I.

Note-taking

A. Why take notes?

To encourage note-taking, multiple arguments are invoked:

it promotes memorization,
it facilitates concentration,
development of intellectual qualities through the
concentration and development.

But above all, note-taking serves as an intermediate structure between a

text (book, file, conference, television program,…) and a production
written or oral (report, presentation, thesis,...).

B. Se poser quelques questions

What will my notes be used for?

For a written document? An oral presentation?

Indeed, the way to take notes will depend on the final result.
Requested: add personal comments to certain parts of the presentation
abandoned because of lack of interest for the requested production.

What are the spatio-temporal constraints?

What are the modes of transmission? The transmission times? The

circumstances (exam? presentation?). These questions will allow you to evaluate with
Specify the time to be devoted to note-taking will influence the choices of
methods and techniques. For example, will you have time to use some
colors, the underlining, a mode of structure,...

Exercise

Listen to the reading of the text on 'cold water swimmers' and take some notes.
notes knowing that you will be asked to state the influence of this sport
on health, the ideal age to practice it, warming up, temperature
ideal,....

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 Read the text about 'Bill Gates in Prague' while taking notes.
knowing that you will be asked to summarize the purpose of his visit and the
solutions he proposes or advice he gives.

C. Prepare to take notes

Make sure to have sufficient light if you are seated at your desk and
don't forget your glasses if they are essential to you,

osit at the front row if you are at a conference or in class,

in order not to be disturbed by inappropriate noises,

oprepare your equipment: 2 well-sharpened pencils (1 for backup), 1 eraser,

color markers for contrasts and highlights, 1
notebook with pre-numbered sheets, a rigid support if
you are required to take notes without support,

oPrepare the subject: read, inform yourself at least a little about the topic.
You will be required to take notes if you are familiar with the term discussed.
you will find it easier to concentrate,

NB The VCR can be used during an interview, a

testimony but we must not forget to exploit it afterwards. It
should not be used spontaneously because remember that the intake of
Note is a good concentration exercise. Moreover, the VCR
give double the work since one has to attend the conference,
television show,...and then only take notes during
the listening of the recording.

Exercise:

Prepare two sheets for taking notes on antispasmodics

IT and consult the whole class to gather information about you.
maximum on the subject.

D. Note-taking

An obvious observation: unless one uses shorthand, it is impossible to

to note everything. Moreover, such a deluge of information would often reveal
difficult to manage and use. What matters is not the quantity but
the quality.

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 Take note of the essentials

The essential will depend on knowledge, subjectivity, expectation and

the assimilation of each individual.

How to identify what needs to be noted?

It will be necessary to pay attention to 4 senses:

Note the essence of the message: what the author wants to say, the points
to which he attaches the most importance, what he wishes to convey.
Once you understand it, rephrase it in one or two sentences.
In general, it is advisable to pay more particular attention at the beginning.
and at the end of the presentation, start from the outline (e.g. table of contents),
major steps of reasoning, keywords.

Note the meaning: please respect the meaning that the information has.
in its context, especially when it will be necessary to submit documents
origin of your personal composition.

Note the proof: sometimes an example is essential to support a

notation

Note the structure: you have every interest in working in the logic of a
plan.

How much to rate?

After the qualitative aspect of note-taking, here is the quantitative aspect. It will be necessary to
a just balance between too much and not enough. But this balance is your own and
will depend

-of your mastery of the subject,

due to the fact that you have additional information (for example, you read a
document to complete information already obtained previously.

Exercise

Take another sheet other than the ones prepared for the previous exercise (on it
will return later). Read the text 'the first human clone' and take notes while doing so.

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count of previous elements: structure, proof, meaning, how much to note and
the essence of the message.

What note-taking technique to use?

Taking notes requires writing quickly. We have several means available:

1. One can use a telegraphic style. Notes are taken in a

simplified language; words that are not necessary for understanding
The ideas are eliminated. Short phrases should be prioritized.

2. One can use abbreviations or graphics. However, the

encoded information (references, prices, phone number) and the
Proper nouns will be fully noted.
Exemples d'abréviations: càd (c'est-à-dire); tjs (toujours)
Examples of graphics: + (more or less); (so).

3. One can use a shorthand writing system: stenotyping, writing

abbreviated, shorthand... These techniques allow for recording
completely an oral message.

