Page 1
Learners will be able to-
1. To listen to lectures or read texts of varied lengths from a wide range of subjects and analyze them
critically.
2. To develop a basic understanding of note making and its nuances.
3. To use dierent techniques of note making: linear and non-linear.
4. To improve their comprehension and retention of material through accurate and meaningful notes.
5. To develop excellent review and reusable resources.
w Skim (reading the text quickly) to identify the main idea / theme of text.
w Scan (look at all parts of carefully) for details.
w Dierentiate between main ideas and supporting details.
w Sift through the given material to identify the most important details.
w Provide an appropriate title for the given information / text.
w Categorize the information gathered under suitable headings and sub- headings.
w Present the given information in the form of notes using appropriate format.
w Use symbols, abbreviations and acronyms while making notes, to save time.
w Summarise the given notes in as few words as possible.
5
CHAPTER
NOTE MAKING
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
Note making is an essential study skill. Amongst the most important measure to achieve excellence
in academics is making good notes and reviewing them regularly to maximize learning. According to a
dictionary denition, note making is the practice of recording information from another source. The
source could be a book, an event, a meeting or a general oral discussion. Note making is useful as going
through bulky documents (both hard copy and soft copy), listening to long lectures and attending day-long
conferences trying to remember what was preached, can be very tedious.
Moreover, it has become imperative that the skill of note making be developed in a world where there is an
explosion of information. There is a scarcity of time and the information available is vast, therefore, making
GOALS
Page 2
Learners will be able to-
1. To listen to lectures or read texts of varied lengths from a wide range of subjects and analyze them
critically.
2. To develop a basic understanding of note making and its nuances.
3. To use dierent techniques of note making: linear and non-linear.
4. To improve their comprehension and retention of material through accurate and meaningful notes.
5. To develop excellent review and reusable resources.
w Skim (reading the text quickly) to identify the main idea / theme of text.
w Scan (look at all parts of carefully) for details.
w Dierentiate between main ideas and supporting details.
w Sift through the given material to identify the most important details.
w Provide an appropriate title for the given information / text.
w Categorize the information gathered under suitable headings and sub- headings.
w Present the given information in the form of notes using appropriate format.
w Use symbols, abbreviations and acronyms while making notes, to save time.
w Summarise the given notes in as few words as possible.
5
CHAPTER
NOTE MAKING
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
Note making is an essential study skill. Amongst the most important measure to achieve excellence
in academics is making good notes and reviewing them regularly to maximize learning. According to a
dictionary denition, note making is the practice of recording information from another source. The
source could be a book, an event, a meeting or a general oral discussion. Note making is useful as going
through bulky documents (both hard copy and soft copy), listening to long lectures and attending day-long
conferences trying to remember what was preached, can be very tedious.
Moreover, it has become imperative that the skill of note making be developed in a world where there is an
explosion of information. There is a scarcity of time and the information available is vast, therefore, making
GOALS
5.2
NOTE MAKING
brief notes with ltered and relevant information oers convenience. It allows one to skim and scan through
available sources and make note of the desired knowledge in a form that is not only easy to write, easy to
read but also less theoretical.
Advantages of Note Making
One of the chief advantages is that the learner can make notes in a pattern that he / she is comfortable and
familiar with. Moreover, notes are useful records of important points for future use. They aid in writing in a
more organised and planned manner as you can see what information you have. Note making also helps in
organisation as you can rearrange and remember notes in a dierent order. Making notes that are eective
is about making sense of the material in a manner that is personal and individualized, thus ensuring a better
understanding. Furthermore, note making helps learners master the art of learning volumes of text quicker
and aids in saving time while revising, particularly before exams.
A few dierent styles of note making have been discussed in this chapter. For the benet of the students,
sample notes and practice exercises have been included. However, for academic purposes there is a
specied format and style that is followed. It is advisable to follow the given template to keep your notes in
the standard form to make them readable.
Strategies for Eective Note Making
? Read the text at least twice. The rst time to get an overview or to identify the main idea and the second
time to draw important points.
? Frame a heading / title based on the main idea. It should be short. Avoid using long sentences as a title.
