Academic English SkillsULAB1122

NOTE MAKING SKILLS II

Rohani OthmanLanguage Academy

TYPES OF NOTES

• Notes can be in the Linear or Non-Linear form• Different types of notes for note making:

- Outlining- Table- Mind map- Timeline- Flow chart- Tree diagram

• Each type of notes has its own function• Different texts require different note formats

1. Outline

• Notes presented in a linear style (Chronological)

• Contains headings, sub-headings & examples

• Uses keywords and symbols• Organizes material effectively and neatly

Examples of outline note systemALPHA-NUMERIC SYSTEM

A. MAJOR TOPIC 11. Key point

a. supporting pointb. supporting point.c. supporting point. i. sub-point ii. Sub-point

B. MAJOR TOPIC 21. Key point

a. supporting pointb. supporting point.c. supporting point. i. sub-point ii. Sub-point

DECIMAL SYSTEM1.0 MAJOR TOPIC 11.1 Key point 1.1.1 supporting point1.1.2 supporting point1.1.3 supporting point1.1.3.1 sub-point1.1.3.2 sub-point

2.0 MAJOR TOPIC 12.1 Key point 2.1.1 supporting point 2.1.1.1 sub-point1.1.1.2 sub-point2.1.2 supporting point2.1.3 supporting point

How to make Outline Notes

• Read the passage carefully. • Determine the main idea of the passage– write the heading/ title

• Identify related ideas – write the subheadings

• Include details or points• Use indenting/numbering to make sure that all

points are organized systematically

Table

• Classify ideas into different categories• Separate ideas into different columns and

rows• Information in tables should be short but clear• Useful to compare and summarize• Not suitable for cause and effect

Examples of tabulated notesCATEGORY CATEGORY

Point -Details

Point -Details

Causes Negative Effects of Using FacebookHackers - Steal other people’s account

- Send virusesAddiction -Users stay connected for a long time

-Waste timeScams and Spams - Steal personal information

- Spread spam and malware

Mind map

• Uses images, colors, symbols, arrows and capital letters to convey meaning

• Shows relationship between concepts and highlights important points.

• Starts in the middle of the page with some key word or core idea

• Sub- ideas are branched out in all directions• Symbolize the relations between ideas through the use of lines. • Records ideas which came up during brainstorming

Structure of a Mind Map

INTRODUCTION TOPIC PARAGRAPH

TOPIC PARAGRAPH TITLE TOPIC PARAGRAPH

TOPIC PARAGRAPH CONCLUSION

Samples of Mind Map

Samples of Student’s Mind Map

Timeline

• Contains date and information on events• Includes notes on events that happen in a

sequence over a period of time• Shows information in a logical way• Displays possible relationships between

events• Helps readers identify important events in a

process.

Example of a Timeline

How to make a Timeline Note• Read the text and decide what the timeline will show.• Make a list of events that you wish to put on your timeline.• Research and note the specific dates.• List the events in a chronology, a sequence of earliest to

latest.• Decide what units of time you will use (days, months, years,

decades, centuries, etc.)• Calculate the number of segments that your timeline will

have.• Draw a line and divide it into the number of equal segments

that you figure you will need.• Label the dates on the appropriate segments, left to right

Flow chart• Represents information that comes in a series of process

• Represent relationships that are linked by time. • Steps in a process are shown with symbolic shapes,• The flow of the process is indicated with arrows connecting

the symbols.

How to make a Flow Chart Note

• Accurate flowcharts can be created using very few symbols– (e.g. oval, rectangle, diamond, delay, cloud).

• To construct an effective flowchart:1) Define the process boundaries with starting and ending

points.2) Complete the main process before filling in the details.3) Define clearly each step in the process. Be accurate and

honest.4) Identify time lags (intervals) between steps.

Tree diagram

• A tree diagram look like a tree as they branch out symmetrically.

• Suitable for ideas that comes in a hierarchy • Contains categories and sub- categories• A good tree diagram shows clearly how each part

relates to another.

Example of a Tree Diagram

How to make a Tree Diagram Note

• Read the text and highlight the keywords and main ideas

• Define the title or heading and write it in the first node

• Write the different sub- headings under the main heading

• Include the details under the sub- headings• Review the completed tree and use it for its target

purpose.