Graphics

augmentation decrease plus or minus

cause consequence so
related to ! attention
+ plus/and - less
/ divided by growth
X multiplied belongs to
> superior < inferior

Exercise

You will listen carefully to the text about computer spasms which...
You subsequently prepared the sheets intended for note-taking. During
In reading this text, you will take notes by applying the different
advice that has been given to you. Remember, note-taking is
personal and one must NEVER invent new abbreviations during
notes.

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 E. After note-taking: proofreading - finalizing - utilization

The notes must be reviewed as soon as possible, completed, sometimes even

rephrased and copied in a clear manner. This is the case when the message is
intended for a third party or when it must be kept for use
subsequent.

The important elements (or key ideas) must be highlighted.

After correction, the grades must accurately reflect the message conveyed.
departure, and create a text that is perfectly readable, clear and understandable.

What are the obstacles to reviewing notes?

Obstacles may arise that hinder the proper understanding of a given message.
in notes:

of abbreviations whose meaning is not found,

- unreadable or incomprehensible words, because they have been poorly written or
because they are too technical;
-words that are missing because they were misunderstood during the broadcast of
message and could not be rated.

Which restitution method to choose?

The returned message must be as close as possible (not in the terms

but in the content) of the message that was issued. For better effectiveness, the
reformulation must be done immediately after taking notes, as long as one has
still in memory the information.

One can:

list the ideas one after the other, as they have been
statements and notes taken;
to synthesize the ideas and only provide the essence of what has been said
It has been said, without following the order of the statements. It is then necessary during the

proofreading of the grouping notes, using signs (numbers, arrows,

references...), the secondary elements that revolve around the same idea
main. This method is the most common.

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 1. How to return notes?

Notes can be reformulated either orally or in writing.

In any case, it is necessary to:

1. identify the message (date, sender, subject, circumstances,...);

2. clearly and simply express the ideas one after the other, in
a logical order, using everyday language.

If it is a written report, the message must be legible, expressed in

a concise, easily understandable style. Its material presentation must be
polished. It should be carefully proofread to correct the spelling.

3. Ensure that nothing has been forgotten when rephrasing the message.

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 II. Exercise 1

A. Texte dicté

Mrs. Sylvie Martin, born on August 6, 1951, married and having two children, has just been
victim of a work accident. His social security number is 916346.
Madame Martin is an office employee, stenographer, and works in the service.
some mail since 1970. The accident occurred in his office on Monday, May 24 at
3:30 PM. While changing the ink cartridge at the printer, she bumped into
inadvertence the cable that activates the movement of the cartridge The thumb and
the index finger of Mrs. Martin's right hand has suffered a dislocation and is wearing
scrapes. The employee had forgotten to turn off the printer. It would turn out
useful to recompose a user manual by adding safety advice and
to communicate it to all offices equipped with this type of printer.

Correction of the notes

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B. Plan of the report

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5.

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 Accident report
in Mrs. Sylvie Martin's office

The accident occurred on May 24 at 3:30 PM in the office of

Madam Sylvie MARTIN, office worker, stenotypist in the service of
mail since 1970.

The victim Mrs. Sylvie MARTIN was born on August 6, 1951. Her social security number
social is 916346.

While she was changing the printer's ink cartridge, Madam

Martin accidentally hit the cable that activates the movement of the
cartridge. The employee had forgotten to turn off the printer.

The thumb and index finger of Mrs. Martin's right hand have suffered a dislocation and
bear scratches.

It would be useful to create an instruction manual by adding safety advice.

and communicate it to all offices equipped with this type of printer.

Made in Chimay, May 24, 20..

René Tartampion
Personnel Manager

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 III. Exercise 2

Text read

Mr. Paul Renoir was the victim of an accident on May 29 at 11:30 in the premises.
from the SPAR company While carrying a package weighing around 30 kg on his right shoulder
cleaning products that had been delivered and that he intended to put away in the
local 56. He is domiciled at 24 Rue de la Gare in 5580 Rochefort, was born on April 24, 1960 and
his social security number is 487890.

He was carrying his package and as he passed by the glass door of the office
accountant, he was unbalanced when there was no obstacle in his
He thought he could lean on the window that broke and it
deeply cut on the left wrist.

Mr. Paul Leroy, an accountant at the company, witnessed the accident since
the accident occurred at the glass door communicating with his office. He therefore
immediately took the victim to the infirmary where he received first aid. He has
then was immediately taken to the Princess Paola Hospital in Marche-en-Famenne by
the ambulance of the firefighters of Rochefort.

A. Note-taking correction

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A. Report Outline

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