IMPROVE YOUR NOTES » five ways

Good notes start with a notebook setup that makes organization effortless and studying faster—then the writing system follows. The core idea is to build a note-taking workflow that stays consistent across a semester: use a sturdy notebook with built-in structure, write in a way that leaves room for class-time additions, and keep your visual system simple enough that you can focus during lectures.

The first move is choosing the right notebook. A single, durable hardcover notebook becomes the home for all semester notes, reducing fragmentation across classes. The specific model mentioned—Moleskine Pro A4 with dotted pages—adds two practical features: numbered pages and a table of contents. Numbering and indexing matter because they let students quickly locate topics and class subjects later, especially when one notebook holds multiple courses.

Second comes the writing layout. Instead of filling the page edge-to-edge, the notes use two columns. This approach—whether or not it’s explicitly the Cornell method—creates flexibility when lectures move faster than expected. Two columns make it easier to insert horizontal additions such as examples, corrections, or side comments without cramming everything into a single block of text. The transcript gives concrete examples: in a bachelor’s program, notes could include legal articles being discussed alongside the professor’s commentary on the same page, and the second column can also hold personal remarks, references to other pages, or prompts for materials to consult later.

Third is color, but with strict limits. The system uses only two colored pens per set of notes. The goal isn’t decoration—it’s selective emphasis. Two colors prevent the “color decoding” problem that comes from too many shades, and it also speeds up note-taking by removing the constant decision of which color to use. The aesthetic benefit is real too: a minimal palette tends to look cleaner.

Fourth is page spacing and how information is arranged. Cramming everything onto one page can look satisfying, but it can slow studying if handwriting and layout become hard to scan. If the notebook is treated as a temporary staging area (for later rewriting at home), dense pages may be less harmful. But if it’s the ultimate study source, spacing matters—especially with the two-column method. Leaving blank space in the unused column is recommended rather than forcing it filled. Blank areas make review easier by improving visual clarity and also create room for future active-reading comments.

Finally, mistakes are handled efficiently rather than avoided. The transcript emphasizes that errors happen—grammar and vocabulary included—especially for a Portuguese first-language student taking English courses. The fix is practical: if a mistake doesn’t harm understanding, it can be left alone; if it’s wrong but still correctable, the corrected version is written and underlined; if it would undermine later comprehension, the incorrect part is neatly struck through. The result is a notebook that stays readable and “spotless” enough for future study without turning correction into a distraction.