Note-Taking and Note-Making

Note Taking
Taking the point: identifying key ideas

Active reading and note taking often come hand-in-hand. In order to read effectively we often have
to jot down the main ideas and key words introduced in the text. We might also note down one or
two questions as we go along to assist in the ‘thinking’ part of the process. But, like reading, note
taking comes in all shapes and sizes, and different kinds of notes can be useful for different
purposes. Moreover, good note taking, like purposeful, active reading, involves a series of processes
from highlighting key ideas in the text to constructing more complex diagrammatic representations
of the main points. By reading in an active way you have already begun to identify key ideas
presented in a text and perhaps even jot them down. However, an alternative method of
 Highlighting Technique.

highlighting technique:
This involves actually marking important parts of the text by underlining or using a highlighter pen and thus
creating a more permanent reminder of key ideas. This approach is designed to promote selectivity and
encourages you to focus on the core meanings of an extract. However, before you have a go, you should take
note of the following warnings:
• Highlighting involves you making judgments about what is important. It is not about capturing every detail
but, rather like scanning, is about getting a general overview of the big
ideas. Do not be tempted to highlight everything or nearly everything – this renders the exercise pointless, as
you will be no better off with everything underlined than you were with nothing underlined.
• A good rule of thumb is to underline or highlight one sentence per paragraph. Paragraphs usually focus on
one key point, and while they might include an illustrative example, which may be useful, it is the main point
that you need to identify first and foremost. Some people find it more useful, then, to add in a short note of the
example in the margin next to the highlighted sentence.
• Do not see highlighting as the end of the process – an alternative to full note taking. It is merely the first step.
Highlighting does not organize points into any order that makes sense to you. Nor can you use highlighted
sections to reorganize ideas around themes or in answer to assignment questions.
Difference between Note-Making and Note-Taking

Note-taking
Note-taking, as its name suggests, is a passive process: it involves simply writing down as much as
you hear from a tutor – or read in a textbook – without discriminating between useful and less useful
information. The notes that are produced tend to be very descriptive and broadly focused. Since note
taking is passive in nature and involves less thought, it leads to surface-level, temporary learning.
The difference is generally accepted to be that note taking is the more passive process of copying or
recording exactly what someone says.
 Note-making

Note making is a more active process of using your words, summarizing and evaluating the information you are
receiving, ie, you are actively thinking about the information not just recording it! Note making plays an important role
in developing the skills involved in being critical – whether in thought or writing There is no right or wrong way – you
need to find out what works best for you. What is your objective in making notes – is it a summary of the key points in a
lecture; is the focus on a particular aspect that you wish to write about? Below you will find an explanation of note-
making, as well as some useful advice on how you might practice it.

Note-making is a more active process that involves carefully selecting relevant pieces of information as you listen to
your tutor or read a textbook or journal article. Therefore, the objective of note-making is not to write down everything
you hear or read, but to keep note of anything relevant or that requires further investigation or clarification. Notes made
in this way are more meaningful and purposive, as well as being better organised and of greater relevance. The active
nature of note-making means that it requires the application of a range of skills related to criticality. It therefore allows
you an opportunity to develop these skills as you learn.
Post-it Notes definition
This approach requires a printout or photocopy of a textbook or journal article. You simply add post-it notes on
the page at relevant points. The principal advantage to this method is that it encourages you to be selective; you
can’t cover an entire page with post-its because you won’t be able to read it if you do so! (Adobe Reader allows
to add post-its or annotations to pdf documents, a very useful alternative to using paper copies.)
Note making Techniques
1. Post-it Notes Example

Food, water and air are three essentials for life.

One can survive for a month without food.
Without water survival is limited to a few
days. Without air survival is limited to a few
minutes.
2. Factsheets
Factsheets are being used for revision and for the purpose of selective reading.

Various key points are being written down for ease.

 Water participates in chemical

reaction especially hydrolytic
 Water is a medium to resolve
nutrients
three-column format definition
The three-column format organizes your page into three areas:

• key information

• your own notes (taken any way you like)

• a summary

The right section is for your notes, the left section is for key terms, questions and

references, and the lower section is where you will summarize the lecture or reading in

your own words.

3. Three-Column Approach
Key information Your own notes A summary

Water is building Water regulates body Water is the building

material in every temperature and material in every cell,
cell. participates in chemical regulates body
reaction. temperature and
participates in
chemical reaction

Fatty tissues contain Bones contain 26% water. Fatty tissues contain 20%
20% water. while bones 26% water.
4. Summary Technique
Summarizing the content of a book chapter or journal article provides an effective way of practicing those
higher order critical thinking skills, as well as gaining an insight into how an argument is constructed,
developed and expressed.

Example

Water is the building material in every cell, regulates body temperature and participates in chemical
reaction. Fatty tissues contain 20% while bones 26% water.
Cornell method definition
The Cornell method provides a systematic format for condensing and organizing notes without laborious
recopying. After writing the notes in the main space, use the left-hand space to label each idea and detail with a
key word or "cue."
6.Cornell Technique Example
Topic: Water

What is the role of water in Water is the building

human body? material in every cell.
What are the effects of water Water loss may cause
loss in human beings? dehydration in human
body.

Water is the building material in every cell. Water loss may

cause dehydration in human body.
Mind Mapping definition
Mapping is a method that uses comprehension/concentration skills and evolves in a note-taking
form, which relates each fact or idea to every other fact or idea. Mapping is a graphic representation
of the content of a lecture. It is a method that maximizes active participation, affords immediate
knowledge as to its understanding, and emphasizes critical thinking. This helps you see the
connections between ideas and information and is particularly memorable for visual learners.
7.Mind Mapping Example
Sources of
Function water
of water

Water
Quality of
Properties of water
water
8.Four-Quarter Method
Divide a page into quarter, set 15 minutes for each. It will help your to write concise by using

key words, abbreviations etc. It enhances focus and concentration.

9.Write-on-the-slides Method
Before lecture download the slides and note down specific information regarding your topic. This

will save you to write down everything.

10.The Sentence Method

In this method we make points and write every new thought on a separate line.
11. The Pattern Format
It is a visual approach in which we organize the key words and concepts across the page like a mind
map and can use colors and pictures to help you understand the ideas.