Study Supplies: The Best Types of Notebooks for Each Class
Taking notes is one of the most powerful ways to cement new information in your head. Your classmates may pull out their tablets or laptops at the start of class, but that lightning-fast typing isn’t doing much to help them retain the information in the long term. Go for paper notebooks and trusty pens this semester; you won’t regret it! The best types of notebooks for each class will help you organize unique information in a way that makes sense.
Contents
English: Composition Notebook
Those black-and-white speckled books have stuck around for a reason. They’re inexpensive, so you can buy as many as you need. Writing assignments and essays can take up a lot of space! Plus, composition books lie flat for even more ease of writing (especially for the left-handers among us). The world is your oyster with a book full of blank pages and the right burst of inspiration.
Science: Lab Notebook
Scientific experiments require more precise notetaking. You must document each element of your work clearly and legibly. Using a laboratory notebook with sewn binding helps you keep all of your assignments in the same place, and it makes it difficult to rip pages out. After all, mistakes are an essential part of the learning process. A notebook specially designed for scientific work will encourage you to develop thorough note-taking habits!
Math: Gridded Notebook
Whether you prefer dot-grid notebooks or classic graph paper, you’ll want precise pages for precise mathematic work. The grid pattern will help you draw straight lines and keep all those numbers right where you need them. If you have difficulty studying numbers and formulas all day, a more organized paper style will make your notes easier to read.
History: Tabbed Notebook
The world spins forward every day, bringing with it new pieces of history. You’ll want to have all those notes in the same place, but keeping each section separate will help you when studying for exams. Divide them by century, by era, or by unit taught in class—whatever makes the most sense to you. Avoid mixing the Gilded Age with the Roaring ’20s by keeping tabbed dividers between them.
No matter what classes are on your schedule for the new semester, prepare for each one accordingly. Think about your note-taking style and how you can improve it! The best types of notebooks for each class will keep you focused on the subject at hand.