? Look at how the main idea been presented and developed. Normally there are three or four subordinate/
associated ideas. You can frame subheadings based on these.
? Ignore information or points which are less important. Be as brief and specic as possible. Leave out
examples and other unnecessary details.
? Systematically dividing and sub-dividing the important information, write the points in logical sequence.
? Though you write in phrases or points only, the information should be complete.
? Indent, i.e., suitably space and number the sub-headings and sub-sub points
? Leave no space for ambiguity
? Avoid adding your own interpretation.
? Ensure that you DO NOT change the author’s intended meaning.
? Abbreviate often-repeated terms or lengthy words. Any abbreviation used should not hamper
comprehension.
Note Making and Note Taking
Often the two terms, note taking and note making, are used synonymously. But we must distinguish
between the two as there are subtle dierences between them.
Note taking is a passive process that involves taking down what is heard or read without actually processing
the information. Information is often copied from the original source and rewritten in a similar layout. In
note taking, notes being taken are often unselective, trying to cover as much of the information as possible
without highlighting the main points or issues.
Page 3
Learners will be able to-
1. To listen to lectures or read texts of varied lengths from a wide range of subjects and analyze them
critically.
2. To develop a basic understanding of note making and its nuances.
3. To use dierent techniques of note making: linear and non-linear.
4. To improve their comprehension and retention of material through accurate and meaningful notes.
5. To develop excellent review and reusable resources.
w Skim (reading the text quickly) to identify the main idea / theme of text.
w Scan (look at all parts of carefully) for details.
w Dierentiate between main ideas and supporting details.
w Sift through the given material to identify the most important details.
w Provide an appropriate title for the given information / text.
w Categorize the information gathered under suitable headings and sub- headings.
w Present the given information in the form of notes using appropriate format.
w Use symbols, abbreviations and acronyms while making notes, to save time.
w Summarise the given notes in as few words as possible.
5
CHAPTER
NOTE MAKING
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
Note making is an essential study skill. Amongst the most important measure to achieve excellence
in academics is making good notes and reviewing them regularly to maximize learning. According to a
dictionary denition, note making is the practice of recording information from another source. The
source could be a book, an event, a meeting or a general oral discussion. Note making is useful as going
through bulky documents (both hard copy and soft copy), listening to long lectures and attending day-long
conferences trying to remember what was preached, can be very tedious.
Moreover, it has become imperative that the skill of note making be developed in a world where there is an
explosion of information. There is a scarcity of time and the information available is vast, therefore, making
GOALS
5.2
NOTE MAKING
brief notes with ltered and relevant information oers convenience. It allows one to skim and scan through
available sources and make note of the desired knowledge in a form that is not only easy to write, easy to
read but also less theoretical.
Advantages of Note Making
One of the chief advantages is that the learner can make notes in a pattern that he / she is comfortable and
familiar with. Moreover, notes are useful records of important points for future use. They aid in writing in a
more organised and planned manner as you can see what information you have. Note making also helps in
organisation as you can rearrange and remember notes in a dierent order. Making notes that are eective
is about making sense of the material in a manner that is personal and individualized, thus ensuring a better
understanding. Furthermore, note making helps learners master the art of learning volumes of text quicker
and aids in saving time while revising, particularly before exams.
A few dierent styles of note making have been discussed in this chapter. For the benet of the students,
sample notes and practice exercises have been included. However, for academic purposes there is a
specied format and style that is followed. It is advisable to follow the given template to keep your notes in
the standard form to make them readable.
Strategies for Eective Note Making
? Read the text at least twice. The rst time to get an overview or to identify the main idea and the second
time to draw important points.
? Frame a heading / title based on the main idea. It should be short. Avoid using long sentences as a title.
? Look at how the main idea been presented and developed. Normally there are three or four subordinate/
associated ideas. You can frame subheadings based on these.
? Ignore information or points which are less important. Be as brief and specic as possible. Leave out
examples and other unnecessary details.
? Systematically dividing and sub-dividing the important information, write the points in logical sequence.
? Though you write in phrases or points only, the information should be complete.
? Indent, i.e., suitably space and number the sub-headings and sub-sub points
? Leave no space for ambiguity
? Avoid adding your own interpretation.
