research note taking template

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User Research Center

User research note taking guide, by meg mcmahon.

Taking notes is a vital part of the User Research process. It helps all of the researchers gain a shared understanding of the interviews during the analysis phase of the project.

As a note taker, you need to decide what is important to include to inform the tasks or questions asked in the interview and what information could help answer the research questions or further the goals of the study. Note taking is not creating a transcript (if you need a transcript, we can use dictation software).

Before Taking Notes

• Become familiar with the following documents and aspects of the project: the project plan, script, and any important background information on the project.
• Use a shared notes grid with a column for each participant and rows for each task or question.
• Use a notes doc template; each participant has their own document that includes the participant details and the questions.
• Use Dovetail , a web-based note taking tool or a different web-based tool.
• Check the moderator notes field for context for this specific interview. (This is found at the bottom of a shared notes grid, at the top of a participant notes doc, or at the top of a Dovetail participant area.)

Note Taking

It is the note takers job to note anything that actually happened in the meeting. This may include things that were said as well as sounds or body language that may indicate feelings. In capturing notes pay attention to the following:

• Frustrations
• “Wow” or positive moments
• Gaps in knowledge, moments when a participant doesn’t have the necessary knowledge in relation to the task or question.

Do’s and Don’ts of Notetaking

Use the word “participant”.

At the URC we refer to all the individuals who participate in our studies as “participant” not user, interviewee, or by their name.

Add timestamp of the insight

Timestamps are helpful to have for reference, especially if video clips are needed for the report.

Don’t make assumptions in the notes, stay true to the facts

When taking notes, state what happens opposed to assuming behavior of the participant or making generalizations about the system.

Keep a consistent format

Be sure to stay in the chosen format for the notes.

Use quotations when it makes an impact

If a participant says something that is directly related to a theme you find during analysis, it is helpful to record the quote as a record of that theme within the research.

Paraphrase when appropriate

If a participant’s quote is long and includes pieces of information that are not directly related to the key finding with the phrase, shorten the phrase.

Look for unspoken body language or emotions

Add notes about what body language a participant is using when speaking or trying to accomplish a task.

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13.5 Research Process: Making Notes, Synthesizing Information, and Keeping a Research Log

Learning outcomes.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Employ the methods and technologies commonly used for research and communication within various fields.
• Practice and apply strategies such as interpretation, synthesis, response, and critique to compose texts that integrate the writer’s ideas with those from appropriate sources.
• Analyze and make informed decisions about intellectual property based on the concepts that motivate them.
• Apply citation conventions systematically.

As you conduct research, you will work with a range of “texts” in various forms, including sources and documents from online databases as well as images, audio, and video files from the Internet. You may also work with archival materials and with transcribed and analyzed primary data. Additionally, you will be taking notes and recording quotations from secondary sources as you find materials that shape your understanding of your topic and, at the same time, provide you with facts and perspectives. You also may download articles as PDFs that you then annotate. Like many other students, you may find it challenging to keep so much material organized, accessible, and easy to work with while you write a major research paper. As it does for many of those students, a research log for your ideas and sources will help you keep track of the scope, purpose, and possibilities of any research project.

A research log is essentially a journal in which you collect information, ask questions, and monitor the results. Even if you are completing the annotated bibliography for Writing Process: Informing and Analyzing , keeping a research log is an effective organizational tool. Like Lily Tran’s research log entry, most entries have three parts: a part for notes on secondary sources, a part for connections to the thesis or main points, and a part for your own notes or questions. Record source notes by date, and allow room to add cross-references to other entries.

Summary of Assignment: Research Log

Your assignment is to create a research log similar to the student model. You will use it for the argumentative research project assigned in Writing Process: Integrating Research to record all secondary source information: your notes, complete publication data, relation to thesis, and other information as indicated in the right-hand column of the sample entry.

Another Lens. A somewhat different approach to maintaining a research log is to customize it to your needs or preferences. You can apply shading or color coding to headers, rows, and/or columns in the three-column format (for colors and shading). Or you can add columns to accommodate more information, analysis, synthesis, or commentary, formatting them as you wish. Consider adding a column for questions only or one for connections to other sources. Finally, consider a different visual format , such as one without columns. Another possibility is to record some of your comments and questions so that you have an aural rather than a written record of these.

Writing Center

At this point, or at any other point during the research and writing process, you may find that your school’s writing center can provide extensive assistance. If you are unfamiliar with the writing center, now is a good time to pay your first visit. Writing centers provide free peer tutoring for all types and phases of writing. Discussing your research with a trained writing center tutor can help you clarify, analyze, and connect ideas as well as provide feedback on works in progress.

Quick Launch: Beginning Questions

You may begin your research log with some open pages in which you freewrite, exploring answers to the following questions. Although you generally would do this at the beginning, it is a process to which you likely will return as you find more information about your topic and as your focus changes, as it may during the course of your research.

• What information have I found so far?
• What do I still need to find?
• Where am I most likely to find it?

These are beginning questions. Like Lily Tran, however, you will come across general questions or issues that a quick note or freewrite may help you resolve. The key to this section is to revisit it regularly. Written answers to these and other self-generated questions in your log clarify your tasks as you go along, helping you articulate ideas and examine supporting evidence critically. As you move further into the process, consider answering the following questions in your freewrite:

• What evidence looks as though it best supports my thesis?
• What evidence challenges my working thesis?
• How is my thesis changing from where it started?

Creating the Research Log

As you gather source material for your argumentative research paper, keep in mind that the research is intended to support original thinking. That is, you are not writing an informational report in which you simply supply facts to readers. Instead, you are writing to support a thesis that shows original thinking, and you are collecting and incorporating research into your paper to support that thinking. Therefore, a research log, whether digital or handwritten, is a great way to keep track of your thinking as well as your notes and bibliographic information.

In the model below, Lily Tran records the correct MLA bibliographic citation for the source. Then, she records a note and includes the in-text citation here to avoid having to retrieve this information later. Perhaps most important, Tran records why she noted this information—how it supports her thesis: The human race must turn to sustainable food systems that provide healthy diets with minimal environmental impact, starting now . Finally, she makes a note to herself about an additional visual to include in the final paper to reinforce the point regarding the current pressure on food systems. And she connects the information to other information she finds, thus cross-referencing and establishing a possible synthesis. Use a format similar to that in Table 13.4 to begin your own research log.

