Introduction to Note Taking and Study Skills

1 With a partner or in a small group, discuss the following.

1. In what situations do you take notes?

2. Do you take notes in your English class? If so, how do you use them?

3. When you read in English, do you take notes? If so, how? (For example, on a separate piece
of paper, in the margins of the book, by highlighting important words and ideas.)

4. Describe how you studied or prepared for exams in your past school or study situations.

5. What study habits do you find effective when studying English?

How do you study?

Some people need complete silence when studying. Others need heavy metal music blaring in the background.
Some people read their lecture notes to their pets to help them remember. Others insist they remember better when
they put their textbook under their pillow and sleep on it the night before an exam. Some people study lying down,
others while sitting down and still others while moving around from one place to another.
In the end, it doesn’t really matter how unusual your study habits are as long as they work for you.

LINC 6 Chapter 1 | Academic Skills | Note Taking and Study Skills 33

Note Taking While Reading

When reading for study purposes, it is common to take notes. People take notes for different reasons: to stay
focused on what they are reading or listening to, to remember information better, or to deepen their understanding
of the information. Here are some steps for note-taking:
1. Define your purpose for reading. Is it to get a general understanding of the text? To find specific information
for a class assignment? Or to be able to recall information during an exam? Thinking about the purpose will
help you stay focused on the information in the text that is relevant to your needs.
2. Preview the text to get a general sense of its content and how the information is organized. For example, skim
headings, sub-headings, chapter summaries and charts. Getting a sense of how the entire text is organized and
what the main ideas are will help you organize your notes. For example, the headings in the text (or table of
contents) can be used as headings for your own notes.
3. While reading the text, try to differentiate between the main points and supporting details. It is helpful to
read the introduction to the text and topic sentence of each paragraph for the main points. Take notes of the
main points and supporting details.

1 Skim the following text to find out what it is about. Highlight the information you think you need
to take notes on. Compare and discuss with a partner. Read the text again and take notes on the
key information. Use your notes to write a summary of the text.

In today’s economy, more and more workers are being laid off and relying on the employment insurance
program. Today we’re featuring the history of Canada’s Employment Insurance program. When did it start?
Why did it start? What’s it like today?
The Employment Insurance program was launched in response to severe economic conditions during the
Great Depression. The Depression lasted from 1929 right up until the Second World War in 1939. During
that time, millions of Canadians were out of work. With no government aid, families were forced to rely on
whatever community aid was available. Many Canadians lost their homes, and many more were unable to
provide for their families.
There was a lot of discussion about the pros and cons of an unemployment insurance program (as it was
then called). People who were in favour of unemployment insurance said it would give families enough
income to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. But others felt that such a program would
encourage people to stay unemployed.
Despite the debate, the Unemployment Insurance Act came into effect in 1941. In 1971, the program
expanded, and began to cover maternity and sickness benefits. In 1996, the program changed its name to
Employment Insurance. Today, EI places an emphasis on skills training. The program encourages laid-off
workers who receive benefits to attend training programs before re-entering the workforce.

Employment Insurance operates like any insurance program: workers pay into a fund, and can apply for
benefits under certain conditions. Workers most commonly receive benefits when they are laid off.
However, they can also receive benefits when caring for a newborn or newly adopted child (maternity,
parental and adoption benefits), when suffering from a long-term illness (sickness benefits), or when caring
for a family member who is seriously ill (compassionate care benefits). Not all workers are eligible for
benefits. Eligibility depends on how long workers have been employed and what type of work they have
been doing.

Adapted from information on www.hrsdc.gc.ca

34 Chapter 1 | Academic Skills | Note Taking and Study Skills LINC 6

Note-taking Symbols and Abbreviations

Using symbols and abbreviations will help you to take notes quickly. You can make your own symbols and
abbreviations, or use ones that are commonly understood. There are a number of common note-taking symbols
in English. Some are mathematical symbols, such as: = (equals), > (greater than) and + (plus, in addition to).

Some abbreviations come from Latin. For example, etc. (and other things), e.g. (for example) and a.m. (morning).

1 Match the following symbols and abbreviations with the correct meanings. Add additional symbols
to the list.

1. ∴ a. approximately, similar to

2. # b. and others (people)

3. @ c. per

4. K d. per cent

5. p.m. e. money

6. ≈ f. correct

7. < g. versus

8. vs. h. not the same as, does not equal

9. re: i. woman, female

10. i.e. j. rises, increases

11. ≠ k. causes, leads to

12. $ l. in other words

13. √ m. number

14. et al. n. man, male

15. / o. at, with

16. → p. afternoon and evening

17. % q. less than

18. r. therefore

19. ↑ s. concerning, with regard to

20. t. thousand

LINC 6 Chapter 1 | Academic Skills | Note Taking and Study Skills 37

Note-taking Symbols and Abbreviations (Cont.)

2 Abbreviate the following words. Compare your abbreviations with a partner and discuss differences.

• Canadian • not available • report • year, month, day

• experience • university • difficult • millennium
• employment • altitude • document • required
• equipment • language • information • minimum

3 Work with a partner to figure out what each abbreviation means. Add any additional abbreviations
you know and share them with the class.

1. pp. 3. b/c

Q&A w/

FYI w/o

2. poss. 4. dept.

prob. impt.

gov. intl.

cont. avg.

approx. acct.

ea. wgt.

max. hgt.

cent. mgmt.

4 With a partner, discuss how the abbreviations in sets 1 to 4, above, have been formed.

5 ! Search the Internet for lists of abbreviations that can be used while taking notes.
Possible search term: abbreviations for note-taking

38 Chapter 1 | Academic Skills | Note Taking and Study Skills LINC 6

Note-taking Formats

Two common formats for taking notes when reading or listening to information are outline formats and diagram formats.
1. Outline formats
Outlining is a way of organizing your notes vertically using indenting (with or without numbering) to show the
level of importance. Outline notes are organized in such a way that the main points are aligned on the left
margin and supporting details or less important points are below and indented.

2. Diagram formats
Using a visual representation of information is another way of organizing your notes. Diagram formats show the
relationship between ideas by using headings, shapes or lines. Some examples of diagram formats include flow
charts, concept maps, Venn diagrams and other graphic organizers.

1 Look at the samples of two types of note-taking formats below. Answer the questions.

1. Which format is easiest for you to understand? Why?

2. What do you think are some advantages and disadvantages of each format?

Outline Format Diagram Format

Green Energy Green Energy

3 sources: solar, wind, geothermal
– Solar
Solar Wind Geothermal
– Pros: renewable source of energy
– Cons: high cost of solar panels
– Wind Pros: Pros: Pros:
– Pros: lessens dependency on fossil fuels renewable lessens clean,
– Cons: noise complaints dependency no emissions
on fossil fuels
– Geothermal
– Pros: clean, no emissions Cons: Cons: Cons:
– Cons: need large piece of land for solar panels noise need large piece
underground pipes are expensive complaints of land for
underground
pipes

2 ! Search the Internet for information on different note-taking formats. Select one format and write
brief notes about the advantages and disadvantages of this format. Present the information in
small groups.
Possible search terms: note-taking formats; graphic organizers; outline notes

LINC 6 Chapter 1 | Academic Skills | Note Taking and Study Skills 41