Effective Note-Taking Strategies
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ScribdTranslationsEffective Note-Taking Strategies
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ScribdTranslationsCIB-INTA/2011-2012/BTS/COMMUNICATION/CRP/1erayear
Note-taking
WHAT IS NOTE-TAKING?
It is an active intellectual exercise that most of us practice.
in our study, professional, or social activities.
It is about capturing the essence (or the entirety) of a text, a speech,
of instructions, discussions... in order to be able to present them
correctly or to transmit them clearly. It is therefore appropriate, from the outset,
to define the specific purpose in order to note only what will be useful.
1. OBJECTIVES
It is about improving one's ability to take note of the elements of a
oral message in the context of a meeting or interview. It is also
a question of developing or increasing one's ability to record by
written and methodically the information in a situation of
group or interpersonal communication.
2. PROCEEDINGS
Different situations in life lead to taking notes: conference,
presentation, meeting, interview or survey, reading, class, company visit
…
Depending on the cases, grades can have a definitive nature (case of a course
for example) or serve as a reminder or even as a basis for making
of a production (for example, a report).
3. TOOLS FOR TAKING NOTES
They are free, in fact, the tools we need to take notes.
However, some can hold quite a few surprises, potentially having for
results of poorly taken notes or simply unusable. These tools
are therefore linked to the environment, to the material and to the state in which it is
find the note taker.
a. The environment (see and hear)
It is clear that a place located on the edge of a busy avenue,
creaking chairs, ... can negatively influence the quality of
the taking. Poor lighting, a position too far from the speaker
or being too close to the speakers, for example, will not promote the uptake.
no more notes.
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Course Instructor: Mr. WELEKE
CIB-INTA/2011-2012/BTS/COMMUNICATION/CRP/1erayear
b. The equipment
It is important to choose well what to write with and what to write on.
What to write with? This suggests a black ink pen for a
better readability and a better photocopy if necessary. The blue ink
also is suitable but poses contrast problems in photocopying
(fortunately, we can solve it with efficient devices). The
Mixing colors is sometimes interesting. The pencil is
particularly useful for random information: the corrections
being comfortable, but only on the condition of having the eraser close at hand, and why
No, a pencil sharpener.
Pen or pencil? You need to plan for at least two units of each.
What to write on? It depends: the loose sheets for a reading at
home or a notepad for an outdoor interview.
Generally speaking, however, mobile or detachable supports are
preferable to the notebook (difficult additions, reclassification of information)
impossible, limited maneuverability, impractical exchanges.
No stinginess with note-taking: do not write on the back of the sheet.
Arm themselves with sufficient quantity, preferably of the same format for a
same work.
Don't forget to provide a solid tablet to ensure grading.
easier.
c. Status of the note-taker
Being in good shape can only promote note-taking. Hence
the importance of food hygiene: the abuse of alcohol and tobacco are part of it
harmful unlike a cup of tea which promotes the search for
ideas. A correct physical posture facilitates breathing and therefore
the oxygenation of the brain; it also prevents relaxation and therefore puts in place
situation of better receiving the information.
According to psychologists, intellectual, emotional, or financial interest is
capital and without it, active attention does not exist.
4. TOOL PREPARATION
Professionally, on the note-taking sheet, it is necessary to
must necessarily include the following elements:
the date
the title of the event, subject of the notes
a sufficient margin
5. SOME WRITING TIPS
Note-taking requires prior determination of a strategy.
effective. It will, in turn, help to identify the essential and the accessory.
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Chargé du cours : M. WELEKE
CIB-INTA/2011-2012/BTS/COMMUNICATION/CRP/1erayear
a. Determination of an effective strategy
It is necessary to find the reason why we take notes,
to identify the communication situation we are in and
to adopt a personal method (schema 1). Your personal method
is the one that results from your objective and the intended use for these notes,
of your own work habits and more or less methods
coded: use of shortcuts (stenography, or abbreviated writing,
common or personal abbreviations, signs and symbols
b. Identify the essential and the accessory
The definition of the essential and the accessory depends on the culture.
which you belong to and your professional project. But a text has
always a meaning and we must seek to identify and understand its
message.
Then you need to apply the essential message technique which involves
rephrase the central message several times to clearly grasp the subject
treaty.
Be attentive to logical markers and the steps of reasoning. This
steps will allow for practical organization of the intake on paper: the
structuration
Notes taken in an organized manner offer numerous advantages:
easy reading, easy insertions.
6. THREE ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF NOTE-TAKING
It is about memorization, identifying the main idea and
structuring.
a. Memorization
Words travel faster than writing. Memory is therefore a very
important hence an imperative to develop one's listening skills.
b. Identifying the main idea
Oral expression is filled with many details that can sometimes be superfluous. It is necessary
so being able to extract the main ideas by summarizing them.
c. Structuration
A good speaker can help their audience by announcing the plan they are following. However,
Not all speakers are necessarily good. There is an absolute necessity
so to focus and to clear the structure of the presentation oneself.
Page 3 of 4
Course Coordinator: Mr. WELEKE
CIB-INTA/2011-2012/BTS/COMMUNICATION/CRP/1erayear
Annexes
Diagram 1 Some official abbreviations
Logical symbols Abbreviation of frequent and/or long words
WHAT TO REMEMBER
TAKE NOTES
Listen without losing attention
↓
Summarize the ideas
↓
Use abbreviations, signs,
symbols
↓
Make a plan
↓
Air out the notes to be able to complete them.
and make correlations
↓
Do not to organize the notes
and make the memory function
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Course Instructor: Mr. WELEKE