- Cornell: split the page into notes, cues and a summary; best when you will review later.
- Outline: nested bullets; best for structured talks that follow an agenda.
- Mapping: a diagram of connected ideas; best for brainstorming and messy discussions.
- Charting: a table; best when comparing options on the same criteria.
- Sentence: one numbered line per point; best when the talk moves fast and has no clear structure.
The Cornell method
Developed by Walter Pauk at Cornell University in the 1950s and published in his book How to Study in College, the Cornell method divides a page into three areas: a wide note-taking column on the right, a narrow cue column on the left, and a summary strip at the bottom (University of Cincinnati).
- Record during the session in the right-hand column, in short phrases.
- Reduce straight afterwards: write questions or key words in the cue column.
- Recite: cover the notes and try to answer from the cues alone.
- Summarise the page in a sentence or two at the bottom.
Good for: anything you will need to recall later, such as training sessions, investor updates and lectures. Less good for: fast back-and-forth conversations where there's no time to keep the layout.
For meetings: use the cue column for owners and dates, and the summary strip for the decision.
The outline method
Main topics on the left margin, sub-points indented beneath them. It mirrors the structure of a well-run meeting with an agenda.
Good for: structured presentations and status meetings. Less good for: discussions that jump between topics, where you spend more time deciding where a point goes than listening.
The mapping method
Write the central topic in the middle and draw branches for each idea, with connections between related points.
Good for: brainstorms, strategy discussions and anything where relationships matter more than order. Less good for: recording exact details, and for sharing; maps are hard for others to read.
The charting method
Draw a table before the meeting with columns for the things you're comparing (vendors, candidates, options) and rows for the criteria.
Good for: vendor demos, interview panels and pricing discussions. Less good for: open-ended conversations, because the table only captures what you anticipated.
The sentence method
Write each new point as a numbered line, in order, without trying to organise it. Structure comes later, during review.
Good for: fast, unstructured conversations and calls. Less good for: later review unless you tidy the notes soon after.
Which method for which situation
| Situation | Method |
|---|---|
| Agenda-driven team meeting | Outline |
| Client call or discovery call | Sentence, then tidy into a template |
| Training, lecture, investor update | Cornell |
| Brainstorm or strategy session | Mapping |
| Comparing vendors or candidates | Charting |
Whatever you choose, the habit that matters most is the same: review within a day. Notes that are never reread fade almost as fast as the memory they were meant to protect.
Questions people ask
What are the five note-taking methods?
Who invented the Cornell note-taking method?
Which note-taking method is best for meetings?
Is mind mapping good for taking notes?
Sources
- The Cornell Method for Note-Taking — University of Cincinnati Learning Commons
- The Cornell Note-taking System, adapted from How to Study in College (Pauk) — University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
Checked 11 November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Write to [email protected].
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