{"id":67630,"date":"2022-06-06T14:46:24","date_gmt":"2022-06-06T18:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=67630"},"modified":"2022-06-16T08:12:39","modified_gmt":"2022-06-16T12:12:39","slug":"slipbox-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/slipbox-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Take Slip-box Notes in 5 Easy Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is the slip-box notes system? How does the slip-box note-taking method<\/a> help you take better notes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The slip-box notes system (also known as Zettelkasten) was created by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann. The slip-box system is specifically designed to help you both have and share original insights\u2014and make the writing process easier overall\u2014it has several benefits over the traditional writing process: For example, using it will make you more efficient and lead to more creative insights.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here you\u2019ll learn the specific steps to effectively use the slip-box note-taking system to create a publishable manuscript.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Take Notes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ahrens recommends taking three types of notes: temporary notes, literature notes, and evergreen notes. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Create temporary notes<\/strong>, which Ahrens calls \u201cfleeting notes.\u201d Most of us have random ideas as we go about our day. Jot these down so you don\u2019t forget them, and put them all in one place\u2014an in-tray, or what Ahrens calls an \u201cinbox.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Create literature notes<\/strong>. Always read with a pen\u2014and whenever you come across interesting, potentially useful ideas, create literature notes. Using full sentences, summarize the text in your own words<\/em>, making sure that you only include one<\/em> idea per note. In each note, include information about the source material (like the book\u2019s author, the year it was published, and the page number on which you found the idea). Place these literature notes in your in-tray. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Create evergreen notes<\/strong>, which Ahrens calls \u201cpermanent notes,\u201d by combining your other notes. <\/strong>Each day, go over the notes in your in-tray and any notes you\u2019ve already collected in your slip-box. As you do so, think to yourself: How do these ideas compare with and connect? When you have an original thought about these connections, create a new note\u2014ensuring that each original idea has its own note. Use full sentences, be as clear and concise as possible, and include citations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: File Slipbox Notes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you have notes, it\u2019s time to organize them in one of two places: a reference system or your slip-box. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. File your literature notes in one place<\/strong> that\u2019s separate from your slip-box, like a shoebox: Ahrens refers to this place as your \u201creference system.\u201d When you file your notes, include the bibliographic information of each source. If you have three literature notes about one book, you\u2019ll file those notes with a fourth note including all the book\u2019s bibliographic information\u2014anything you might need to include in your final published work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. File your evergreen notes<\/strong> into your slip-box. To do so effectively, use the following system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your new note connects strongly to an old note\u2014like if it supports an argument\u2014file the new note behind that note. Otherwise, file it behind the most recent note. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, rummage through your slip-box and look for weaker or less obvious connections between notes you already have and your new notes. If you find any, create links between those slipbox notes. (For example, if Note #1 and Note #55 are connected, on Note #1, write down that it\u2019s connected to Note #55, and on Note #55, write down that it\u2019s connected to Note #1.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n