, and clarify any points of confusion in writing to complete
your notes.
Brainstorm a list of key vocabulary from the lesson to be included in the summary.