Notetaking as creative process

More about taking notes:
It's about making the material your own.

When you write stuff down, you are creating a new model; though it's meant to mirror the piece of reality you're trying to grasp, it remains an original creation. It's a story written by you, for you. Tell the best story you can, in a language designed for you to understand.

Here's an example of how I take notes for myself. (Click to enlarge.)

I distill major points from the text. I draw lots of diagrams and cartoons. I copy (and often modify) figures from the text. Hand-copying things is a good way to remember them! Adding your own flavor and insight to this fresh copy makes the information still more memorable.
cheers,
Morgan G.