Types of Research Notes

Taking good notes will make the research process easier by enabling you to locate and remember sources and use them effectively. While some research projects requiring only a few sources may seem easily tracked, research projects requiring more than a few sources are more effectively managed when you take good bibliographic and informational notes. As you gather evidence for your argumentative research paper, follow the descriptions and the electronic model to record your notes. You can combine these with your research log, or you can use the research log for secondary sources and your own note-taking system for primary sources if a division of this kind is helpful. Either way, be sure to include all necessary information.

Bibliographic Notes

These identify the source you are using. When you locate a useful source, record the information necessary to find that source again. It is important to do this as you find each source, even before taking notes from it. If you create bibliographic notes as you go along, then you can easily arrange them in alphabetical order later to prepare the reference list required at the end of formal academic papers. If your instructor requires you to use MLA formatting for your essay, be sure to record the following information:

• Title of source
• Title of container (larger work in which source is included)
• Other contributors
• Publication date

When using MLA style with online sources, also record the following information:

• Date of original publication
• Date of access
• DOI (A DOI, or digital object identifier, is a series of digits and letters that leads to the location of an online source. Articles in journals are often assigned DOIs to ensure that the source can be located, even if the URL changes. If your source is listed with a DOI, use that instead of a URL.)

It is important to understand which documentation style your instructor will require you to use. Check the Handbook for MLA Documentation and Format and APA Documentation and Format styles . In addition, you can check the style guide information provided by the Purdue Online Writing Lab .

Informational Notes

These notes record the relevant information found in your sources. When writing your essay, you will work from these notes, so be sure they contain all the information you need from every source you intend to use. Also try to focus your notes on your research question so that their relevance is clear when you read them later. To avoid confusion, work with separate entries for each piece of information recorded. At the top of each entry, identify the source through brief bibliographic identification (author and title), and note the page numbers on which the information appears. Also helpful is to add personal notes, including ideas for possible use of the information or cross-references to other information. As noted in Writing Process: Integrating Research , you will be using a variety of formats when borrowing from sources. Below is a quick review of these formats in terms of note-taking processes. By clarifying whether you are quoting directly, paraphrasing, or summarizing during these stages, you can record information accurately and thus take steps to avoid plagiarism.

Direct Quotations, Paraphrases, and Summaries

A direct quotation is an exact duplication of the author’s words as they appear in the original source. In your notes, put quotation marks around direct quotations so that you remember these words are the author’s, not yours. One advantage of copying exact quotations is that it allows you to decide later whether to include a quotation, paraphrase, or summary. ln general, though, use direct quotations only when the author’s words are particularly lively or persuasive.

A paraphrase is a restatement of the author’s words in your own words. Paraphrase to simplify or clarify the original author’s point. In your notes, use paraphrases when you need to record details but not exact words.

A summary is a brief condensation or distillation of the main point and most important details of the original source. Write a summary in your own words, with facts and ideas accurately represented. A summary is useful when specific details in the source are unimportant or irrelevant to your research question. You may find you can summarize several paragraphs or even an entire article or chapter in just a few sentences without losing useful information. It is a good idea to note when your entry contains a summary to remind you later that it omits detailed information. See Writing Process Integrating Research for more detailed information and examples of quotations, paraphrases, and summaries and when to use them.

Other Systems for Organizing Research Logs and Digital Note-Taking

Students often become frustrated and at times overwhelmed by the quantity of materials to be managed in the research process. If this is your first time working with both primary and secondary sources, finding ways to keep all of the information in one place and well organized is essential.

Because gathering primary evidence may be a relatively new practice, this section is designed to help you navigate the process. As mentioned earlier, information gathered in fieldwork is not cataloged, organized, indexed, or shelved for your convenience. Obtaining it requires diligence, energy, and planning. Online resources can assist you with keeping a research log. Your college library may have subscriptions to tools such as Todoist or EndNote. Consult with a librarian to find out whether you have access to any of these. If not, use something like the template shown in Figure 13.8 , or another like it, as a template for creating your own research notes and organizational tool. You will need to have a record of all field research data as well as the research log for all secondary sources.

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Notetaking Templates

How to take useful notes.

• Taking Lecture Notes 
• Taking Notes on Readings

Taking Notes for Research

Template for lecture notes.

Download accessible version (Word doc) or this notetaking template to support your notetaking for lectures.

Video: Effective Lecture Notes

Template for Taking Notes on Readings

Taking notes on articles/books in the humanities and social sciences.

This notetaking template encourages organized notetaking and uses questions to elicit analytical responses to a text. Available to download accessible version (Word doc) .

Taking Notes on Scientific Papers

This notetaking template encourages organized notetaking and uses questions to elicit analytical responses to a scientific article. Available to download accessible version (Word doc) .

Excel is another useful platform for notetaking; this template allows you to capture key ideas from a source and encourages you to think about how you will use the source. 

Note-Taking Template for Journal Articles

Download the Word Document: Note Taking Template for Journal Articles Word Document Download the PDF: Note Taking Template for Journal Articles PDF

Use this worksheet to help you take notes and learn important content in journal articles.

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How to take Research Notes

How to take research notes.

Your research notebook is an important piece of information useful for future projects and presentations. Maintaining organized and legible notes allows your research notebook to be a valuable resource to you and your research group. It allows others and yourself to replicate experiments, and it also serves as a useful troubleshooting tool. Besides it being an important part of the research process, taking detailed notes of your research will help you stay organized and allow you to easily review your work.

Here are some common reasons to maintain organized notes:

• Keeps a record of your goals and thoughts during your research experiments.
• Keeps a record of what worked and what didn't in your research experiments.
• Enables others to use your notes as a guide for similar procedures and techniques.
• A helpful tool to reference when writing a paper, submitting a proposal, or giving a presentation.
• Assists you in answering experimental questions.
• Useful to efficiently share experimental approaches, data, and results with others.

