good notes should be as brief as possible without missing any important points, and they need to be accurate and clear. you can use the title of the passage or the chapter to help you anticipate the main idea and supporting details a paragraph. good note-taking allows a permanent record for revision and a register of relevant points that you can integrate with your own writing and speaking. good note-taking reduces the risk of plagiarism. it also helps you distinguish where your idea came from and how you think about those idea.