DEALING WITH NOTE MAKING

ENGLISH LANGUAGE (SYLLABUS BASED)

(COMPILED BY THE CAPTAIN- ALIEN SERIES)

DEFINITION Marks will be awarded for content, note style

and fair copy layout. Candidates who simply
 Note making is a type of summary that
copy the passage will be penalized
involves the re-arrangement of the
important points from a written passage 1.0. IDENTIFYING THE TITLE FOR
into clear set of notes. NOTE MAKING
 A clear set of notes comprise a summary  The topic is the broad, general theme,
in NOTE FORM. message or main idea of the passage.
 Failure to understand note form makes  It is what some call the subject.
many students fail to come up with a
 The main idea of a passage is its point _
clear set of notes
the central idea or primary focus of the
NOTE MAKING SKILLS writing.
 Note making is a complex activity which  You need to read the passage carefully in
combines several skills. These are order to find the main idea of the
passage.
i. Identifying topic/title/ heading
 Your strategy for topic identification is
ii. Identifying main ideas/ main points
simply to ask yourself the question,
iii. Identifying supporting details/ supporting “What is this about?”
points
 Keep asking yourself that question as you
iv. Achieving brevity read the passage, until the answer to
your question becomes clear.
 The rubric of note making examination
reads as follows:  Sometimes you can spot the topic by
looking for a word or two that repeat.
Read the following passage and afterwards
make a summary of it in NOTE FORM. In your
summary:
1.1. RULES FOR WRITING THE TITLE
a. Provide a suitable title for the passage
 Frame a heading based on the central
b. Give the main points idea

c. Supply supporting points for each main  State the topic in a few words.
point
 Write it in the middle of the page.

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 Write it in all capitals and don’t  Another way of identifying the main
underline. idea is being guided by signaling devices
or transitional devices.
 Should be written at the middle of the
answer sheet  Transitional devices are words or phrases
that help carry a thought from one
 Should be written in upper case(all
sentence to another, from one paragraph
capital letters)
to another.
 Should be in phrase form and not
 These link sentences and paragraphs
underlined
together smoothly so that there are no
 Should not be abbreviated and never use abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas.
any element of brevity
 There are several types of transitional
 Should skip one line when going to devices, and each category leads readers
another element to make certain connections or
assumptions.
 Should carry the message of the whole
passage in general  Some lead readers forward and imply
the building of an idea or thought, while
 Should not be more than five words
others make readers compare ideas or
 Should never be written in prose form draw conclusions from the preceding
thought.
2.0. IDENTIFYING THE MAIN
POINTS  Here is the list of some common
transitional devices
 The main idea is the “key concept” being
expressed in the paragraph.  And, again, and then, besides, equally
important, finally, further, furthermore,
 The first thing you must be able to do
nor, too, next, lastly what’s more,
to get at the main idea of a paragraph is
moreover, In addition, first, second,
to identify the topic.
third, and so forth. Next, then, following
 Each paragraph contains one main idea, his, at this time, now, at this point, after,
or point. afterward, subsequently, finally,
consequently, previously, before this,
 A paragraph typically starts with the
simultaneously, concurrently, thus,
main idea or point (also called the topic
therefore, hence, next, and then, soon
sentence), and the rest of the paragraph
provides specific details to support and
develop the point.
2.1. RULES FOR WRITING THE SUB-
 The topic sentence announces the HEADING AKA MAIN POINTS
general theme to be dealt with in the
 Should be the central idea of the entire
paragraph.
paragraph
 Ask yourself the question, “What is this
 Should be in phrase form
paragraph about?” How has the main
idea been presented?  Should be numbered outside the margin,
with the following;
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 Upper alphabetical letters i.e. A,B,C ---,  Support the main idea by telling how,
what, when, where, why, how much, or
 Upper Roman Numerals i.e. I,II, III ------,
how many.
 Hindu Arabic Numerals i.e. 1, 2, 3 ----  Each main point has its own set of
supporting points. Supporting points are
 Should not repeat the chosen attribution,
not always on the same level.
be it in lower case, as it is regarded as an
incest since they belong to the same
3.1. RULES FOR WRITING THE
family
SUPPORTING POINTS
 Be consistence to one chosen style of  Should be in phrase form possible, with
numbering the main points very fewer words
 The numbering should be done inside
 Should only start with capital letter but
the margin with lower Roman numeral,
leave the rest in lower case
Hindu Arabic Numerals or the lower
 Should always be underlined alphabetical letters
 The numbering should be a different
 All points should be written at a uniform
from that of the main point
distance from the margin
 Observe brevity in all the universal
 Come directly below the title acceptable ways.
 Should not contain the form words but
 Numbering should be outside the margin rather the content words
 Start with a capital letter  Should not include prepositions, articles
etc.
 Choose the correct system of numbering  Should be written in lower case
 Be consistent in numbering. throughout.
 Should be written in indented style, but
 Make sure the suggested main points are without skipping a line from the main
in tandem with the title. point
 Write them in fewer words as far as  Come directly below the main point.
possible.  Make them as short as possible.
 Written in lowercase (except for proper
3.0. IDENTIFYING THE SUPPORTING nouns which should start with capital
POINTS letters if any )
 The bulk of an expository paragraph is  Don’t underline
made up of supporting sentences (major  Write supporting points that comment
and minor details), which help to explain much about the main point.
or prove the main idea.  Choose the correct system of numbering
 These sentences present facts, reasons,  Numerals; 1, 2, 3, 4 etc
examples, definitions, comparison,  Lowercase alphabetical letters; a, b , c, d
contrasts, and other pertinent details. etc
 They are most important because they  Lower case Roman numerals; I, ii, iii, iv
sell the main idea/ details, major and etc.
minor ,  Be consistent in numbering

