A grownup student must be able to read a paper or even a chapter and understand the material by themselves, outside the classroom. One of the finest ways to be sure 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 can be somewhat useful, but merely highlighting does little to improve the understanding of what's being read. Highlighting is a highly effective method of finding a verse later, as is underlining and even making comments in the margin. However, none of they're as effective as taking notes.
The Purpose of Taking Notes While Reading
The reason the student is reading something is, usually, to achieve an understanding of something which was previously not understood, or at least to improve the present understanding of the material. Often, the reading assigned to a grown-up student is more condense and saturated in information than reading done in grade school. Thus, the reading could be more difficult.
The purpose of taking notes while reading is two-fold. On the one hand, the student is attempting to understand what will be said, and to incorporate that understanding in a bigger picture of the course or goal of the reading. This purpose ensures that the student must understand not just this content but additionally the structure of what's being read. By taking notes while reading, this structure can often become clearer, quicker understood. On the other hand, the student does not want to read the material more than is essential; after all, the student is working within a period frame that will sometimes put constraints on the total amount of time spent in the reading. Being forced to read the material more times than is essential can be quite a waste of time. This doesn't imply that the student will browse the material only once; in many cases, multiple readings are needed. But readings shouldn't be wasted. By taking notes, the material could be understood faster and more effectively.
Just how to Take Reading Notes
Unlike the classroom, the student has the ability to read the material more than once. This fact ensures that the method of taking notes could be more deliberate; the student can make an effort needed to generate a couple of structured notes, rather than utilizing a method of note-taking that minimizes time. Because of this, probably the most effective method of taking notes while reading is to utilize an outline. By creating an outline, the structure of the material could be quicker understood.MyReadingManga
The outline should be constructed as a series of layers, rather than looking to get the entire outline completed with one pass. The first layer should be based on the structure of the reading; if section headers are given, these can provide a easily obtainable initial structure. Within each section, the first thing to determine is the objective of the section. Is this section putting forth a disagreement? Could it be explaining a notion? Providing an example? Once the reason is set, this will be written beneath the section heading.
After the section's purpose is set, the reader then needs to put in the details. I have found that achieving this twice and comparing the outcomes creates the very best notes. Browse the section through, creating an outline based on the reading. After the section is performed, the student usually has a much better understanding of what that part of reading is doing. Then reading the section an additional time, making a fresh outline provides a fuller understanding. Whether this second reading is performed immediately after the very first is entirely as much as the student. With particularly difficult sections, having a break between the readings provides a fuller perspective on the reading, making a better outline.
After the outline is done, it ought to be reviewed for completeness. Is anything in the outline unclear, confusing? If so, then a student has two options. Either he is able to reread the material, buying clearer understanding, or even a question could be made for the next class, looking a clearer understanding from the instructor.
Reading Technical Material
This technique is most effective in material where claims are made and supported, such as in economics, design principles, or surveys. Technical writing, such as mathematics and electronics, desire a slightly different approach. The main element sections for technical material in many cases are not the sections supplied by the reading material nevertheless the formulas being presented. After the formulas are presented, then a outline should provide first a conclusion of what's in the formula then one or more example; more examples are useful if the material is not clearly understood the very first time.
Practice makes Perfect
When there is any academic activity which improves with practice, it is reading and taking notes. Initially, the student may find the endeavor difficult and fraught with uncertainty. Working with others, comparing notes and examples, could 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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