English text
A reading notebook does not have to become a second copy of everything you read.
Its purpose can be much narrower: preserve something you want to return to.
After an article, write a short summary without looking at the original sentences.
This gives you a place to record your interpretation rather than only the writer's wording.
Add one question that remains unanswered or one detail you would like to examine further.
If a passage contains a claim you might reuse, record its source and publication date.
Make a visible distinction between a direct quotation and your own summary.
Quotation marks and a source link are more useful than trusting your future memory.
For vocabulary, choose examples that make the word's meaning clear in a particular situation.
A long list may look impressive while offering little guidance about where to begin reviewing.
You can mark a small selection for the next practice session and leave the rest for later.
When revisiting an entry, add a date if your understanding has changed.
Keep the earlier version when the difference itself helps explain what you learned.
Delete notes that no longer serve a purpose instead of treating every saved sentence as an obligation.
The notebook belongs to your reading, so its organisation can change with your interests.
A few clear entries that you actually revisit can be enough for the next conversation with a text.