An adult student must manage to read a document or even a chapter and understand the material by themselves, outside the classroom. One of the finest ways to make sure that this happens effectively would be 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 merely highlighting does little to boost the understanding of what's being read. Highlighting is an 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 Purpose of Taking Notes While Reading
The main reason the student is reading something is, usually, to get an understanding of something which was previously not understood, or at the least to boost the present understanding of the material. Often, the reading assigned to a grown-up student is more condense and filled with information than reading done in grade school. Thus, the reading may be more difficult.
The goal of taking notes while reading is two-fold. On the one hand, the student is attempting to understand what is being said, and to include that understanding in a larger picture of the course or goal of the reading. This purpose ensures that the student must understand not only this content but also 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 see the material more than is essential; after all, the student is working within a time frame that may sometimes put constraints on the total amount of time spent in the reading. Being forced to see the material more times than is essential could be a waste of time. This doesn't show that the student will see the material just once; oftentimes, multiple readings are needed. But readings shouldn't be wasted. By taking notes, the material may be understood faster and more effectively.
Just how to Take Reading Notes
Unlike the classroom, the student has the ability to see the material more than once. This fact ensures that the strategy of taking notes may be more deliberate; the student can take some time needed to generate 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 by using an outline. By creating an outline, the structure of the material may be quicker understood.MyReadingManga
The outline should really be constructed as a series of layers, rather than trying to get the whole outline finished with one pass. The first layer should really be on the basis of the structure of the reading; if section headers are given, these may supply a easily obtainable initial structure. Within each section, the very first thing to determine is the goal of the section. Is this section putting forth a quarrel? Could it be explaining a concept? Providing an illustration? Once the purpose is decided, this would be written beneath the section heading.
After the section's purpose is decided, the reader then needs to put in the details. I have discovered that achieving this twice and comparing the outcomes creates the very best notes. See the section through, creating an outline on the basis of the reading. After the section is done, the student normally has a much better understanding of what that element of reading is doing. Then reading the section another time, developing a fresh outline can provide a fuller understanding. Whether this second reading is done immediately after the very first is entirely around the student. With particularly difficult sections, going for a break involving the readings can provide a fuller perspective on the reading, developing a better outline.
When the outline is done, it ought to be reviewed for completeness. Is anything in the outline unclear, confusing? If that's the case, then a student has two options. Either he can reread the material, buying a clearer understanding, or even a question may be created for another class, looking a clearer understanding from the instructor.
Reading Technical Material
This technique is most effective in material where claims are created and supported, such as in economics, design principles, or surveys. Technical writing, such as mathematics and electronics, desire a slightly different approach. The key sections for technical material are often not the sections provided by the reading material however the formulas being presented. When the formulas are presented, then a 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 will find the endeavor difficult and fraught with uncertainty. Working with others, comparing notes and examples, may be of immense help when learning just how to take notes on reading material. Whilst the student practices, however, she'll notice an extraordinary improvement. As in a great many other efforts, persistence in reading and taking notes pays off.
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