Note Making

Since human memory is short lived it is natural that one tends to forget whatever we read or listen.
To preserve the information, the best way is through the written form. In this way it can be used
for future refences. However, this does not come as easy as it sounds. Speaking is eight to ten
times faster than writing. The listener cannot match the speed of the speaker to note down the
information. Consequently, taking notes of the key points and ideas becomes more practical. This
very method or the written points are called notes.

Notes are usually drawn form:

1. Transient sources like lectures, oral discussion and so on.
2. Written material.

They have the following features:

• Notes are brief, concise, and preferably written in third person.

• They contain only relevant details.
• They include the information in a logical sequence.
• They are divided into main points,
sub- points, sub-sub points, and so on.

Why is note making important?

• Notes help to recall key points and relevant details of the lecture or text
• Identify the supporting details, such as examples, diagrams, explanations, etc.
• Make the content easy to comprehend.
• Compare the key ideas with other materials
• Summarize longer texts.

Note making is a complex activity which combines various skills. It is an advance writing skill
that is acquired through constant practices. It is an important activity for students. They listen to
the lectures, and records important points in their note-books. It is difficult to recall each and every
point of the lecture, hence the students write down only main points for future use.

Differences in making notes between lectures and written materials:

• If a point is missed out, we cannot stop the speaker in between, but we can take a pause
and read the written material again and again.
• If fall behind, we cannot ask the speaker to slow down her/his pace of speaking, but we
can read the written material as per our pace.
• The speed of speaking is faster than writing. The listener needs to write faster or will
miss out some of the information at the time of writing down notes.
When one listens to a speaker or watches some video and jots down notes, it is called note taking;
but when one reads, and prepares notes, it is called note making. In both the cases, the main
purpose is to record significant points for further use.

Note Taking

Note taking is the activity of writing down notes out of a lecture, speech, discussion, or so. If the
information, being provided by the speaker, is not available from some other sources or difficult
to obtain, the notes need to be as detailed as possible. But if information is readily available, the
person needs to take down the key points only. Anyhow, in both the cases, the note-taker should
record the following information:

• Significant points or the points highlighted by the speaker.

• Key words and terms related to the topic.
• Diagrams, examples, definitions, formulae, calculations, relevant questions, and source.

Points to Remember:

The note-taker should keep the following points in mind while writing down notes:

• Write quickly so that no important information is missed out.

• Keep focused attention on the speaker.
• Use symbols, abbreviations, and short phrases.
• Rewrite the notes as soon as possible to make them complete.

Note Making

The process of reading a text and preparing notes out of the reading is known as Note-making. The
person reads and understands the text thoroughly, and writes down the key points in the form of
symbols, abbreviations, words, phrases, or so. Examples: & for and, or % or the word percent.

An abbreviation is the shortened form of a word or phrase. Abbreviations save the space and time,
and avoid repetition of long words and phrases. For example:

• Exam for examination

• Tech for technology
• TV for television
• MP of Member of Parliament
• USA for United States of America
• INR for Indian Rupee
The main purpose of note-making is to implant the material in mind. The note-maker reads the
text, and tries to comprehend the main theme around which the entire text revolves. This theme
can be used as a title of the text.

Title

Title is the central idea contained in a text. It is used as a title for its better understanding. The note
maker should read the entire text carefully and find main theme because sometimes the central
idea appears in the ending lines. H/She should take care of the following points while putting down
the title:

• The title will be placed in the centre.

• First letter of each word, other than Prepositions, Articles and Conjunctions, will be capital.
If either of them appears in the beginning of the titles, its first letter will be capital.

Example:
Pure is the water that contains all essential chemical and minerals at levels which do not pose
risk to health. Absolutely pure water is not found in nature. In fact, distilled water is undesirable
for health. If not present in excess, certain salts and gases in solution make water more
palatable. Many of the chemicals and substances may be naturally occurring in water, but the
concentration is the key factor in distinguishing between a natural component and contaminant.