Before taking notes:

• Ask your research professor what note-taking method they recommend or prefer.
• Consider what type of media you'll be using to take notes.
• Once you have decided on how you'll be taking notes, be sure to keep all of your notes in one place to remain organized.
• Plan on taking notes regularly (meetings, important dates, procedures, journal/manuscript revisions, etc.).
• This is useful when applying to programs or internships that ask about your research experience.

Note Taking Tips:

Taking notes by hand:.

• Research notebooks don’t belong to you so make sure your notes are legible for others.
• Use post-it notes or tabs to flag important sections.
• Start sorting your notes early so that you don't become backed up and disorganized.
• Only write with a pen as pencils aren’t permanent & sharpies can bleed through.
• Make it a habit to write in your notebook and not directly on sticky notes or paper towels. Rewriting notes can waste time and sometimes lead to inaccurate data or results.

Taking Notes Electronically

• Make sure your device is charged and backed up to store data.
• Invest in note-taking apps or E-Ink tablets
• Create shortcuts to your folders so you have easier access
• Create outlines.
• Keep your notes short and legible.

Note Taking Tips Continued:

Things to avoid.

• Avoid using pencils or markers that may bleed through.
• Avoid erasing entries. Instead, draw a straight line through any mistakes and write the date next to the crossed-out information.
• Avoid writing in cursive.
• Avoid delaying your entries so you don’t fall behind and forget information.

Formatting Tips

• Use bullet points to condense your notes to make them simpler to access or color-code them.
• Tracking your failures and mistakes can improve your work in the future.
• If possible, take notes as you’re experimenting or make time at the end of each workday to get it done.
• Record the date at the start of every day, including all dates spent on research.

Types of media to use when taking notes:

Traditional paper notebook.

• Pros: Able to take quick notes, convenient access to notes, cheaper option
• Cons: Requires a table of contents or tabs as it is not easily searchable, can get damaged easily, needs to be scanned if making a digital copy

Electronic notebook  

• Apple Notes  
• Pros: Easily searchable, note-taking apps available, easy to edit & customize
• Cons: Can be difficult to find notes if they are unorganized, not as easy to take quick notes, can be a more expensive option

Combination of both

Contact info.

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Note-Taking Template for Journal Articles

Use this worksheet to help you take notes and learn important content in journal articles.

Title of Article: ______________________________ Publication: __________________

Author(s) __________________________________ Date: __________________

Download Note-Taking Template for Journal Articles Word Document

Download Note-Taking Template for Journal Articles PDF File

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• Staff Resources
• Research Process
• Note-Taking
• Note-Taking Templates
• Note-Taking Checklist
• 1 Reference Source Templates
• 1.1 Online Doc/Printable Downloads
• 2 Book Source Templates
• 2.1 Online Doc/Printable Downloads
• 3 Journal Source Templates
• 3.1 Online Doc/Printable Downloads
• 4 Website Source Templates
• 4.1 Online Doc/Printable Downloads

Use these templates to take notes from different kinds of sources. These templates will help you to understand:

• what kind of information to gather from each kind of source
• how to keep track of what data you got from each source
• what further information you need to gather

Each template is available in Google Doc format, for your convenience. Some WRDSB high schools have versions of these templates which have been customized to suit that school’s specific requirements. Check your school library website for further information.

Reference Source Templates

• Use for finding facts and figures
• Note information that needs to be verified by checking other sources
• Jot down potential sub-topics suggested by information from each source
• Record source information (title, date, etc.)

Online Doc/Printable Downloads

• MLA Reference Encyclopedia G-Doc
• APA Reference Encyclopedia G-Doc
• MLA Specialized Print Encyclopedia G-Doc

Book Source Templates

• Record main ideas in point form
• Take note of your own responses to these ideas, or questions that you have about them
• Record any great quotes that you find that support your main ideas: be sure to copy the quote exactly and note the page number for your citation
• Record source information
• MLA Book G-Doc
• APA Book G-Doc
• CMS Book G-Doc
• APA Book Chapter G-Doc
• MLA Anthology G-Doc
• CMS Anthology G-Doc

Journal Source Templates

• Use for print or online journals, and for journal articles accessed through an online database from the Virtual Library
• Take note of your own responses and ideas
• Record quotes that support your ideas: be sure to copy the quote exactly
• MLA Journal Magazine G-Doc
• CMS Journal Magazine G-Doc
• APA Academic Journal with DOI G-Doc
• APA Periodicals without DOI (magazines, popular journals, news articles) G-Doc

Website Source Templates

• Note main ideas in point form
• Record your own responses to these ideas
• Note information that needs to be verified from another source
• Identify the steps you took to validate this source: when researching from the web, you are particularly responsible for making sure that your source is reliable
• APA Website G-Doc
• MLA Page from Website G-Doc
• APA Page from Website G-Doc
• CMS Page from Website G-Doc
• CMS Online Image G-Doc
• APA Online Multimedia G-Doc
• MLA Online Multimedia G-Doc
• CMS Online Multimedia G-Doc

This information expires once printed. Please always refer to the online version for the most current information.

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Researching the Literature Review

• 1. Get Started
• 2. Find Articles

Tracking Your Searches

Mind mapping, note taking tables, reading tips, writing as a conversation, writing center resources, how do you take notes.

• 4. Keep Current
• 5. Manage References
• 6. Done Yet?
• 7. Get Help

One way to begin taking notes is to keep track of what you are searching for.  Many databases help you do this by allowing you to save searches and set up email alerts .  Saving searches allows you to watch the development of your search over time and to make sure you are not simply repeating the same search over and over.  Copy and paste or print out the search page to help think of ways your search could or should change over time.  This example is from the EbscoHost version of Medline, but many databases have a similar option.

Viewing the search history and saving searches

Mind mapping is a popular way to brainstorm about your topic or to take notes about an article or presentation.  Start with the main topic in the center and then think of a variety of related subtopics that you want to explore.  Mind maps allow you to be flexible and to see alternative ideas you may not initially have considered.

You can either use paper and pencil or you can use a variety of free or commercial products to create mind maps.  See some suggested options below.  (This mind map was made with the free version of XMind.)

• Wikipedia's List of Mind Mapping Software
• Note Taking Table Template

Some of us think in a more linear way and find it useful to enter notes in tables rather than in mind or concept maps.  This table is one illustration of what types of information you can gather from the articles or books that you read.  If this table is helpful, you can download the handout version linked above.

