The first "rolla" notebook I picked up had, in addition to writing lines, a boxed area the same size as a line, on the top and on the bottom. Good for noting the date/topic/etc. in the margin.

The Levenger Rollabind I just got in has no bottom block but a larger top block: two lines tall, and the right third actually as two lines but the left part has the cells merged to make a single tall cell.

What have people found useful? I want to customize my work paper and notebook paper to be interesting and practical. One idea is to include a little month calendar right in the corner (but I would not want to print too many in advance then!)

I'm also finding it difficult to write on the bottom of the notebook, so perhaps I can put "stuff" down there, rather than at the top.

Any ideas? Brainstorming? What are some you've seen?

--John

I like the layout of engineer's computational pad. It has a horizontal line about 5/8" from the top of the paper. Margins are formed by vertical lines about the same distance from the edges, making a small box in each upper corner. The remaining central portion is divided by short vertical lines into three areas each a little longer than 2".

I usually use the three equal areas at the top for the date, general topic, and specific topic. The upper right corner box gets the page number. The upper left is blank, since that is where a staple might go. For example:

[blank] | 24-May-08 | FPN | header example | 1/1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scott

Sounds like you're describing what's known as the Cornell layout (or system, since it's made to facilitate a note-taking system called Cornell). The Levenger Circa paper (and their non-Circa notepads) uses a modified Cornell (no bottom box) and I love that style. I use it for research and taking notes in general where I can make additional notes in the wide left margin.

Levenger now offers a non-Cornell layout as well as other types, so you should be able to find what best works for you. I personally would love to have more companies offer the Cornell layout (or the modified version), but for now I either use Levenger's or print my own on HP #32 (though a lighter-weight paper would probably be better).

like this?

My new Levenger rollabind looks nothing like that, as I described in my first post.

I will use grid or lines based on content, and will make some of each. I'm brainstorming specifically of the title blocks, header, footer, etc. I'll have to see if I can find out anything about Cornell; that is, what you are supposed to do with it.

This: Click to view attachment is what I'm using now, just as a first idea.

--John

Hi, John,

If you want the original ”official“ use of the Cornell layout for students, then here's a pdf that's as ”official“ as it gets (it's from Cornell ).

Cornell Note-taking System

I don't use it that way since I'm not taking lecture notes, but the extra wide left margin lets me add notes and annotations to research or notes I've written on the right hand side. For regular journaling, it just wastes paper because I'm writing straight through, no extra notes to add in. But for all the times when I do need/want to add in more later, that extra margin width makes it much easier for me to keep my notes clear and accessible. No teeny-tiny printing in between the lines, etc.

Here's the site I use for generating layouts:

Cornell Notetaking Format Generator

(When I'm being lazy; you can, of course, create your own in any layout application.)