If your notes are more like those above (pattern notes), this means that you prefer to organise your notes in a visually memorable way. Pattern notes are a useful means of taking notes because:

• In shorter texts, pattern notes help you to see the structure of the text at a glance.
• They can be more visual and eye-catching, and this helps you to remember the details better (they have strong recall value).
• They are useful when you are moving from reading to writing, because they help you see the structure of the text more quickly.
• They can save time when doing exam revision.
• The links are clearer, and further links can be added to the same page later.
• Links between ideas in the text are physically closer together, and this makes it easier to interpret and revise the text.
• Writing pattern notes can help to improve concentration.

You may consider the following:

• It is always worth trying to write linear notes from time to time, particularly for longer texts. Have a look at the advantages of linear notes here.
• You may also wish to add a few extra linear notes to your pattern notes later (in order to include some useful quotations, for example).