? Ensure that you DO NOT change the author’s intended meaning.
? Abbreviate often-repeated terms or lengthy words. Any abbreviation used should not hamper
comprehension.
Note Making and Note Taking
Often the two terms, note taking and note making, are used synonymously. But we must distinguish
between the two as there are subtle dierences between them.
Note taking is a passive process that involves taking down what is heard or read without actually processing
the information. Information is often copied from the original source and rewritten in a similar layout. In
note taking, notes being taken are often unselective, trying to cover as much of the information as possible
without highlighting the main points or issues.
5.3
BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTING
Whereas, note making is a more active and focused activity. It assists your understanding of new material if
the notes are organized in your own way and in your own words. Here the attempt is to produce notes that
are organized in a way that makes more sense or leads to more connections between them. Note making
makes it easier to distinguish between important issues and detail.
Note taking should be regarded as the rst-stage of the process and should lead to note making.
Styles of Note Making
As mentioned earlier, note making allows one to skim and scan through available sources and make note
of the desired knowledge in a form that is not only easy to write, easy to read but also less theoretical.
Therefore, there are various ways in which one can present their notes. Typically, there are two styles of note
making: Linear and Non-linear.
I) Linear Note Making
Linear note making is the simplest, therefore, the most common style of note making used by people.
In this form of note making, notes are written down the page, one line after the other in a structured
manner. Such notes include headings for main ideas and concepts, sub-headings for main points within
those ideas. Linear notes include use of key words, underlining, indentation, and use of abbreviations.
This format will be discussed in detail later in the chapter.
Example:
Note Making Tips
A. Reading
A.1 read twice
A.1.1 1st time – identify main idea
A.1.2 2nd time – identify important points
A.2 UL imp. words
B. Planning – division of content acc. to
B.1 theme
B.2 importance
B.3 time
C. Writing
C.1 sub - headings
C.1.1 about 3 – 4
C.1.2 use phrases
C.1.3 ignore unimportant info.
C.1.4 indent and number sub-headings and sub- points
C.2 abbreviation
C.2.1 abbreviate long words / often rpted words
C.2.2 use common symbols and acronyms
Page 4
Learners will be able to-
1. To listen to lectures or read texts of varied lengths from a wide range of subjects and analyze them
critically.
2. To develop a basic understanding of note making and its nuances.
3. To use dierent techniques of note making: linear and non-linear.
4. To improve their comprehension and retention of material through accurate and meaningful notes.
5. To develop excellent review and reusable resources.
w Skim (reading the text quickly) to identify the main idea / theme of text.
w Scan (look at all parts of carefully) for details.
w Dierentiate between main ideas and supporting details.
w Sift through the given material to identify the most important details.
w Provide an appropriate title for the given information / text.
w Categorize the information gathered under suitable headings and sub- headings.
w Present the given information in the form of notes using appropriate format.
w Use symbols, abbreviations and acronyms while making notes, to save time.
w Summarise the given notes in as few words as possible.
5
CHAPTER
NOTE MAKING
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
Note making is an essential study skill. Amongst the most important measure to achieve excellence
in academics is making good notes and reviewing them regularly to maximize learning. According to a
dictionary denition, note making is the practice of recording information from another source. The
source could be a book, an event, a meeting or a general oral discussion. Note making is useful as going
through bulky documents (both hard copy and soft copy), listening to long lectures and attending day-long
conferences trying to remember what was preached, can be very tedious.
Moreover, it has become imperative that the skill of note making be developed in a world where there is an
explosion of information. There is a scarcity of time and the information available is vast, therefore, making
GOALS
5.2
NOTE MAKING
brief notes with ltered and relevant information oers convenience. It allows one to skim and scan through
available sources and make note of the desired knowledge in a form that is not only easy to write, easy to
read but also less theoretical.
Advantages of Note Making
One of the chief advantages is that the learner can make notes in a pattern that he / she is comfortable and
familiar with. Moreover, notes are useful records of important points for future use. They aid in writing in a
more organised and planned manner as you can see what information you have. Note making also helps in
organisation as you can rearrange and remember notes in a dierent order. Making notes that are eective
is about making sense of the material in a manner that is personal and individualized, thus ensuring a better
understanding. Furthermore, note making helps learners master the art of learning volumes of text quicker
and aids in saving time while revising, particularly before exams.
