Reading books, journal articles and web-based material will form a significant
part of your academic studies. The notes that you take from such reading will
have a key role in your research and written assignments.
You may be required to do a large amount of reading on your course, and so
it will help considerably if you are a quick and efficient note-taker. Taking
notes efficiently and quickly involves the use of different reading and note-taking
techniques, and entails targeting your reading towards obtaining the information
that you need. This will save you time and energy.
In this activity you will consider what makes a good set of notes taken from
written sources. You will also explore some techniques for taking efficient
and useful notes with a specific purpose in mind.
Activity 1: What makes a good set of notes?
Think about the features that distinguish a good set of notes taken from
a written source (as opposed to notes taken in a lecture).
Look at each of these statements about good notes, and
select 'true' if you think the statement is true or 'false' if you think it
is false. Then check your answers.
Good notes always give a full reference (author's name, title of the book
and publication details).
Full reference details are essential if you wish to use the notes for an
assignment. If you have the publication details in your notes, it will save
you from having to find the book again when constructing a bibliography.
Reference details also help you to place the information in a context if
you are using them at a later date for revision purposes.
Good notes reveal a focus to reading, and are not simply general notes
from a whole book or article.
Occasionally, you might want to take general notes from a book or article,
but the most efficient type of reading and note-taking is focused on particular
topics e.g. reading you might have to do for an assignment or a seminar
question.
Fast and efficient note-taking involves summarising and paraphrasing ideas
in your own words, usually in short, incomplete sentences. However, you
might want to include some extracts which are direct quotations from a source,
to be used in future assignments. Your notes should make it clear which
sections are quotations and which parts are in your own words. This avoids
confusion later and prevents unintentional plagiarism.
It is useful to make your own comments alongside your notes, stating for
example, whether you agree or disagree with the author; indicating where
other research might contradict certain ideas; or where further reading
might be needed. These kinds of comments help when you are preparing for
an assignment or seminar presentation.
Good notes make use of full sentences and never abbreviate words or
phrases.
Good note-takers use time-saving techniques when making notes. For example,
they may use symbols (e.g. = & \ % ) and abbreviations
(e.g. abbrev.), or use figures (e.g. 780, 2M)
instead of writing numbers in words. They will often note only keywords
and leave out words that are less important in conveying meaning (e.g. a,
the). This will take less time when they are listening and writing at the
same time.
Good notes should always be written in one colour (preferably blue or
black).
Good notetakers often use more than one colour when making
notes. For example, they may use a different colour pen or highlighter
pen to emphasise key points. In a similar way, they may also choose
to emphasise important parts of their notes by the use of underlining
or capital letters. Any of these methods can make key points stand
out in a set of notes so that they are easier to understand when read at
a later date.
Activity 2: Selecting information for targeted note-taking
Julian
The most efficient note-taking involves focusing on reading for a required
topic and ignoring irrelevant information in a text. The following activities
will allow you to practise selecting appropriate information for targeted
note-taking.
Julian is a third-year Adult branch nursing student. He has an exam on Critical
and Palliative Care and needs information on the effectiveness of acupuncture
in reducing chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.
Go to the weblink below and read the text. Then look
at the notes Julian has made.
The notes are successful because Julian uses
time-saving techniques including abbreviations and symbols; he provides
a clear list of types of acupuncture he notes a useful quotation which he
may use later, and he paraphrases a couple of key points.
The notes are less successful because he makes
no reference to the original source of the text; his notes contain some
irrelevant information on search strategies and methodology.
Imagine you have to write an essay on the causes and
physical effects of anorexia nervosa. Go to the weblink below and quickly
read the text. Use a pen and paper to take your own notes focusing ONLY on
the information needed for the topic. Then compare your notes with the example
ones.
Anorexia
nervosa http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/pdfs/anorexia.pdf[No
responsibility is taken for content or information contained on external web
pages]
When you have finished comparing the notes you made with the example notes,
consider how you might be able to improve your own targeted note-taking.
Make a checklist for yourself of points to remember when note-taking from
written sources.
