Note
Making
NOTE-MAKING
• One of the skills involved in reading is making
notes of the important ideas, concepts and
points in the reading text.
•It helps us to better understand the content
of the reading material.
NOTE-MAKING
Guidelines to Follow When Making Notes
1. Check the pattern of the organization of the
reading text and use signal words as a cue.
2. Use note-taking methods such as underlining,
highlighting, circling or boxing to identify main
points.
3. Transform main points from a linear text to a
non-linear text using diagram, outline, table
or flowchart presentations.
Pattern of the organization of the reading text
•Writers often use certain organizational patterns
when giving/explaining information.
•Among the common patterns are:
Listing
Classification
Sequencing
Comparison-Contrast
Cause-Effect
Pattern of the organization of the reading text
Listing: making a list of things that are related to subject
matter
Classification: placing things in categories according to
specific, or similar characteristics, or functions
Sequencing: putting process, or events in order of
occurrence
Comparison-Contrast: making comparison by examining how
things are similar, or showing contrast by looking at the
differences between them
Cause-Effect: showing how things (effects)
happen or come into being because of other
things that cause them to happen (causes)
Pattern of the organization of the reading text
Example of a paragraph:
Today more manufacturers are using PET(Polyethylene
Terephthalate) bottles than the usual glass bottles. Both PET
bottles and the ordinary glass bottles are used for filling
carbonated soft drink and mineral water. Nevertheless, due
to their extreme clarity (like glass), PET bottles are often
preferred more. In addition, PET bottles are very much
lighter than glass bottles. Unlike glass bottles, PET bottles
will not break when dropped.
What
is the pattern of
paragraph?
Comparison and contrast
organization
of
the
Signal words
•Help you to understand the flow of ideas, concepts
or events.
•They provide clues to find important ideas and the
type of organizational text pattern that is being used.
•Signal words help to prepare you for the forthcoming
idea.
List of some of the common signal words.
Pattern of the organization of the reading text
Example of a paragraph:
Today more manufacturers are using PET(Polyethylene
Terephthalate) bottles than the usual glass bottles. Both PET
bottles and the ordinary glass bottles are used for filling
carbonated soft drink and mineral water. Nevertheless, due
to their extreme clarity (like glass), PET bottles are often
preferred more. In addition, PET bottles are very much
lighter than glass bottles. Unlike glass bottles, PET bottles
will not break when dropped.
What are the signal words that you can find in
the paragraph?
than, both, nevertheless, more, unlike.
Use note-taking methods
•Once you have identified the organizational structure
of the reading text, you should take note of the main
points by underlining, highlighting, circling or boxing.
•Concentrate only on the main points and key words.
•Exclude all unimportant details or unnecessary
words such as prepositions (at, in, near), articles (a,
an, the), etc.
Pattern of the organization of the reading text
Example of a paragraph:
Today more manufacturers are using PET(Polyethylene
Terephthalate) bottles than the usual glass bottles. Both PET
bottles and the ordinary glass bottles are used for filling
carbonated soft drink and mineral water. Nevertheless, due
to their extreme clarity (like glass), PET bottles are often
preferred more. In addition, PET bottles are very much
lighter than glass bottles. Unlike glass bottles, PET bottles
will not break when dropped.
Transform main points to non-linear text
•A written text is called a linear text, meanwhile a
non-linear texts are table, chart, diagram,
flowchart, etc.
•A non-linear text helps you to sort your main points
according to their organizational structure.
Transform main points to non-linear text
PET BOTTLES
GLASS BOTTLES
SIMILARITIES
• used for filling carbonated soft drink and mineral water
DIFFERENCES
•
•
•
•
extreme clarity
preferred more
lighter
will not break when
dropped
•
•
•
•
less clarity
less preferred
heavier
Easily broken