Surface water and groundwater, though generally taken as separate resources, are interrelated.
Surface water seeps through the soil and becomes ground water. Conversely, groundwater can
also feed the surface water sources. Surface water has the maximum potential for
contamination. Contaminants can be natural or human induced. Natural water contaminants
may originate from rocks and soil. While industrial discharge, urban activities, leaking fuel
tanks and toxic chemicals spills are some examples of anthropogenic contamination. Like
surface water, groundwater resources are vulnerable to contamination from many human
activities. For example, when animal waste, fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides
are applies to cropland, some may leach into the groundwater resources.

Instruction: Read the above information and suggest a suitable title to the passage.

Title: Contaminants of Water

Methods of Making Notes

There are different methods of writing down notes. The method depends on the convenience of
the note maker/taker.
a. Sentence Method
This is the simplest and easiest method of writing down notes. There is no technical use
here. S/he notes down the information in short and simple sentences. The method is quite
useful for writing down notes when the topic is argumentative.

Example
Instructions: Read the above passage already given and prepare note out of your
reading. Use recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary.

Notes:
1. Pure water contains- chemical elements and minerals
2. Distilled- undesirable for health
3. Concentration distinguishes btw natural comps & conts.
4. Surface wtr- max potential for contn.
5. Natural conts- rocks & soil.
6. Anthropogenic- industrial discharge, urban activities, leaking fuel tanks, toxic
chemical spill.
7. Human induced- animal waste, fertilizers, herbicides,
insecticides, and fungicides.

Abbreviations:

Btw
(between) comps
(component
conts (contaminants)
contn (contaminations)
wtr (water)
max (maximum)

b. Linear Method

The writer writes down the main points, sub points, and sub-sub points vertically. S/he
records the information in a linear format down the page. S/he jots down the points in a
sequence of numbers and letters to show the relationship between the items.

Example

Instructions: Read the following text carefully and prepare appropriate notes out of your
reading. Use recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary. Also suggest a suitable title
to the passage.

Today’s youth want name, fame, and affluence without putting in required efforts. They
run after jobs and expect high salaries. They are not willing to start small business of their
own. They can argue that it requires money. But banks are ready to fund their
 projects. The other arguments can be that it requires practical knowledge. But one can work
part-time or as an intern to some firm in order to gain practical knowledge. Government
also provides training to the entrepreneurs willing to start their own business. One’s own
business can range from a grocery shop, a coaching centre, a computer institute, or so on.
So, one should not wait for an ideal job, rather think of starting one’s own business. It may
help them to lead a stable life and acquire a good career. Self-employment will also help
to reduce unemployment.

Title: Self Employment: The Solution to Unemployment

Notes:

1. Today’s youth wants-

1.1 name, fame, affluence (without efforts)
1.2 decent jobs & high salaries
2. Small bus.- not interested
3. Argue
3.1 needs- money & prac. Knowledge
3.2 Banks- fund proj.
3.3 govt. training
4. Small bus.
4.1 grocery shop, coaching centre, computer inst.
5. Shouldn’t wait for ideal job, start bus.
6. May help to-
6.1 lead stable life
6.2 acquire good career
6.3 reduce unemp.

Abbreviations:
bus. (business)
prac. (practical)
proj. (project)
govt. (government)
inst. (institution)
unemp. (unemployment)

c. Tabular Method
The writer draws a table, and fills the relevant information in the columns.
Example
Instruction: Read the following text carefully and prepare appropriate notes out of your
reading. Use recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary. Also suggest a suitable title
to the passage.
Illiteracy is the state of being unable to read and write. It is one of the main causes of
poverty which contributes in numerous ways. Firstly, the poor, because of meager income,
is unable to afford quality education that prevents her/his children to work. Instead of going
to school, they get engaged in low-paid jobs. This cycle continues for generations, and
these poverty-stricken people fail to improve on their style of living. Secondly, illiteracy
alienates a person from her/his rights, and is exploited easily. Thirdly, an illiterate person
cannot use modern technology which is the source of advancement. It also leads the person
to poverty.

Title: Illiteracy: The Cause of Poverty

Notes:

Illiteracy Meagre Send children cycle cont. alienates can’t use

Income to work from rights tech.
Unable to Can’t afford Engaged in Failed to Exploited Source of
read & write quality edu. Low paid jobs improve easily advancement
Cause pov. No high Lead to -- -- --
paid jobs poverty

Abbreviations:
edu. (education)
cont. (continues)
tech. (technology)
pov. (poverty)