Unit 2

NOTE MAKING
INTRODUCTION
Since Poonam was down with viral for five days, she could
not attend college. She badly wanted to know what was
taught in all the classes.
She asked Preeti to give her class notes, which she readily
gave. While going through her notes, Poonam's head started
reeling, she could not make much out of it. Having struggled
sufficiently with Preet's notes, she finally gave up.
She approached Vivek for the same purpose. Vivek gave her
his notebooks. This time, Poonam did not have to rack her
brain. She could figure out easily what was discussed in the
lectures she had missed.
INTRODUCTION
Hope you have understood why Poonam could not
understand anything from Preeti's notes. And it is not
just Preeti, there are scores of students who struggle
with efficient note making. It is so because note
making is generally regarded as a simple affair.
INTRODUCTION

Friends, whenever you read a text or listen to an

informative talk, you prepare notes to keep a track of the
ideas communicated.
When you read and prepare notes, it is called note
making and
when you listen to a speaker or watch documentaries
and jot down notes, it is called note taking.
However, in both note taking and note making, what is
important is that you want to record significant points so
that you can use them before an exam or understand some
complex concept for further learning.
NOTE MAKING AND NOTE TAKING
Do you 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 not possible for you to write everything
that the speaker speaks.
Similarly, when you are reading something seriously,
you may read at the rate of 350-400 words per minute
but while taking down notes the speed will be
drastically low.
NOTE MAKING AND NOTE TAKING
One common format for such notes is shorthand,
which can allow large amounts of information to be
put on paper very quickly.
Manual note taking requires pen and paper, while
electronic note taking (or computer - assisted note
taking) requires a laptop, often with special note
taking software.
Importance of Note Taking
Following are the reasons for taking notes:
1. Taking notes helps you focus and concentrate
in class or while listening to a speaker on
television or at a conference hall.
2. Taking notes helps you prepare for tests and
examinations.
Importance of Note Taking
3. They are valuable clues to what information
the teacher or speaker thinks and are the key
points in understanding a subject.
4. Mostly they help you understand the complex
concepts or elements of the subject which,
otherwise, you may not be able to understand
sometimes even by reading books.
Importance of Note Making
Note making is important for the following
reasons:
1. 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.
Importance of Note Making

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. It 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 / processes become important.
Features of Good Notes
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 presented in a logical sequence.
5. Notes are usually divided into main points,
sub - points, sub - sub points, and so on.
MAKING EFFICIENT CLASS NOTES
Taking good notes is a three - stage process in
which there are certain things you should do
before going to the class, during the class, and
after the class.
Given below are the three stages of note taking:
1. Get ready to take notes (before class)
2. Take notes (during class)
3. Rewrite your notes (after class)
1. Get ready to take notes (before class)
(a) Review the notes from the previous class or
session before you go to the next class. This will help
you remember what was covered and also help you
understand new information imparted by the teacher
or speaker.
(b) If the teacher has asked you to read something
before coming to the class, complete all the assigned
readings before coming to the class.
(c) Bring all note - taking materials such as pen,
pencil, writing board, and paper with you.
2. Take notes (during class)
(a) Keep your attention focused on what the
teacher is saying. Listen for ' signal
statements ' that will tell you that 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 of ....
Be sure to include in your notes the information that the teacher
repeats or writes on the board.
2. Take notes (during class)
(b) Write quickly so that you can include all
the important information in your notes. Do
this by using abbreviated (Shorten) forms of
words and expressions.
3. Rewrite your notes (after class)
(a) Rewrite your notes to make them complete
by changing abbreviated (Shorten) 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 ensure that you
have not missed any important information.
Probably by now you can figure out that preparing notes is, by comparison,
a simple task that can be performed efficiently with proper listening,
planning, and mindset.
However, to be able to develop the art of note making, we need to be aware
of the different methods available and then use those which suit our
requirement.
Let us therefore understand the different methods of note making.