Learning how to read academic literature, both articles and books, takes practices.  Here are some tips to help you become a more focused reader:

One way to think about writing a literature review is as a dialogue between authors who have previously written about various aspects of your topic.  You will create this dialog by discussing the agreements and disagreements between those authors, and you will illustrate what they have not yet talked about or researched. 

Use this illustration not as an exact recipe for how to write, but as a guide for how to incorporate some of these writing strategies.

• OSU Graduate Writing Center

Need more writing help? Try the OSU Writing Center.  In addition to providing free help, particularly with brainstorming and organization, they also have writing assistants who are specifically trained to work with graduate students.  Plan ahead as it can often take several sessions to work through something as major as a thesis writing project.

Which of these tools do you most commonly use to take notes?

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Study Skills

Research skills.

• Searching the literature
• Note making for dissertations
• Research Data Management
• Copyright and licenses
• Publishing in journals
• Publishing academic books
• Depositing your thesis
• Research metrics
• Build your online profile
• Finding support

Note making for dissertations: First steps into writing

Note making (as opposed to note taking) is an active practice of recording relevant parts of reading for your research as well as your reflections and critiques of those studies. Note making, therefore, is a pre-writing exercise that helps you to organise your thoughts prior to writing. In this module, we will cover:

• The difference between note taking and note making
• Seven tips for good note making
• Strategies for structuring your notes and asking critical questions
• Different styles of note making

To complete this section, you will need:

• Approximately 20-30 minutes.
• Access to the internet. All the resources used here are available freely.
• Some equipment for jotting down your thoughts, a pen and paper will do, or your phone or another electronic device.

Note taking v note making

When you think about note taking, what comes to mind? Perhaps trying to record everything said in a lecture? Perhaps trying to write down everything included in readings required for a course?

• Note taking is a passive process. When you take notes, you are often trying to record everything that you are reading or listening to. However, you may have noticed that this takes a lot of effort and often results in too many notes to be useful.  
• Note making , on the other hand, is an active practice, based on the needs and priorities of your project. Note making is an opportunity for you to ask critical questions of your readings and to synthesise ideas as they pertain to your research questions. Making notes is a pre-writing exercise that develops your academic voice and makes writing significantly easier.

Seven tips for effective note making

Note making is an active process based on the needs of your research. This video contains seven tips to help you make brilliant notes from articles and books to make the most of the time you spend reading and writing.

• Transcript of Seven Tips for Effective Notemaking

Question prompts for strategic note making

You might consider structuring your notes to answer the following questions. Remember that note making is based on your needs, so not all of these questions will apply in all cases. You might try answering these questions using the note making styles discussed in the next section.

• Question prompts for strategic note making
• Background question prompts
• Critical question prompts
• Synthesis question prompts

Answer these six questions to frame your reading and provide context.

• What is the context in which the text was written? What came before it? Are there competing ideas?
• Who is the intended audience?
• What is the author’s purpose?
• How is the writing organised?
• What are the author’s methods?
• What is the author’s key argument and conclusions?

Answer these six questions to determine your critical perspectivess and develop your academic voice.

• What are the most interesting/compelling ideas (to you) in this study?
• Why do you find them interesting? How do they relate to your study?
• What questions do you have about the study?
• What could it cover better? How could it have defended its research better?
• What are the implications of the study? (Look not just to the conclusions but also to definitions and models)
• Are there any gaps in the study? (Look not just at conclusions but definitions, literature review, methodology)

Answer these five questions to compare aspects of various studies (such as for a literature review. 

• What are the similarities and differences in the literature?
• Critically analyse the strengths, limitations, debates and themes that emerg from the literature.
• What would you suggest for future research or practice?
• Where are the gaps in the literature? What is missing? Why?
• What new questions should be asked in this area of study?

Styles of note making

• Linear notes . Great for recording thoughts about your readings. [video]
• Mind mapping : Great for thinking through complex topics. [video]

Further sites that discuss techniques for note making:

• Note-taking techniques
• Common note-taking methods
• Strategies for effective note making  

Did you know?

How did you find this Research Skills module

Image Credits: Image #1: David Travis on Unsplash ; Image #2: Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

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Information indigestion? The search for a perfect note taking system.

For the last 20 years I’ve been on a quest to find the perfect academic note taking system.

I abandoned paper in 2005 when I realised my notebooks were the place my ideas went to die. Although writing into a notebook felt useful at the time it was hard to find stuff later. Flipping fruitlessly through hundreds of pages of bad hand writing was frustrating. When I did find the notes, they didn’t make much sense without the source material. Scribbling notes on printouts solved this problem and created another: filing. I’d either remember the author or the title – maybe sometimes just the topic or idea. You can’t file a piece of paper under four categories at once.

I’ll admit, over the last fifteen years, I’ve wondered at people who cling stubbornly to their paper ways. Digital notes have all sorts of obvious advantages. The search function replaces filing and you virtually eliminate the ‘transaction cost’ of transcribing notes from paper to screen. It all sounds great – but there’s a reason there’s heaps of database products on the market and none have dominated. They don’t really solve the note taking problem.

I’ve been a relentless digital note taking booster, but I have a confession to make. All the time I was telling people that digital notes were better, I had the nagging suspicion something was not working. I frequently found myself overwhelmed when I sat down to write. I had everything I needed, but the annotations and slabs of text I’d accumulated just didn’t seem that useful.

This is not a tool problem. I say this after trying and discarding almost every digital tool on the market.

In an attempt to replicate the success I had with writing on printouts, I’ve taken notes in a bunch of conventional citation managers: Endnote, Zotero, Mendeley and Papers2. I felt even more scattered taking notes this way than I did writing in a notebook. By splintering my notes, I splintered my thinking.

The next step was to try digital databases. Theoretically, a database can help you find relationships and connections. By running a search, you can see related things together and spark ideas. I’ve used many databases – Evernote, DevonThink, OneNote, Readwise, Pocket and Notion just to name a few. To be honest with you, even though I have briefly evangelised some of these products, I’m unconvinced any are worth the effort.

