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NOTE MAKING
Note making is an advanced writing skill which is acquiring
increasing importance due to
knowledge explosion. There is a need to remember at least the
main points of any given
subject. Making notes is a complex activity which combines
several skills.
How to make notes
o Read the passage carefully.
o Heading
What is the main idea of the passage? Frame a heading based on
the central ideaand write it in the middle of the page.
o Subheadings
How has the main idea been presented and developed? Are there
two or three
subordinate/associated ideas? You can frame subheadings based on
these.
o Points
Are there further details or points of the subtitles that you
wish to keep in these
notes? Indent, i.e., suitably space and number.
All subheadings should be written at a uniform distance from the
margin.
o Indenting
All points should also maintain the same distance away from the
margin.
Note: Do not write full sentences. And use abbreviations
wherever necessary.
Help with abbreviations
1. Use standard abbreviations and symbols as far as possible:a.
Capitalized first letters of words
e.g. U.P.,U.S.A.,U.K.,U.S.S.R.,etc.
b. Common abbreviations
Sc. (for science), Mr., Mrs., Dr., Govt., etc
c. Common symbols
e.g., : \, , +ve, -ve, (leading to), (rising), (falling), =,
etc.
d. Measurements and Figures
e.g., : 100, 100, 100 kg, 1000 mm, 100ml, etc.2. Making your own
abbreviations:
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a. Keep the main sounds of the word. For example, edn.
(education), progm. (programme)
b. Retain the suffix so that later when you are going over the
notes you may recall the full
form of the word e.g., ednal (educational), progve
(progressive).
2. Caution
a. Do not get over-enthusiastic about abbreviations. You should
not abbreviate every word.
One abbreviation in point is enough.
b. As a general rule, the heading should not be abbreviated. You
may use abbreviations in
subheadings.
Your notes should look like this
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Notice that indenting, i.e., shifting from the margin has been
used to clearly indicate
subheadings, points and sub points. Subheadings, though
separated by points occur below one
another. Points and sub points too come below one another,
similarly. Such use of indenting
gives your notes a visual character. At a glance you can see the
main idea and its aspects.
IMPORTANCE OF NOTE MAKING:
Notes act as a summary or reinforcement of the main points of
what you read, heard
or saw; they are also an essential record of where information
came from (for
referencing purposes). They also remind you of other things you
should do to continue
learning, e.g. sources to check out; action to take.
Notes They are an aid to memory. If You summarise in your own
words, this can help
you to remember the subject better, particularly in exams.
Notes are, therefore, useful for future revisionpurposes,
particularly in preparation for
examsor writing assignments.
Notes can help you to concentrate on the lecture or reading; the
note writing process
can help you overcome distraction and can encourage you to
become a more active,
rather than passive, learner.
