Specific Writing Skills Note Taking from Lectures and Books Learning Outcomes At the end of this chapter, you should be able to: * Understand the difference between note making and note taking * Know the importance of making notes * Familiarize with the different methods of taking down notes * Know the advantages and disadvantages of note taking methods Introduction: In this unit, we will discuss the difference between Note making and note taking and significance of note making and note taking. How to prepare efficient class notes and features of good notes. Cornell method, mapping method, outlined method and advantages and disadvantages of all methods, taxonomizing method will also be explained. Note Making and Note Taking The process of making notes based on what you have listened, like a lecture or talk is called note taking. When you read books and journals and prepare notes, it is called note making. However, in both note taking and note making, what is important is that you have lo record significant points so that you can use them before an exam or understand some complex concept for further learning. It is not possible by us to take down everything that we hear. You must know that a speaker speaks about 120-150 words per minute, whereas an average person can take down notes at the rate of only 25 words per minute. Therefore, it is wise to make smart notes so that you may recall more information at a time. Significance of Note Taking Following are the reasons for taking notes: lL Taking notes helps you focus and concentrate in class or while listening to a speaker on television or at a conference. & Taking notes helps you prepare for tests and examinations. as Notes taken down are the important information in understanding a subject. m1102 AN INTRODUCTION TO STUDY SKILLS 4. Helps you to understand the complex concepts or elements of the subject which you might not understand or grasp even by reading books. Significance of Note Making Note making is important for the following reasons: 1s Note making helps you observe and record the crucial and finer aspects of a text or a phenomenon. 2. Note making helps you appraise the text or a situation from close quarters. 3. Note making helps you figure out the complexity of a thought, idea, or a situation. 4. It helps you recall and recapture the intensity of an observed phenomenon and express the same in your own words. Features of Good Notes Good notes should have the following features: 1. I should be brief, concise, and preferably written in third person. 2 It should contain only the relevant details or facts of the subject. Any illustration, description, explanation, etc. in support of the subject should be avoided. However, it could be given in case of science and technology-oriented subjects/topics where the shape, size and processes become important. 3. Information should be presented in phrases, words, or brief sentences and no specific grammatical pattern should be followed. 4. All information, relating to the subject, should be logically arranged one after the other. 5. Notes are usually divided into main points, sub-points, sub-sub points, and so on. Making Efficient Class Notes You need to be prepared in order to make efficient class notes. Taking good notes is a three-stage process. Given below are the three stages of note taking: 1. Preparing to take notes (before class) (a) Go through the notes from the previous class or session before you go to the next class. This will help you remember what was covered and understand new information delivered by the teacher or speaker (b) If the teacher has asked you to read something before coming to the class then complete all such work so that when the teacher enters into a new area you will be able to follow it. {c) Bring all note-taking materials such as pen, pencil, writing board, and paper with you. 2. How to take notes (during class) {a) Pay attention to what the teacher is saying. Listen for ‘signal statements’ which will tell you what your teacher is about to say and is important to write in your notes. Examples of signal statements are the most important point...’ Remember that... and ‘One of the most important aspects ol...'.SPECIFIC WRITING SKILLS NOTE TAKING FROM LECTURES AND BOOKS 103 (b) Be sure to include in your notes the information that the teacher repeats or writes on the board (c) Wnite quickly so that you can include all the important information in your notes. Make use of abbreviated forms of words and expressions. 3. Rewrite your notes (after-class) (a) Rewrite your notes to make them complete by changing abbreviated words into whole words, symbols into words, and shortened sentences into longer sentences. (b) Make your notes more accurate by answering any question you had while writing your notes in the class. (c) Check with other students to make sure that you have not missed any important information while taking notes. Making yourself familiar with the subject matter before hand helps in the Preparation of effective notes. There are different methods by which you can make good notes. The important note taking methods are given below. Methods of Preparing Notes . There are five methods of making notes efficiently. These are as follows: * The Cornell method * The taxonomizing method + The outlining method + The mapping method * The sentence method The Comell Method * In this method of note taking you do not have re write the notes as fair copy. * Itis a well organized method of note taking. Method: In this method of note-taking draw two and a half inch margin on the left side of the paper leaving a six-inch area on the right to make notes .After writing the notes in the main space of the page, use the left-hand space to label cach idea and detail it with a key word. This