 At university, you make notes to use them for an assignment or to study for an exam and to develop your understanding of a topic. Effective note making requires you to be active and focused. It is not a passive action. Keep the keywords of the assignment written and in mind whilst reading and note making. Underline keywords and phrases, circle words and write questions and notes in the margin. Copy any quotes and keep precise records of referencing details. Write in point form using abbreviations and symbols. Use colors and highlighters to mark relevant parts. Choose a note making style that suits you such as Cornell. Cover your notes and write summaries of your notes for understanding. Write out questions and answer them for recall and to help your long term memory. Make connections between texts as you go. Write some assignment body paragraphs before you make more notes from other texts. This will help you make better, more useful notes as you go.