Sentence notes

The sentence method is the simplest way to keep up with a fast speaker: every new fact, idea, or topic gets its own numbered line, written as a short sentence, in the order it was said. There is no deciding where something fits while the talk is moving. The structure comes afterward, when the lines are grouped by topic and the repeats and dead ends are cut.

It is the method for talks that jump around, guest speakers, panels, and lectures with many facts and little visible structure. It has two halves: capture during the talk, and organize after it. This skill helps with both, and does the second half for the person when they paste their raw lines.

When to use it