Some databases have great features – like the machine learning assisted searching in Devon Think – but maintaining a notes database properly is a lot of work. The best thing about digital databases is also the biggest problem: they  are frictionless. By enabling you to store, and move data around, effortlessly, it’s oh so easy to put a lot of stuff in there without an organising principle.

The end result? Information Indigestion.

Unless you are very careful about naming conventions, tagging and pruning, your notes quickly become a hot mess of digital clutter. I’ve come to the conclusion that a notes database you spend a lot of time managing is worse than a notebook you never read.

Note taking is basically a way of squeezing insights out of information: the process is often more important than the product itself .  This doesn’t mean notes are pointless, but it’s important to remember they are a means, not an end. The ‘meat computer’ on top of our necks is pretty good at making connections and ideas. Notes are there to help.

My best advice is to let go of the need to have a perfect ‘system’ and develop a ‘good enough’ set of solutions that work for you. Below is a set of notes on how I take notes. It’s not pretty, but it works.

I don’t suggest you adopt ‘my system’ – because it’s not a system. It’s a bunch of hacks and work arounds. Maybe some of them will be useful to you. Or maybe, by sharing how messy I am behind the scenes, you will feel better about your own ad hoc solutions!

Notes for writing

One of the key things we teach at our world famous thesis bootcamp program is how to write without constantly rummaging around for notes. People reach for their notes in an attempt to make  sentences perfectly correct the first time. But all this rummaging derails the creative process. People can write four or five times faster by free writing first, and using their notes to check information later.

The notes you need for writing are more than just what you’ve read: you need to process ideas, facts, findings and insights from data. I find the best way to take notes for writing is to write them straight into a file: one that has a name and a specific purpose. The file acts as a grounding tool to focus the note taking. I write the actual notes either as a comment, or in a different font. These notes are really premade ‘chunks’ of text for the final paper. Think whole sentences with subjects, objects and verbs . I weave these notes into the writing as I generate text and edit.

If you want to try this ‘just in time’ approach, it’s best to use a fit for purpose tool like Scrivener. Scrivener has a built in notes pane next to your main text. It also has the capacity to store PDF files with the text so a curated list of relevant source material is always available as you write. In this way, Scrivener helps you digitally replicate the ‘scribble on the side of a print out’ type of note taking.

Scrivener helps a lot, but you will still end up with a splintered note problem. Every piece of writing becomes a digital version of a bulging manila folder, full of newspaper clippings. Some of those clippings are potentially useful in other projects, but they are now locked in a file. You can’t search the notes in multiple Scrivener files at once… but hey, good enough, right?

Notes for your literature review

Literature reviews require a special kind of note taking. These days, the literature on anything, even a tiny field like mine, is vast and anxiety provoking. You must read and synthesise vast amounts of information. You won’t use everything you read, at least directly, and part of the job is to decide what is relevant to include in the text and what will remain in the background. Sometimes people produce an extended bibliography that includes things they read, but didn’t cite, so keeping track of what you decided not to use can be important.

You’ll need a couple of specialised literature wrangling tools in your belt.

While some people like the Cornell template to turn notes into writing , I prefer  the literature review matrix method: an idea I picked up originally from the ‘My Studious life’ blog . A literature review matrix is simply a table with the individual paper names as the columns and questions you are trying to answer as rows (if you are having trouble imagining what I’m talking about, there’s a live example here ). The advantage of a matrix is it’s cumulative – you can add columns as you read and synthesize the insights by simply reading along the rows to compare what different authors said about the same thing. This method is excellent for spotting areas where the literature is sparse, because some rows simply get more fleshed out than others.

Katherine Firth, Shaun Lehmann and I subsequently documented this idea and some variations more fully in two books: How to fix your academic writing trouble and Level up your essays . I have a free cheat sheet for the method here . I use google sheets to make them as I find Excel and MS Word have too many formatting issues. But lately I’ve been experimenting with using Google forms for long term projects. The form helps me capture the ideas sequentially:

And then auto-generates a matrix you can review to see where ideas intersect:

I’m excited by new tools that work on a social graph principle, like the amazing Connected Papers . I think this is the future of literature reviewing in an age of endless information and I am here for it!

Notes for teaching and presentations

Presentation notes are extremely valuable. This kind of hybrid writing/note taking practice is very audience focussed. Teaching forces you to think about sequencing and comprehension. Presentations force you to think about how to make your ideas into stories. If you are really stuck on a piece of writing, a good trick can be to make a powerpoint presentation and write notes under it.

My principle here is to take the path of least resistence. I simply write everything on the slide, then transfer most of it to the notes pane so I don’t end up with a wall of text. Invariably, I end up recycling those notes back into papers and articles. For high stakes  talks, or when I am not as across the material as I would like to be, I make a written script in plain language – these are even more useful. Here’s the script I used for my PhD confirmation,   which I immediately turned into my introduction chapter.

Notes not bound to a task or project

Like all academics, I’m a curious person and like to read stuff in my areas of interest for no particular purpose – other than idle nerdery. I want to record some of this reading, but I don’t want to invest too much effort in the note taking process. Notes with no obvious purpose are the most difficult to manage. They are why a database still has a place in your arsenal of organising tools. In fact, you’ll probably need more than one database tool to manage academic work.

I use Pocket to clip things from the web and I don’t even bother tagging or filing this information. I indiscriminately grab everything interesting, then run a search in there if I have a specific problem to solve. I am still using OmniFocus to organise my email and projects, and I use the notes pane there to take notes of meetings.

I use Notion to keep my professional contact list organised. I think this is the best of the structured databases I’ve tried because it’s essentially a personal wikipedia. I don’t use Notion for my own notes as I have gone back to hand writing (see below), but if you hate hand writing, like my son, it’s worth a try. I introduced Thesiswhisperer Jnr to Notion when he started Uni and he happily uses it for all his lecture notes. I have observed him turning these notes into writing and it seems to work well for that purpose.

For a long time I used Evernote for random thoughts and ideas, but lately retired it because paper works just as well –  maybe even better (gasp!). My friend and ‘ On the Reg’ Podcast colleague, Dr Jason Downs started using the Bullet Journal method or #bujo. I always copy Jason, so I bought myself a notebook, sharpened a pencil and got to work.