A few dierent styles of note making have been discussed in this chapter. For the benet of the students,
sample notes and practice exercises have been included. However, for academic purposes there is a
specied format and style that is followed. It is advisable to follow the given template to keep your notes in
the standard form to make them readable.
Strategies for Eective Note Making
? Read the text at least twice. The rst time to get an overview or to identify the main idea and the second
time to draw important points.
? Frame a heading / title based on the main idea. It should be short. Avoid using long sentences as a title.
? Look at how the main idea been presented and developed. Normally there are three or four subordinate/
associated ideas. You can frame subheadings based on these.
? Ignore information or points which are less important. Be as brief and specic as possible. Leave out
examples and other unnecessary details.
? Systematically dividing and sub-dividing the important information, write the points in logical sequence.
? Though you write in phrases or points only, the information should be complete.
? Indent, i.e., suitably space and number the sub-headings and sub-sub points
? Leave no space for ambiguity
? Avoid adding your own interpretation.
? Ensure that you DO NOT change the author’s intended meaning.
? Abbreviate often-repeated terms or lengthy words. Any abbreviation used should not hamper
comprehension.
Note Making and Note Taking
Often the two terms, note taking and note making, are used synonymously. But we must distinguish
between the two as there are subtle dierences between them.
Note taking is a passive process that involves taking down what is heard or read without actually processing
the information. Information is often copied from the original source and rewritten in a similar layout. In
note taking, notes being taken are often unselective, trying to cover as much of the information as possible
without highlighting the main points or issues.
5.3
BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTING
Whereas, note making is a more active and focused activity. It assists your understanding of new material if
the notes are organized in your own way and in your own words. Here the attempt is to produce notes that
are organized in a way that makes more sense or leads to more connections between them. Note making
makes it easier to distinguish between important issues and detail.
Note taking should be regarded as the rst-stage of the process and should lead to note making.
Styles of Note Making
As mentioned earlier, note making allows one to skim and scan through available sources and make note
of the desired knowledge in a form that is not only easy to write, easy to read but also less theoretical.
Therefore, there are various ways in which one can present their notes. Typically, there are two styles of note
making: Linear and Non-linear.
I) Linear Note Making
Linear note making is the simplest, therefore, the most common style of note making used by people.
In this form of note making, notes are written down the page, one line after the other in a structured
manner. Such notes include headings for main ideas and concepts, sub-headings for main points within
those ideas. Linear notes include use of key words, underlining, indentation, and use of abbreviations.
This format will be discussed in detail later in the chapter.
Example:
Note Making Tips
A. Reading
A.1 read twice
A.1.1 1st time – identify main idea
A.1.2 2nd time – identify important points
A.2 UL imp. words
B. Planning – division of content acc. to
B.1 theme
B.2 importance
B.3 time
C. Writing
C.1 sub - headings
C.1.1 about 3 – 4
C.1.2 use phrases
C.1.3 ignore unimportant info.
C.1.4 indent and number sub-headings and sub- points
C.2 abbreviation
C.2.1 abbreviate long words / often rpted words
C.2.2 use common symbols and acronyms
5.4
NOTE MAKING
II) Non- Linear Note -Making
Non- linear notes have some distinctive patterns. They present and connect ideas in diagrammatical,
non-linear forms. Non-linear styles of note making include mind maps, tables, owcharts, and
tree diagrams. This technique has a number of advantages. It enables you to see a large amount of
information on one page and the connections between the key concepts can be shown easily.
Mind mapping is a more visual representation of information. Ideas are presented in a diagram form.
The mind map starts with a main concept and branches out to other concepts related to the main idea.
Each of these is comparable to the sub-heading and details in linear note making. Mind maps can include
images, words, symbols and other visual representations of concepts. Moreover, additional information
can be included easily and the open ended nature of the pattern means that new connections can be
made easily. Example:
Source: www.mindmapart.com
A table is most commonly used to make comparisons. This form of note making is an extremely simple and
eective way of presenting dierences and similarities with clarity.
