Cornell Notes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The student divides the paper into two columns: the note-taking column (usually on the right) is twice the size of the key word column (on the left). Notes from a lecture or textbook are written in the note-taking column. Afterwards, relevant questions or key words are written in the key word column. The student also writes a short summary on the last four lines.
The student then covers up the note-taking column and responds to the questions/keywords in the key word column. The student is encouraged to reflect on the material and review the notes regularly. The Cornell method provides a systematic format for condensing and organizing notes.
After the notes have been taken, the student then writes a brief summary at the bottom of the page. This helps to increase understanding of the topic."