I’ve found the #bujo extremely useful for jotting notes, drawing diagrams and maintaining daily to do lists. I often write notes in there that I end up transfering into presentations and papers. It’s not the purpose of this post to tell you exactly how to implement the #bujo method for yourself. There are vast amounts written about it and some helpful videos on the Bullet Journal Youtube channel, like this one:

My only #bujo suggestion is to start simply.

The key difference between the #bujo and a normal notebookis that a #bujo has numbered pages and an index at the front. Even if you only implement this page numbering principle, it will make your notebooks 1000 times more useful and no longer the place where ideas go to die! If you want to hear more about the #bujo method, tune in to the On The Reg podcast that was released in early April – Jason and I discuss it at length.

I hope this extended meditation on the note taking process was useful for you. I’m interested in your hacks and solutions so I’ve turned the comments on for this one. If you are interested in sharing your own hacks, or chat to me on Twitter.

In note taking solidarity!

PS: If you love reading about productivity, listen to the ‘ On the Reg’ Podcast with me and Jason Downs where we have been boring for Australia about academic productivity for nearly 17 hours so far! The episode on University Bullshit and the CRAP framework for dealing with it has been super popular for some reason 🙂 – you can also listen to our latest on how we have implemented #bujo . Subscription options can be found on our Buzzsprout page .

Tools mentioned in this post

Endnote , Zotero , Mendeley , Papers (I don’t recommend the new version, it’s not as good as the old one), Evernote , DevonThink , OneNote , Readwise , Pocket   Notion And OmniFocus

More posts like this on the Whisperer

Use the Cornell template to turn your notes into writing

How to stop ‘flipping’ and write a good To Do list

Help! I’m drowning in my own notes!

Other resources and posts

Connected Papers – the best thing that’s happened to literature reviewing in 30 years.

I like the ‘everything notebook’ idea by Raul Panchero-Vega

Turn your notes into writing SECOND EDITION on Katherine Firth’s Research Degree Insiders blog

Book by Mason Curry: Daily Rituals: how great minds make time, find inspiration .

Want more content like Thesiswhisperer?

Visit The Whisper Collective , a site we built to continuously curate all the best research education material on the web.

Love the ThesisWhisperer?

I cover all the expenses of operating the Thesis Whisperer out of my own pocket. If you’d like to support my work, please consider becoming a $1 a month Patreon or buy a copy of my (cheap!) ebooks: Tame your PhD or The Year of Living Covidly .

Jason Downs and I have our first ‘On the Reg’ podcast book – on TextExpander . This book shows you how to use TextExpander to reduce your everyday cognitive load.

You can find links to print versions – and my other books – on the Buy Books page

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The Thesis Whisperer is written by Professor Inger Mewburn, director of researcher development at The Australian National University . New posts on the first Wednesday of the month. Subscribe by email below. Visit the About page to find out more about me, my podcasts and books. I'm on most social media platforms as @thesiswhisperer. The best places to talk to me are LinkedIn , Mastodon and Threads.

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Note Taking

10 free note taking templates in google docs, word, & clickup.

ClickUp Contributor

February 21, 2024

It’s been rightly said that “The palest ink is better than the best memory.”

Whether you’re studying, working, or planning a grocery run, noting things down helps avoid missing essential details.  

Note-taking is an indispensable skill. Note taking templates help make this process more structured and efficient. These templates are pre-designed frameworks for taking notes, helping you record and categorize information systematically, and ensuring that the most critical points don’t slip through the cracks. 

This article discusses ten downloadable note taking templates to make your life at work and home more organized. Write your key ideas, add bullet points, agenda items, essential questions, and even meeting minutes to stay on top of everything that needs your attention.

What are Note Taking Templates? 

What makes a good note taking template , 1. clickup meeting notes template, 2. clickup daily notes template, 3. clickup project note template, 4. clickup meeting note style template, 5. clickup class notes template, 6. clickup cornell note template, 7. google docs simple notes for studying template by goodocs, 8. google docs simple meeting note template by goodocs, 9. microsoft word lecture notes template by template.net, 10. microsoft word guest speaker note-taking template by template.net.

Note taking templates are structured frameworks designed to capture and organize information during various activities such as meetings, lectures, or daily chores. 

A pre-built notetaking template offers a systematic layout to record and categorize important details efficiently throughout the day.

One key advantage of note templates is their versatility. They cater to diverse needs, from personal task management to project planning. 

Unlike the traditional pen-and-paper way of taking notes, note-taking templates can be accessed across any device, from desktops to mobile apps and tablets. They allow you to add the key reading notes and fetch the information whenever needed.

Whether you’re a student aiming to capture lecture notes, a professional looking to improve your work habits , or an individual organizing personal thoughts, note-taking templates offer a practical solution to organize your thoughts. They keep track of critical tasks and help you. Write down your ideas whenever inspiration strikes you. 

• Customizable: A note-taking template is more than just a space for jotting down thoughts. It is the perfect blend of an intuitive interface with an adaptable structure, enabling you to quickly capture and categorize project notes without feeling overwhelmed
• Pre-defined sections: Choose a note-taking template with predefined sections for crucial details and leave room for individual preferences. Headings, key points, and numbering help create a visual hierarchy, making it easier to follow the flow of key ideas. The template includes features like tags, categories, and color-coding to classify and archive information
• Accommodate various types of text: Your note-taking template should accommodate multiple types of content, such as text, images, tables, and diagrams. Through prompts, questions, or designated spaces for reflections, the template should encourage users to interact with the content actively to help you capture your thoughts and mark details for future reference
• Accessibility and compatibility: Lastly, whether in digital or printable form, ensure the template is accessible and compatible with various devices and note-taking applications . Seamlessly integrate your notes into your project workflow, whether you prefer working on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone

10 Note Taking Templates to Use in 2024

Properly documenting meeting details is essential, whether for your daily team schedule, detailed weekly team meeting, or quick connection. Meeting notes templates can give you a headstart.

Never miss a beat of any meeting, and stay on top of all your important team discussions. With the editable Meeting Notes Template by ClickUp , you can capture agendas, notes, action items , and work plans for all your meetings. 

