Learning Skills
Reading and Notetaking
Having analysed your question you can now begin your research. If you have any problems finding material in the Library, then ring a librarian on 1800 808 369 (Free call).
A brief chat with a University librarian may save you hours. You might also like to improve your researching skills by working through a series of Web-based tutorials InfoSkills@CSU, available on the Library's website.
A few simple guidelines will help you with the reading and notetaking process to help with your understanding, writing and recall ability.
Some steps to try are:
- Scan for the main ideas and to increase interest.
- If the material is relevant read in full. Read with a purpose in mind,
using highlighting sparingly to indicate the most important points. - Now take brief notes, preferably in your own words.
- Be a critical thinker. Ask yourself questions such as:
- What is the main idea?
- What are the supporting ideas?
- How do these ideas compare with those in other texts?
- Is the text biased/narrow?
- Are there any key quotations? (Don't forget to record bibliographical details for later use.)
Here are some practical tips which will also help you:
- Aim to take notes on one side of your page only. This has the advantage that you can spread out your notes and see what you have.
- For essays/ assignments you need to record the title of the book, author, publisher, place and date of publication in your notes
- In the case of a journal article, you need to record the following details in your notes: the author and title of the article; date of publication; page numbers of the article; name, volume and issue of the journal.
- Highlighting and underlining are valuable strategies, making you focus your attention on the text, think about key concepts and issues, and leave a trace on the page of the sense you have been making of the text.
- Use of colour, arrows, and boxes makes your work distinctive. If your notes are distinctive they will be more easily recalled to the mind's eye.
- Make it a habit to read your lecture/module notes the same day you take them. Perhaps rewrite lecture notes in a more legible form. Early reinforcement is important to learning.The most important thing about your notes is that you visit them on a regular basis.
Organise your notes from the first day of your course. Use folders, workbooks of other filing systems. Make sure notes are clear and easy to follow. It's amazing how this can help you recall information.
There is not necessarily one best way to take notes. The approach you take depends on:
- the kind of text you are working with
- your purpose in writing the notes
- the amount of time you think is reasonable to investin this task
- your preferred patterns of learning.
Linear note-taking is most frequently used, with main headings and subheadings appearing down the page. Sections are often indented and numbered. You are most probably using this system now.
Concept mapping, also known as mind mapping or patterned note taking, is an alternative method of note taking which presents the same information in the form of a visual map. This format lends itself to the use of colour, space and imagination. Some believe this aids learning and memory.
Here is an example, using concept maps as the central thought:
Adapted from Williams, L. V. (1983). Teaching for the two-sided mind. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Activity 4
Quickly brainstorm some ideas for your essay question in the form of a concept map.
Check suggested response