is how you can use this method. You can take down information in the six-inch area while the class is going on. When the instructor moves to a new point you may skip a few lines and complete the phrases and sentences as much as possible after class. For every information that is written in the six inch area, write a cue in the left margin. To review, cover your notes with a card, leaving the cues exposed. Try saying the cue out loudly; then recollect as much as you can of the matenal underneath the card. When you have done so, move the card and see if what you said matches with what is written. If it matches then it means that you know it. Here are the advantages of the Comell method Itis organized and systematic which helps in Tecording and reviewing notes. It is an easy format for pulling out major concepts and ideas. tis a simple and efficient method. This method undoubtedly saves time and effort eM104 AN INTRODUCTION TO STUDY SKILLS 5 This method does not necessitate the need to rewrite the notes all over again. 21/2" 6" Cues: Condense the ideas and facts into short writings or summanes so as to recite, review and reflect Notes: Record the lecture as meaninglully as possible. ‘The Cormell Method of Note Taking The Outlining Method * This type of note taking follows the Indented style. * — Outlining is usually the best method for lectures and texts that are informative. *. In this method, the most general information is written on the left, with each more specific group of facts indented with spaces to the right. * The relationship between the different parts is carried out through indentation. The sample is given below. Method: First listen and then write your points in an organized pattern based on space indention. Place major points farthest to the left. Indent each of the more specific points to the right. Levels of importance will be indicated by the distance away from the major point. A common system consists of headings that use Roman numerals, letters of the alphabet, and Arabic numerals at different levels. A typical structure would be as follows: I. First main topic (a) Sub-topic 1. Detail 2. Detail (b) Sub-topic Il. Second main topic (a) Sub-topic However, this sort of structure has limitations in the written form since it is difficult to go back and insert more information. Advantages of the outlining method: 1. It is a well-organized system if used rightly. 2. Outlining helps in recording content as well as observing relationship among various points. 3. Turning main points into questions helps keep the review process easy. 4. Instills more confidence while preparing for exams and for presentations. Disadvantages of the outlining method: 1. The note taker should know the subject matter before hand for accurate organization of the notes. 2. There is limited scope for reviewing and question application because it is very brief. For details one has to look at the original text or source. a hi.SPECIFIC WRITING SKILLS NOTE TAKING FROM LECTURES AND BOOKS 105 The Mapping Method It is a graphic representation of the whole talk or lecture and so the listener should know the link between the ideas mentioned in the talk. While using this method, you use your critical thinking and try to create a map of the whole information that you receive in lectures or talks, This method is most effective if the lecture content is heavy and well organized. Advantages of Mapping Method: 1. It helps you track the lecture or talk visually. 2. It employs your critical thinking. 3. It is easy to review the whole information quickly. 4. Different colours can be used for highlighting. 5. If prepared on the flash-card later, it will give you an opportunity to do quick revision before the examination. Main Point Sub Point The Taxonomizing Method This is a systematic method of note taking that facilitates you in taking down notes or a summary as quickly as possible, since the format for the purpose has been already created by you. In this method, you may divide your page by drawing quadrangles and label them with appropriate headings such as history, causes, effects, and measures. As you listen to the lecture, start recording information (words, phrases, main ideas, etc.) into the appropriate category. Advantages Taxonomizing Method: 1. It helps track relevant contents. 2. This method reduces the amount of unnecessary writing. 3. It provides easy review mechanism for both memorization of facts and study of comparisons and relationships. Example for Taxonomizing Method: (What?) (How?) (Advantages) (Disadvantages) The Sentence Method It is a method which is used by the students who do not know any of the other note taking methods. In this method the notes are taken as complete sentences. However, it is quite a useful method for taking down notes when the topic of discussion is quite- argumentative. Write every new thought, fact or topic on separate lines as you progress. Advantages of the Sentence Method: 1. You get more or all the information. 2s Gives enough idea of the content of the actual text. Sub Point . Disadvantages: 1 Sometimes you cannot determine the major/minor points from the numbered sequence. 2 Wis difficult to edit without rewriting by bringing together points which are related106 AN INTRODUCTION TO STUDY SKILLS Tips for preparing purposeful notes: lL Take time and prepare notes with care so that it will both save time and increase retention later on. 2. Select an appropriate method and structure your notes. 3. Note everything that is related to the author's argument. Remember, important points that come in introductory and concluding paragraphs. 4. Discriminate facts from opinions, and quotations from summaries. Knowing this difference will help you prepare your notes carcfully and you will be able to review your notes later with confidence. 