Note-Making
Making notes is a useful practice as it often helps students during lectures, while preparing for
exams and revising for them. It also helps condense long chapters into short, to the point material,
which further helps one to remember the gathered information. Moreover, texts are better
understood with the help of notes.
Today, extensive reading is the buzz word in every field of study or research. While reading, we are
often bombarded with information of a vast ambit. It often becomes difficult to recall all the key
points of a passage/ article we may have read.
Note-making is a means to capture the key ideas of a given passage in an easily readable, logically
structured format. The style is fairly casual and we are even allowed to use abbreviations. The key
to abbreviations at the end of the task ensures that any other reader may also be able to interpret
the gist of the passage. Thus, note-making can be a wonderful tool to take notes in class, share
notes with each other and even revise for an exam.
How to Make Notes:
1. Read the passage carefully and understand the main/general meaning of the passage. You
must comprehend the theme and subject of the passage.
2. Once you know what the passage is all about, mark the main components or sub parts of
the passage. Look for details, points, opinions or conclusions drawn from the passage. Make
sure, no important point is missed out.
3. Give your notes a title, make sure it’s short and crisp. It should be based on the central idea
of the passage.
4. Next, frame, main headings and subheadings to put across crucial components given in the
passage. It should be the main idea of the passage presented in bullets or numbered points.
5. In case, the subheadings can be further provided with important details, write them in
points specifically under the subheading to which it belongs.
6. Do not write full sentences; use abbreviations whenever necessary.
7. Use proper indentation to present the notes. Sub-sections are written a little further from
the main heading; be consistent while numbering.
How to use Abbreviations and Symbols:
While making notes, using abbreviations and symbols help in saving time and space. There are
different ways to abbreviate long or complicated words:
Using the initials of two or more words e.g., United Nations – U.N., etc.
Using the first few letters of the words e.g., construction – Const., abbreviation – abbr., etc.
Universally recognised abbreviations e.g., Opposite – Opp., government – govt., department
– dept., etcetera – etc., that is – i.e., etc.
Removing the vowels e.g., reading – rdng, books- bks, shopping – shppng, etc.
Universally recognised symbols e.g.,\ Therefore, Q because, > greater, larger, < less, smaller,
↓ falling, decrease,↑ rising, increase
Format:
Suitable Heading for Notes
1. Heading 1
1.1. Supporting point 1
1.2. Supporting point 2
1.3. Supporting point 3
2. Heading 2
2.1. Supporting point 1
2.2. Supporting point 2
2.3. Supporting point 3
3. Heading 3
3.1. Supporting point 1
3.2. Supporting point 2
3.3. Supporting point 3
4. Heading 4
4.1. Supporting point 1
4.2. Supporting point 2
4.3. Supporting point 3
Key to Abbreviations
1. eg. – example
2. etc. – etcetera
3. & – and
How to write Summary:
A summary is usually one-third the length of the original passage. Ideally, a summary must provide
the information in the same order as given in the original passage. While writing the summary, it is
advisable that you refer to the notes you have already made. This will help you in keeping your
summary short and crisp, informative and original. However, make sure, all the important
components of the passage have been covered in the summary.
