• Search this site •
          
        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 

 

You can take your notes in various forms
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

Capture important points
 
 

 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mindmapping: a useful skill
 
 

 
 

Writing Essays - Part 4
Contents

Part 4

How do I take research notes?

Part 5

How do I draft the essay?

Part 6

How do I research and gather information?

Part 7

How do I record bibliographical details?

Take notes to record the main ideas from reading material and class lectures.

 
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO TAKE NOTES?



Highlighter markers in various colours
to highlight key phrases, headings and examples (only on texts that you own, handouts, photocopied pages). You can re-read just your highlights later.

Loose leafed notepaper
Blank paper laid sideways in 'landscape' position is best for mindmapping.

Folder with different sections for each subject, sub-topic or view point.

Tape recorder
Some people work best hearing and speaking and record their notes by speaking them into a recorder. Ask permission to record lectures. Good quality recording is hard to achieve. Perhaps it is better to obtain a copy or keynotes from the lecturer and in breaks, record your own summaries or comments on information.
NB Voice recorders can also be used to record essay drafts. They can be transcribed onto a computer or written out in hand.

WHAT SHOULD YOU PUT IN YOUR NOTES?

 

  • main ideas

  • outline of smaller points under each main idea. Look at this sample outline!!

  • definitions glossaries of meanings examples, statistics diagrams

  • reference details (eg page number)


 

HOW DO YOU ORGANISE YOUR NOTES?

 

Try a mindmap:

Start with a main idea in the centre, with details branching out from it. You can create different styles of mind-maps...like flow-charts, diagrams or step-by steps. Use different colours, shapes, lines, sizes, symbols, quick pictures or writing styles to make it mean more to you and easier to remember.