Example:
Linear Note Making Non- Linear Note Making
Connections between ideas are clear
Not very visually appealing
Very dicult to add information later
Structured
Made using a format
Connections between ideas are quite clear
Very visually appealing
Normally easy to add information later
Not very structured
No xed format
A owchart is a useful form of notes. It is best used when a process or a change over time needs to be
depicted. A owchart usually has steps shown in boxes connected by arrows which give one an idea about
the sequence of events or the process.
Page 5
Learners will be able to-
1. To listen to lectures or read texts of varied lengths from a wide range of subjects and analyze them
critically.
2. To develop a basic understanding of note making and its nuances.
3. To use dierent techniques of note making: linear and non-linear.
4. To improve their comprehension and retention of material through accurate and meaningful notes.
5. To develop excellent review and reusable resources.
w Skim (reading the text quickly) to identify the main idea / theme of text.
w Scan (look at all parts of carefully) for details.
w Dierentiate between main ideas and supporting details.
w Sift through the given material to identify the most important details.
w Provide an appropriate title for the given information / text.
w Categorize the information gathered under suitable headings and sub- headings.
w Present the given information in the form of notes using appropriate format.
w Use symbols, abbreviations and acronyms while making notes, to save time.
w Summarise the given notes in as few words as possible.
5
CHAPTER
NOTE MAKING
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
Note making is an essential study skill. Amongst the most important measure to achieve excellence
in academics is making good notes and reviewing them regularly to maximize learning. According to a
dictionary denition, note making is the practice of recording information from another source. The
source could be a book, an event, a meeting or a general oral discussion. Note making is useful as going
through bulky documents (both hard copy and soft copy), listening to long lectures and attending day-long
conferences trying to remember what was preached, can be very tedious.
Moreover, it has become imperative that the skill of note making be developed in a world where there is an
explosion of information. There is a scarcity of time and the information available is vast, therefore, making
GOALS
5.2
NOTE MAKING
brief notes with ltered and relevant information oers convenience. It allows one to skim and scan through
available sources and make note of the desired knowledge in a form that is not only easy to write, easy to
read but also less theoretical.
Advantages of Note Making
One of the chief advantages is that the learner can make notes in a pattern that he / she is comfortable and
familiar with. Moreover, notes are useful records of important points for future use. They aid in writing in a
more organised and planned manner as you can see what information you have. Note making also helps in
organisation as you can rearrange and remember notes in a dierent order. Making notes that are eective
is about making sense of the material in a manner that is personal and individualized, thus ensuring a better
understanding. Furthermore, note making helps learners master the art of learning volumes of text quicker
and aids in saving time while revising, particularly before exams.
A few dierent styles of note making have been discussed in this chapter. For the benet of the students,
sample notes and practice exercises have been included. However, for academic purposes there is a
specied format and style that is followed. It is advisable to follow the given template to keep your notes in
the standard form to make them readable.
Strategies for Eective Note Making
? Read the text at least twice. The rst time to get an overview or to identify the main idea and the second
time to draw important points.
? Frame a heading / title based on the main idea. It should be short. Avoid using long sentences as a title.
? Look at how the main idea been presented and developed. Normally there are three or four subordinate/
associated ideas. You can frame subheadings based on these.
? Ignore information or points which are less important. Be as brief and specic as possible. Leave out
examples and other unnecessary details.
? Systematically dividing and sub-dividing the important information, write the points in logical sequence.
? Though you write in phrases or points only, the information should be complete.
? Indent, i.e., suitably space and number the sub-headings and sub-sub points
? Leave no space for ambiguity
? Avoid adding your own interpretation.
? Ensure that you DO NOT change the author’s intended meaning.
? Abbreviate often-repeated terms or lengthy words. Any abbreviation used should not hamper
comprehension.
Note Making and Note Taking
Often the two terms, note taking and note making, are used synonymously. But we must distinguish
between the two as there are subtle dierences between them.
Note taking is a passive process that involves taking down what is heard or read without actually processing
the information. Information is often copied from the original source and rewritten in a similar layout. In
note taking, notes being taken are often unselective, trying to cover as much of the information as possible
without highlighting the main points or issues.