METHODS OF PREPARING NOTES

There are five methods of preparing notes efficiently.
1. The Cornell method
2. The taxonomizing method
3. The outlining method
4. The sentence method.
5. The mapping method
1. The Cornell Method
The Cornell method provides a systematic
format for condensing (Shortening) notes
without laborious re copying. After writing
the notes in the main space of the page, use
the left - hand space to label each idea and
detail with a key word. This is how you can
use this method.
1. The Cornell Method
Method
Draw rules on your paper with a two-and-a-half-inch margin on
the left leaving a six-inch area on the right to make notes.
During class, take down information in the six - inch area. When
the instructor moves to a new point, skip a few lines. After the
class, complete phrases, and sentences as much as possible. For
every significant bit of information, write a cue in the left
margin.
To review, cover your notes with a card, leaving the cues
exposed. Say the cue out loudly; then say as much as you can of
the material underneath the card. When you have done so,
move the card and see if what you said matches with what is
written. If you can say it, this means you know it (Fig. 19.1).
1. The Cornell Method
Method
1. The Cornell Method
Advantages
Here are the advantages of the Cornell method:
1. It is organized and systematic which helps in
recording and reviewing notes.
2. It is an easy format for pulling out major concepts
and ideas.
3. It is a simple and efficient method.
4. This method undoubtedly saves time and effort.
5. It is like a ' do - it - right - in - the - first - place '
system.
2. The Outlining Method
Indented outlining is usually the best
method for the in formative kind of lectures
and text.
In this method, the information, which is
most general begins at the left, with each
more specific group of facts indented with
spaces to the right.
2. The Outlining Method
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:
2. The Outlining Method
Method
A typical structure would be as follows:
I. First main topic
(a) Sub - topic
1. Detail
2. Detail
(b) Sub - topic
II. 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.
2. The Outlining Method
Advantages
Here are the 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.
2. The Outlining Method
Disadvantages
Following are the disadvantages of the outlining method:
1. This method requires more thought into the subject
matter by the note taker for accurate organization.
2. It has some restrictions as it lends limited review for
learning and question application because it is very brief.
For details one has to look at the original text or source.
3. This system cannot be used if the lecture is rushed
through.
2. The Outlining Method
Example
2. The Outlining Method
In the example, you can see how the definition has been
jotted down and how the various headings and subheadings
have been given.
This outlining method of preparing notes helps the reader
learn the topic in no time. If you prepare your notes by
following this method well before the exams, don't you
think that you will be confident to appear in exams?
Moreover, if you prepare notes by using this method for
your speech or presentation, you will be presenting your
ideas in an organized manner and you will not miss out any
of the important points.
3. The Mapping Method
In this method, you need to use your cognitive
(comprehension) and analytical skills to identify which
idea or fact relates to which main idea. It is a graphic
representation of the whole talk or lecture.
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.
3. The Mapping Method
Advantages
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 in no time.
4. Different colours can be used for showing.
5. If prepared on the flash - card later, it will give you
an opportunity to go through your notes quickly before
the examination.
3. The Mapping Method
When to use
Use this method when the lecture content is heavy and
well - organized. This method may also be used
effectively when you have a guest lecturer and have no
idea how the lecture is going to be presented.
3. The Mapping Method
Example
Imagine that you have attended a talk on ' Tsunami and its impact on
environment “. You should prepare your notes by using the mapping
method shown in Fig. 19.2.
4. The Taxonomizing Method
It is a method which helps you chart or record the
information in a systematic manner. It facilitates you in
taking down notes or a gist as quickly as possible,
since the pro forma for the purpose has been already
created by you.
4. The Taxonomizing Method
Method
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.
4. The Taxonomizing Method
Advantages
Here are the advantages of the 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.
4. The Taxonomizing Method
Example
Given below is an example that suggests how by using taxonomizing method, you
can prepare your notes (Fig. 19.3).
5. The Sentence Method
It is a method which is used by the students who do
not know the technical way of taking down notes. They
also believe in taking detailed notes of the lecture or
talk.
However, it is quite a useful method for taking down
notes when the topic of discussion is quite
argumentative.
5. The Sentence Method
Method
Write every new thought, fact, or topic on a separate
line as you progress.
5. The Sentence Method
Advantages
Here are the advantages of the sentence method:
1. You get more or all the information.
2. Notes prepared by using this method give enough
idea of the content of the actual text.
5. The Sentence Method
Disadvantages
1. Sometimes you cannot determine major / minor
points from the numbered sequence.
2. It is difficult to edit without having to rewrite by
clustering points which are related.
5. The Sentence Method
USEFUL TIPS
Given below are a few tips for preparing purposeful
notes:
1. Take enough time for taking down notes. It will
both save time and increase retention later on.
5. The Sentence Method
USEFUL TIPS
2. Select an appropriate method and structure
your notes.
3. Note everything that is related to the author's
argument. Remember, important points come in
introductory and concluding paragraphs.
5. The Sentence Method
USEFUL TIPS
4. Discriminate facts from opinions, and
quotations from summaries. Knowing this
difference will help you prepare your notes
carefully and you will be able to review your notes
later with confidence.
5. The Sentence Method
USEFUL TIPS
5. Appraise your notes the next day, and do it again
a few days later. This is a time - efficient way of
retaining the material.
THANK YOU