Once the meeting ends, ClickUp Brain lets you summarize your meeting notes to share with all the attendees as a follow-up action. This way, everybody can focus on the discussion instead of worrying about remembering everything. 

ClickUp’s AI Brain boosts your team’s ability to complete more work quickly. Here are some simple ways it can help you in your work: 

• Product development: Summarize lengthy requirement documents and extract key decisions 
• Marketing campaigns: Pull insights from campaign planning email threads to get collaborators up to speed 
• Research projects: Distill key points from lengthy results to create executive summaries 
• Consulting projects: Create a snapshot of deliverables and meeting minutes to keep your clients updated on high-level progress  

Effective note-taking separates successful people from the crowd. Having a central place to journal your thoughts and knowledge can help you get the most out of your day and also help you understand what you could have done better. 

However, effective note-taking isn’t about scribbling stuff down. Use daily notes to structure your thoughts. 

With the Daily Notes Templates by ClickUp , organize your thoughts, write quick notes, and track progress on action items in real time. Team managers can use the Daily Notes template to keep their team members focused on their professional goals by tracking daily tasks. 

Within the template, use ClickUp Custom Statuses to create tasks with custom statuses such as ‘Complete,’ ‘Reviewed,’ and ‘To Do’ to keep track of progress made on each note. Further, use ClickUp tags and dependency warnings and instantly be alerted about any blockers to completing the project. 

Staying organized throughout the project’s lifecycle is crucial to manage a project effectively. The Project Notes Template by ClickUp provides project managers with a ready-to-use document to share supplementary information with team members and stakeholders so they can understand the project better. 

This template provides a consistent format for all team members to record all project details and ensures that no essential information is missed during project implementation. 

The project note template also comes in handy when onboarding cross-functional team members on a new project, providing them with the full context and overview of the project goals. All teams can access and record project details consistently, stay on top of tasks, and track progress. 

This template is accessible on your mobile phone using the ClickUp app, one of the best note-taking apps , to make information accessible and easily editable on the go.

As a manager handling multiple projects, you’re expected to stay on top and review the progress and status of hundreds of tasks. When a stakeholder requests an update, the last thing you want to do is scramble through all your sticky notes to find the information. 

There are better and more efficient ways of capturing critical information and updates than taking meeting notes using online sticky notes or handwritten notes. 

During meetings, stay organized and on top of your project tasks and synthesize information from previous meetings with the Meeting Note Style Template by ClickUp . This template lets you quickly capture key moments and keep track of conversations from different meetings in an easy-to-use format. 

In addition to capturing information and organizing tasks and decisions into one central, searchable repository, with ClickUp’s note-taking template, use ClickUp’s Whiteboard to work closely with team members to brainstorm ideas and add visuals to your meeting notes.  

If you are a student struggling with a big pile of hand-written lecture notes on your desk, which do little to help you remember what’s discussed in class, this template is for you. 

Use the Class Notes Template by ClickUp to compile all your notes in one place, including notes from lectures, links to helpful resources, and homework. This note-taking template can also be useful in school for planning, documenting, and following up on lectures. 

Format your notes and embed links or tables to make them more detailed using the editable ClickUp Docs . Create tasks with email alerts within the doc so you never miss another assignment deadline.

The Cornell method of note-taking formulated by Cornell University Professor Walter Pauk is one of the most popular note-taking strategies . 

The note-taking system involves the following steps:

• All notes from the lecture go into the note-taking column 
• Use the smaller column on the left for keywords and questions (record hints and prompts about the topic) 
• Add a brief summary of the content at the bottom of the page 

The Cornell note-taking method is a productive way to stay focused and organized when taking notes, whether preparing for an exam or even a meeting at work. 

The Cornell Note-Taking Template by ClickUp provides a digital, creative, and user-friendly way to use this note-taking method. The template can help you track tasks and visualize progress. 

The Cornell Note Template is invaluable in helping students learn, review, and synthesize large amounts of information.

You can also use ClickUp’s Notepad to quickly jot down notes and transform those into trackable tasks that are accessible from anywhere. Share the notes and information with your peers and colleagues for cross-functional collaboration. 

We all know what exam jitters feel like. If you’re a student, exam days likely mean last-minute revisions of important questions and poring over numerous textbooks. But who has time to review a few hundred pages of text the night before an exam? The most successful students know the power of making and reviewing notes.

This is where studying note templates comes in handy. The Google Docs Simple Notes for Studying Template helps students compile question-and-answer sets in a clean, editable Google Docs format. 

The template uses standard Google Docs font and is print-ready for students who prefer having the comfort of a physical sheet of paper when reviewing and revising from study notes. All you need to do is log into your Google account and edit the unique template. 

Use the Google Docs Simple Meeting Note Template to maximize your productivity and keep your team deliverables on track 

The Google Docs Simple Meeting Note Template is made for working professionals who want to maximize the outcomes of any meeting by making notes and keeping the team on track.

Every meeting is only as productive as the accountable actions that follow it. While there are various AI tools for meeting notes, this Google Docs meeting note template helps professionals get a structured template to capture the key highlights from any meeting and craft an actionable plan that details the next steps and task ownership.

The template is customizable—you can even add your company logo. If you prefer handwritten notes over digital notes, you can print the template and carry your digital notes to meetings.

The Lecture Notes Taking Template will organize the note-taking experience for students

The Lecture Note Template by Template.net is ideal for students and researchers and evolves with their note-taking needs. The template is fully customizable and simplifies the note-taking process, smoothing the academic journey.

The uniform note-taking structure will help you take organized notes during classes and guest lectures. This template is available in Word, Google Docs, and PDF formats for online and offline note-taking.  

Capture all the learnings, insights, and quotes highlighted by guest speakers using the Guest Speaker Note-taking Template 

Handwritten notes during professional events and conferences are a thing of the past. 

Use the Guest Speaker Note-taking Template by Template.net to capture key insights, personal reflections, and actionable strategies shared by guest speakers at the event. It is helpful for event attendees who want to maximize their learning during an event. 

The template is available in Word, Google Docs, and Apple Pages formats.  

Optimize Productivity with Note-Taking Templates

Streamlining the note-taking process with pre-built templates can save time and maximize outcomes. Various templates designed to accomplish a specific task are available, and using the relevant template can help you document your thoughts.

