---
title: Notebook Annotation
tags: [Note-taking]
summary: A description of the way that I go back and annotate my notebooks.
---

As I outlined in my last post, I split my note taking between
engagement notes and memory notes---the former with a notebook and
pen and the latter with a computer.  A typical page in my notebook
looks like this:

![A page from my notebook](/images/notebook2014-07-261.jpg)

As you can see from this photo, I use two different colored inks to
organize my notes.  All my notes go into the notebook on the first
available line in the darker sepia color.  I then review my notes
with the red.  As I review I put brief words in the margins to
indicate subjects covered.  This way, I can simply flip through and
scan the margins to find what I'm looking for.  I also put brackets
around very important passages and circle excellent phrases that I
want to reuse.  Greek letters go in the margins to indicate the
kind of note: (α) original writing, (β) reading notes, (γ) lecture
notes, and (δ) personal notes. Further, a double slash indicates a
side comment and a check mark indicates a to-do item.  This allows
me to skip large portions when I'm looking for something.  Say, for
instance, that I'm looking for some notes taken on Plato's
*Republic*.  I can skip all the sections right away that do not
have a β in the margin.  At the same time that I go over my notes
with a red pen, I also enter the juiciest portions into my computer
system and these earn a dot in the margin.

This review and annotation process allows me to reflect on and
internalize the material that I have taken down.  Years ago, I used
to take down reading or lecture notes and just stuff them in a
notebook somewhere, *maybe* reviewing them once for a test.  As a
result, I had many full spiral bound notebooks to throw away
because I didn't remember what was in them and didn't grasp the
overall shape of what I had learned.  I started this review and
summary method by stealing some ideas from the [Cornell] note
taking method.  I also gained some ideas from the [spaced
repetition] method of flash cards and because of this I always
allow at least twenty four hours between taking notes and reviewing
them.  Combining these I have noticed a dramatic increase in my
retention and comprehension and I can easily get a top-down sense
of what I learned in a day by looking at the key words in the
margins.

[spaced repetition]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition
[Cornell]: http://lsc.cornell.edu/Sidebars/Study_Skills_Resources/cornellsystem.pdf