5.3
BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTING
Whereas, note making is a more active and focused activity. It assists your understanding of new material if
the notes are organized in your own way and in your own words. Here the attempt is to produce notes that
are organized in a way that makes more sense or leads to more connections between them. Note making
makes it easier to distinguish between important issues and detail.
Note taking should be regarded as the rst-stage of the process and should lead to note making.
Styles of Note Making
As mentioned earlier, note making allows one to skim and scan through available sources and make note
of the desired knowledge in a form that is not only easy to write, easy to read but also less theoretical.
Therefore, there are various ways in which one can present their notes. Typically, there are two styles of note
making: Linear and Non-linear.
I) Linear Note Making
Linear note making is the simplest, therefore, the most common style of note making used by people.
In this form of note making, notes are written down the page, one line after the other in a structured
manner. Such notes include headings for main ideas and concepts, sub-headings for main points within
those ideas. Linear notes include use of key words, underlining, indentation, and use of abbreviations.
This format will be discussed in detail later in the chapter.
Example:
Note Making Tips
A. Reading
A.1 read twice
A.1.1 1st time – identify main idea
A.1.2 2nd time – identify important points
A.2 UL imp. words
B. Planning – division of content acc. to
B.1 theme
B.2 importance
B.3 time
C. Writing
C.1 sub - headings
C.1.1 about 3 – 4
C.1.2 use phrases
C.1.3 ignore unimportant info.
C.1.4 indent and number sub-headings and sub- points
C.2 abbreviation
C.2.1 abbreviate long words / often rpted words
C.2.2 use common symbols and acronyms
5.4
NOTE MAKING
II) Non- Linear Note -Making
Non- linear notes have some distinctive patterns. They present and connect ideas in diagrammatical,
non-linear forms. Non-linear styles of note making include mind maps, tables, owcharts, and
tree diagrams. This technique has a number of advantages. It enables you to see a large amount of
information on one page and the connections between the key concepts can be shown easily.
Mind mapping is a more visual representation of information. Ideas are presented in a diagram form.
The mind map starts with a main concept and branches out to other concepts related to the main idea.
Each of these is comparable to the sub-heading and details in linear note making. Mind maps can include
images, words, symbols and other visual representations of concepts. Moreover, additional information
can be included easily and the open ended nature of the pattern means that new connections can be
made easily. Example:
Source: www.mindmapart.com
A table is most commonly used to make comparisons. This form of note making is an extremely simple and
eective way of presenting dierences and similarities with clarity.
Example:
Linear Note Making Non- Linear Note Making
Connections between ideas are clear
Not very visually appealing
Very dicult to add information later
Structured
Made using a format
Connections between ideas are quite clear
Very visually appealing
Normally easy to add information later
Not very structured
No xed format
A owchart is a useful form of notes. It is best used when a process or a change over time needs to be
depicted. A owchart usually has steps shown in boxes connected by arrows which give one an idea about
the sequence of events or the process.
5.5
BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTING
Example:
Customer lls up the
appilcation form in the
prescribed manner
Now the Account is
ready for operation
Customer must have
to sign on spedmen
signature card.
Letter of introduction is
required for individual
customer
Bank ocial scrutinizes the
introduction and examines
the documents submitted
Then bank ocial issued
a cheque book for the
customer
Initial deposit must be in
the form of cash. No cheque
or draft is accptable to the
Bank.
Source: http://www.assignmentpoint.comtree
A tree diagram, if turned upside-down, resembles a tree. They are used to show classication.
Example:
Bank Career
Hierarchy
Clerks
Ocer
Manager
Chief
Manager
Chief Financial
Ocer
Senior
Manager
Assistant
general
Manager
General
Manager
Deputy
General
Manager
Chief
Executive
Ocer
President
Junior
Management
Senior
Management
Middle
Management
Top
Management
Source: hierarchystructure.com
MECHANICS OF LINEAR NOTE MAKING
As the name suggests, linear style of note making moves down the page using headings, sub headings,
bullets and pointers which nally leads to structured information. It has been seen that this form usually
uses the roman numerals (I, II, III, IV, V and so on) to make sub points, though this is not mandatory. One can
use letters, numbers, or even pointers while making notes.
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