5. Review your notes the next day, and do it again a few days later. This way you can retain the material {or a longer period. Example: Note making passage I Read the following passage carefully: The work of the heart can never be interrupted The heart's job is to keep oxygen rich blood flowing through the body. All the body's cells need a constant supply of Oxygen, especially those in the brain. The brain cells live only four to five minutes after their oxygen is cut off, and death comes to the entire body. The heart is a specialized muscle that serves as a pump. This pump is divided into four chambers connected by tiny doors called valves. The chambers work to keep the blood lowing round the body in a circle. At the end of each circuit, veins carry the blood to the nght atrium, the first of the four chambers 2/5 oxygen by then is used up and it is on its way back to the lung to pick up a fresh supply and to give up the carbon dioxide it has accumulated. From the right atrium the blood flows through the tricuspid valve into the second chamber, the right ventricle The right ventricle contracts when it is filled, pushing the blood through the pulmonary artery, which leads to the lungs - in the lungs the blood gives up its carbon dioxide and picks up fresh oxygen. Then it travels to the third chamber the left atrium. When this chamber is filled it forces the blood through a valve to the left ventricle. From here it is pushed into a big blood vessel called aorta and sent round the body by way of arteries. Heart disease can result from any damage to the heart muscle, the valves or the pacemaker. If the muscle is damaged, the heart is unable to pump properly. If the valves are damaged blood cannot flow normally and easily from one chamber to another, and if the pacemaker is defective, the contractions of the chambers will become un-coordinated. Until the twentieth century, few doctors dared to touch the heart. In 1953 all this changed after twenty years of work, Dr. John Gibbon in the USA had developed a machine that could take over temporarily from the heart and lungs. Blood could be routed through the machine bypassing the heart so that surgeons could work inside it and see whal they were doing. The era of open heart surgery had begun. In the operating theatre, it gives surgeons the chance to repair or replace 8 defective heart. Many parties have had plastic valves inserted in their hearts when their own was faulty. Many people are being kept alive with tiny battery operated pacemakers; none of‘SPECIFIC WRITING SKILLS NOTE TAKING FROM LECTURES AND BOOKS 107 to the surgeons, the heart lung machine has certain limitations. It can be used only for a few hours at a time because its pumping gradually damages the bloods cells. On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it, using headings & Sub headings. Use recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary (minimum 4). Use a format you consider suitable. Supply an appropriate title to it. Answer/ Hints Title:- Heart Notes:- i) Function of Heart a) Vital for living (i) never stop working. b) Supplies oxygen rich blood to diff. Parts of the body. * ii) Structure of the heart i a) div. 4 chambers connected by valves b) Blood purified in the lungs. c) Arteries carry pure blood to diff. Part of the body. iii) Heart disease - cause a) Weak muscles b) Defective valves ¢) Defective pace maker iv) History of open heart Surgery. a) 1953 ~ Dr. Gibbon inv. Heart lung machine b) Blood could pass through the machine ¢) Enabled open heart surgery d) Limitation (i) can be used only for a few hrs. at a time. (ii) damages flood cells. Abbreviation used Different y Invented Biron Summary of the Passage The heart is a vital organ of the body, which never stop working. It supplies oxygen Tich blood to all parts of the body. It is divided into four chambers inter connected by valves. Blood is purified in the lungs and arteries carry it to different parts of the body. Heart disease has vanous cause such as weak muscles defective valves or a defective pace maker. The era of open-heart surgery began in 1953 when Dr. Gibbon developed the heart lung machine. Replacement of valves and other areas of a damaged heart are now possible. Summary Taking notes helps you focus and concentrate in class or while listening to a speaker on television or at a conference.108 AN INTRODUCTION TO STUDY SKILLS Taking notes helps you prepare for tests and examinations. Notes taken down are the important information in understanding a subject. Helps you to understand the complex concepts or elements of the subject which you might not understand or grasp even by reading books. Note making helps you appraise the text or a situation from close quarters. Note making helps you figure out the complexity of a thought, idea, ora situation. Good notes should be brief, concise, and preferably written in third person. It should contain only the relevant details or facts of the subject. Any illustration, description, explanation, etc. in support of the subject should be avoided. However, it could be given in case of science and technology-oriented topics where the shape, size and processes become important. Exercise Q.1, What is Cornell method? How is it different from sentence method? Q.2, What are the points to be remembered while making efficient class notes? Q.3. What is Taxonomizing method? How is it different from mapping method of note making? Q44, Differentiate between outlining method and mapping method? What are the disadvantages of the outlining method of note making? Q.5. What are the five methods of note making? Explain them in detail listing the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Q.6. Make notes for the given passages.