No doubt there is comfort in knowing that there will be nobody left to reproach us, or even to gloat over our stupidity. Unless when we have gone… the sleepers awake!
Mostly, as a student, you will be taking notes to revise for exams from a book, in lectures or in the lab, but later you will be taking notes in your work or research, so it is an important skill.
A. Value of Notes
Keeps you active and concentrating
Provides a written record for revision.
B. Storing Notes
Loose leaf binder
Notes can be re-arranged
Notes can be added to
Keep notes on one topic together.
Notebooks
Suitable for rough, “working” notes: must re-write
Less flexible for permanent notes.
C. Writing Notes
Include:
Main ideas and important details
Logical plan of argument
Make notes after reading—not while reading:
Use your own words
Note only essentials
Understand, don’t copy.
Use outline form (NOT summary)
Note the original headings and sub-headings
Note central idea of each paragraph
Important details (in brackets)
Use indentations (about an inch)
Use letters and numbers to signify iniportance
I, II, III…
A, B, C, D…
1, 2, 3, 4…
a, b, c, d…
i, ii, iii, iv…
bullets, dashes, asterisks…
Use your own shorthand (especially in lectures)
long words often used
certain types of ending
common abbreviations eg ie, cf, NB, =, < ,> etc
stick to your system
don’t use in work presented to others.
Layout
Should be pictorial & form a visual pattern—look memorable
Do not make into identical blocks of writing—not memorable
well spaced—room for insertions
wide margins—room for marginal notes
source and date at top
block capitals and underlines
boxes for important items
colour,
diagrams
arrows and symbols
Make each page into a picture—creativity, visualization.
Use pencil for initial notes.
flexibility
can be erased.
D. Lecture Notes
Understanding more important than note-taking
Follow lecturer’s argument—listen
Get the gist then make a note
Use creative pattern technique.
Check notes after lecture:
Re-construct lecture (recall—promotes learning)
Without recall…
50% is lost immediately
75% lost within one week
98% lost within three weeks.
Correct notes—add, give depth and shape
Immensely beneficial—discipline—must do.
Points missed
Discuss with colleagues
Ask tutor—Important!
E. Checklist for Notes
General format:
Is your notebook too small?
Are your pages too crowded?
Is your handwriting legible?
Do you mix different subjects in the same notebook?
When people have never properly been taught to distinguish good and evil and so commit glaring atrocities, they cannot be more guilty than those who commit atrocities while knowing the difference between right and wrong. Men who commit atrocities knowing they are wrong are the more guilty. If Christians claim the apex of moral behaviour, then Christian leaders must be judged on their own high morality. Bush and Blair have not only demeaned and besmirched the high values Christians claim for themselves, they must be judged guilty by them.
Support independent publishers and writers snubbed by big retailers. Ask your public library to order these books.
Available through all good bookshops
Permission to copy for personal use is granted. Teachers and small group facilitators may also make copies for their students and group members, providing that attribution is properly given. When quoting, suggested attribution format:
Adding the date accessed also will help future searches when the website no longer exists and has to be accessed from archives… for example…
Dr M D Magee, AskWhy! Publications Website, “Sun Gods as Atoning Saviours” Updated: Monday, May 07, 2001, www.askwhy .co .uk / christianity / 0310sungod .php (accessed 5 August, 2007)
Electronic websites please link to us at http://www.askwhy.co.uk or to major contents pages, if preferred, but we might remove or rename individual pages. Pages may be redisplayed on the web as long as the original source is clear. For commercial permissions apply to AskWhy! Publications.
Mostly, as a student, you will be taking notes to revise for exams from a book, in lectures or in the lab, but later you will be taking notes in your work or research, so it is an important skill.
