Procedure

1. Have students draw a page-size, upside-down T about 1/3 of the page from the left of their paper, leaving some space at the bottom of the page. This makes a simple table with two columns (the left one smaller than the right) and an undivided bottom row.

2. While going through a reading or lecture, students should first look for the big idea of each section of text and write this in the right-hand column. The teacher often supplies the main ideas as a guide to the text.

3. After the reading or lecture, have students review their notes, pull out key concepts, and write them in the left-hand column. Traditionally, these are written in question form, but whatever works for the students is best.

4. After class, students should review their notes and summarize their ideas into a sentence or two to write in the remaining empty row. This serves as a summary area. If done as an assignment or as a way of teaching note taking, this summary can be filled out in class after students have finished taking notes.