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4.0. THE SUB-SUPPORTING POINTS  e.g., :100’, 100 kg, 1000mm, 100ml, etc
 Should again be written in phrase form  Use of sensible phrases. Complete
 Should all be written in lower case sentences are not acceptable.
 Should be numbered with bullets or  Use of standard symbols, abbreviations
dashes, in the event that all the and short forms which are universally
numberings have been already used. acceptable
 Should be in an indenting style without  Neat presentation of notes
skipping a line from the supporting
points. 6.0. CONTENT NOTE-STYLE AND
 Should be numbered with bullets or LAYOUT IN NOTE MAKING
dashes when they are inform of SUMMARY:
examples.  Thoroughly understanding of content,
note-style and layout will enhance
4.1. BREVITY IN NOTE MAKING students to successfully come up with a
 Use only the acceptable symbols and fair copy of notes.
abbreviation, short forms and with a 6.1. CONTENT and FORM
maximum number of four on each one  Students should understand the content
 Avoid using what-sap and text symbols. of a note-making passage for them to
 Use your dictionary to look for pick out the key words for the main
acceptable abbreviations, short-forms ideas (subtitles/ subheading), major and
and symbols minor supporting points.
 Use content words and not form words  Words can be divided into two broad
 Write everything in a phrase and not full classes: content words and form words.
sentences  Content words are generally nouns,
 Eliminate all words which are just adjectives, verbs and most adverbs.
additional remarks to achieve brevity  The rest of the part of speech are form
words.
5.0. NOTE STYLE IN NOTE MAKING  Form words are used to provide the
 Sensible phrases, standard symbols, pattern of the sentence. Most form
abbreviations and short form will bring words are omitted in the fair copy of
about BREVITY in note- making notes.
summary. For example:
 Abbreviations “Isolated personalities live lonely lives.
 Use standard abbreviations, symbols and They prefer own company and are very
short forms as far as possible: happy when they are alone. They hide
 Capitalizes first letters of words their real self-inside a shell, which is the
 E.g. U.P., U. S. A. ,U. K., U.S.S.R., only thing others can see. Many are shy,
 b. Common abbreviations nervous and too sensitive. Their feelings
 Sc. (for science), Mr., Mrs., Dr., Govt., are easily hurt.”
etc
 C Common symbols 6.2. FAIR COPY OF NOTES
 e.g.,:/, ῭, +ve, -ve, ®(leading to ), A. Isolated personalities
↑(rising) ,↓( failing), =, etc. 1. live lonely lives
 d Measurements and figures 2. prefer own company

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 3. happy when alone  Do not pick text from the passage word
4. hide real self-inside shell for word
 Be consistent in numbering
6.3. LAYOUT IN NOTE MAKING
Students should lay out their note in an  Each separate point must be written on a
acceptable format of four levels as separate line
follows:
 Be brief- no complete sentences are
allowed
TITLE (First level)
A. Main idea/subtitle/subheading(Second
level)
9.0. COMMON CHALLENGES
i. Major supporting points ( Third
STUDENTS FACE DURING NOTE-
level)
MAKING SUMMARY
ii. Minor supporting points ( Four
level)  Failure to understand the note-making
passage
B. Main idea (Second level)
 Failure to understand note- form
i. Major supporting (third level)
ii. Minor supporting points (Fourth  Failure to use signaling devices to
level) identify main ideas
 NB. Students should be trained to write
a clear set of notes as exemplified above.  Failure to systematize level in note-
making.
7.0. WORDS OFTEN OMITTED IN  Inability to construct sensible phrases
NOTE MAKING
 Inability to differentiate content words
 Articles a, an and the from form words
 Verbs to be: am, is, was, are, and were  Including the introduction and
 Auxiliaries: have, has, had, may and shall conclusion in their notes

 Formal or impersonal subjects: There is/  Lack of knowledge of note-making

there are general outline or format

 Personal pronouns: I, me, my, mine,  Incorporating new ideas or words in the
myself, yourself, ourselves, oneself, we, notes which are not part of the note-
you, your, one, their making passage

 Relative pronoun: that, which, whom,  Writing notes in prose form

when they are objects in adjectival clause  Picking texts from the passage word for
 Noun and noun groups which merely word
repeat information  Using sentences
8.0. GENERAL RULES IN NOTE  Inconsistency in numbering
MAKING
 Abbreviating every word
 Do not present notes in prose form
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 3. STYLE:
10.0. MARKING KEY FOR NOTE  Symbols _ 1 mark
MAKING
 Abbreviations _ 1 mark
 Content is given 8 marks
 Phrases _ 1 mark
 Title is given 2 marks
 Brevity_ 1 mark
 Main points are given 4 marks in total
11.0. POINTS TO NOTE ON NOTE
(usually should be four in a passage)
MAKING
 Numbering is given 1 mark in total
 Avoid picking out anything in the
 Brevity is given 1 mark in total introduction and the conclusion
 Underlining is given 1 mark in total  Make sure that your note making is in
phrase form and not full sentences
 Note style is given 1 mark in total
 The title should depict the idea of the
 Lay out is given 2 marks in total
entire passage
 Do not underline your title or put any
punctuation mark at the end

SUMMARY ON MARKS  Numbering of the main points should be

done outside the margin
1. CONTENT
 8 marks  Candidates are required to make their
own margins on the answer sheet
2. LAYOUT
 Do not repeat numberings whether they
 Title_ 2 marks differ in case since they belong to the
same family so it is regarded as an incest.
 Subtitles_ 4 marks
 Candidates are penalized for just copying
 Underlining_ 1 mark
the passage or writing note making in
 Numbering _ 1 mark full sentences
-----------THE END ----------

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