A grown-up student must be able to read a paper or a chapter and understand the material on their own, outside the classroom. One of the greatest approaches to ensure that this happens effectively is to take notes while reading, writing down the ideas and thoughts inspired by what's being read.
Most students are taught to highlight while reading. This is somewhat useful, but simply highlighting does little to improve the understanding of what's being read. Highlighting is a highly effective method of finding a passage later, as is underlining and even making comments in the margin. However, none of these are as effective as taking notes.
The Intent behind Taking Notes While Reading
The main reason the student is reading something is, usually, to get an understanding of something that has been previously not understood, or at least to improve the present understanding of the material. Often, the reading assigned to a grownup student is more condense and high in information than reading done in grade school. Thus, the reading can be more difficult.
The purpose of taking notes while reading is two-fold. On the main one hand, the student is attempting to understand what will be said, and to add that understanding in a larger picture of the course or goal of the reading. This purpose means that the student must understand not just the content but in addition the structure of what's being read. By taking notes while reading, this structure can often become clearer, quicker understood. On another hand, the student does not need to read the material a lot more than is necessary; after all, the student is working within an occasion frame that will sometimes put constraints on the amount of time spent in the reading. Being forced to read the material more times than is necessary can be a waste of time. This doesn't mean that the student will see the material only one time; in many cases, multiple readings are needed. But readings should not be wasted. By taking notes, the material can be understood faster and more effectively.
How to Take Reading Notes
Unlike the classroom, the student has the ability to read the material a lot more than once. This fact means that the strategy of taking notes can be more deliberate; the student can take some time needed to create some structured notes, rather than using a method of note-taking that minimizes time. For this reason, probably the most effective method of taking notes while reading is to use an outline. By creating an outline, the structure of the material can be quicker understood.MyReadingManga
The outline should really be constructed as a string of layers, rather than trying to get the whole outline finished with one pass. The very first layer should really be on the basis of the structure of the reading; if section headers are provided, these can give a easily obtainable initial structure. Within each section, the very first thing to determine is the objective of the section. Is this section putting forth an argument? Could it be explaining a notion? Providing an example? Once the point is set, this will be written under the section heading.
After the section's purpose is set, the reader then needs to put in the details. I have discovered that achieving this twice and comparing the outcomes creates the utmost effective notes. Browse the section through, creating an outline on the basis of the reading. After the section is completed, the student normally has a much better understanding of what that part of reading is doing. Then reading the section an additional time, making a fresh outline can offer a fuller understanding. Whether this second reading is completed right after the foremost is entirely around the student. With particularly difficult sections, having a break involving the readings can offer a fuller perspective on the reading, making a better outline.
When the outline is established, it should be reviewed for completeness. Is anything in the outline unclear, confusing? If that's the case, then the student has two options. Either they can reread the material, buying a clearer understanding, or a question can be created for the following class, looking a clearer understanding from the instructor.
Reading Technical Material
This technique works best in material where claims are created and supported, such as for instance in economics, design principles, or surveys. Technical writing, such as for instance mathematics and electronics, need a slightly different approach. The main element sections for technical material in many cases are not the sections supplied by the reading material however the formulas being presented. When the formulas are presented, then the outline should provide first a conclusion of what's in the formula then at least one example; more examples are useful if the material isn't clearly understood the initial time.
Practice makes Perfect
If there is any academic activity which improves with practice, it's reading and taking notes. Initially, the student may find the endeavor difficult and fraught with uncertainty. Working together with others, comparing notes and examples, can be of immense help when learning how to take notes on reading material. As the student practices, however, she will notice an amazing improvement. As in many other efforts, persistence in reading and taking notes pays off.
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