Whether managing daily tasks, organizing project details, or preparing for exams, a suitable template helps you stay on top of the key agenda items, prioritize your actions, and track your progress in real time. 

Capture your notes on ClickUp and quickly retrieve information across different devices. 

In addition to note-taking templates, ClickUp helps you be productive with its project management capabilities. Create ClickUp Tasks directly from your notes, and use ClickUp Automations to mark action items as complete once done.

Sign up for free on ClickUp to optimize your note-taking efforts.

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Note-taking template

There is no one perfect method for taking notes but it can be made more effective through the use of templates. It is important to find a method that works for you, both during a lecture or reading session, and for when you need to retrieve the information at a later date. Be prepared to try different techniques and adapt as needed.

Cornell note-taking method

The Cornell Method divides a single piece of paper into three different sections. 

The note section is for noting down key ideas from lecture. These are your annotations where you write done the main theories and theorists, concepts, key terms etc.

• What is the author's aims?
• What is the their research question?
• What is the author arguing?
• What is their answer to the question?
• What points support their argument?
• What are their main reasons?
• What evidence have they used to support their argument? 

The cue column is for you to write down your own questions, thoughts, terms you are unsure of, connections between ideas etc. In short, this is where you critically engage with the lecture material. These may also form "cues" to aid your memory.

• What do I already know?
• Strengths and weaknesses?
• How valid are the research methods?
• How strong is the evidence?
• How logical is the argument?
• How does this fit in to other research in the field?
• What do I need to find out next?

Summarise  at various points within the lecture or reading or if you prefer, sometime after the lecture or when you've finished reading. The summaries are crucial as they help you to reflect and develop your understanding of the course content, and practice articulating the main ideas. 

In the example, the cue column is on the left and notes on the right, but you should adapt the template to suit your needs. Note that this method can also be used in note-taking software.

Note: Based on the Cornell Note Taking system, adapted from: Walter Pauk and Ross Owens , How to Study in College (Boston: Cengage, 2011), 205 - 279.

Note-taking

Mind mapping

Note-taking system

Reference Documents

• Note-taking template (DOCX, 61.28 KB)

Use contact details to request an alternative file format.

• ANU Library Academic Skills
• +61 2 6125 2972

Research notes template

Document your research findings and transform them into actionable insights

Use this template to record qualitative research, synthesize your notes, and turn them into actionable insights.

Easily communicate and align on research outcomes by collecting feedback and observations in a shared, centralized location.

Research notes template benefits

• Capture all your ideas and notes in a single, shared place
• Add images, links, or other media to your mural to make your notes richer
• Easily share your notes with team members and other stakeholders
• Update your notes from anywhere using the Mural apps for iOS and Android, so everything stays current in real time

How to use the research notes template

To get the most out of the Mural research notes template, created by LUMA Institute, follow the steps outlined below.

1. Identify the research topic you want to analyze

The first step is to gather any research notes you have into the Mural template; then, transfer your content onto sticky notes, making sure to limit each sticky note to one idea.

2. Color code your sticky notes by theme

Once you’ve gathered the materials and organized the content into sticky notes, have your team come together and analyze the content, color coding each sticky note according to the key (or a modified version of the key that you define).

3. Cluster notes together by theme and discuss

Now that you’ve color coded your sticky notes, move them over to the discussion area and cluster them into groups according to overarching themes that you observe in the information.

4. Use your discoveries to drive next steps

Don’t lose the momentum! Take advantage of the progress you’ve made in translating your research notes into groups and themes, and press on to create action items and next steps with your team using another template from the LUMA System™, like the untangle a complex problem template — also free to use and edit.

Tips for running using the research notes template

To get the most out of the Mural research notes template, you should:

• Make sure that your notes are pasted into the mural and curated appropriately, so that no more than one idea appears on each sticky note — this will make your analysis clearer and more impactful
• Use Mural’s private mode to avoid groupthink when color-coding ideas with your team
• Use tags for sticky notes and comments to help refine your groups and add any relevant context that may be of use

How to create a Research notes template

Get started with this template right now.

Mural makes it easy to quickly collect, analyze, and organize your research

Sticky notes & text

Add ideas, action items, and more as a sticky note or text box — then change the colors and cluster to identify patterns and new solutions.

Asynchronous collaboration

Innovate and collaborate effectively together without booking time on calendars.

Tags on sticky notes

Customizable labels make it easy to find, organize, and categorize your work in a mural.

Add comments and tag collaborators for smooth asynchronous communication.

Icons, GIFs, & images

Express complex ideas visually or lead an engaging team-building activity with Noun Project, GIPHY, and Unsplash integrations.

Infinite & resizable canvas options

Choose the right canvas for your collaboration goals — flexibility without limits.

Research notes template frequently asked questions

How do you write research notes, what should be included in research notes, what are some overlooked ways to get more out of your research notes.

Template by LUMA Institute

LUMA offers acclaimed in-person training, custom innovation programs, and a unique digital platform (LUMA Workplace), used by innovators in over 70 countries. Leading organizations around the globe rely on the LUMA System of Innovation — a practical, flexible, and scalable approach to Human-Centered Design.

Mural is the only platform that offers both a shared workspace and training on the LUMA System™, a practical way to collaborate that anyone can learn and apply.

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Note template bundle.

• FREE 10+ Research Note Templates in PDF | MS Word

1. Research Note Template

2. price discrimination research note template, 3. research notes and reports template, 4. rural research note template, 5. retirement planning research note template, 6. sample research note template, 7. self serving research note template, 8. research note template in doc, 9. research note organizer template, 10. standard research note template, 11. research note outlines template, what is a research note, how to make notes for your research, note templates.

A research note is referred to a statement from a brokerage company or other investment consulting service that addresses a particular item of security, business, market or news. Research notes are usually intended to contain moment-sensitive information that relates to the previous session of the current day or to some event in the near future.

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1. Determine the Kind of Ideas You Need to Record

2. do not write more than necessary, 3. label your notes intelligently, more in note templates, editable research flowchart template, research poster template for keynote, education research agenda template, research agenda template, legal research methodology ppt template, medical research template, research template, qualitative research template, psychology research template, college research template.

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