A grown-up student needs to be able to read a report or a chapter and understand the material by themselves, not in the classroom. One of the best ways to make sure that this happens effectively is always to take notes while reading, writing down the ideas and thoughts inspired by what is 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 is being read. Highlighting is a fruitful 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 Intent behind Taking Notes While Reading
The reason why the student is reading something is, usually, to achieve an understanding of something that has been previously not understood, or at the very least to boost the prevailing understanding of the material. Often, the reading assigned to an adult student is more condense and high in information than reading done in grade school. Thus, the reading can be more difficult.
The goal of taking notes while reading is two-fold. On usually 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 implies that the student must understand not just this content but additionally the structure of what is being read. By taking notes while reading, this structure can often become clearer, easier understood. On one other hand, the student does not want to learn the material significantly more than is important; in the end, the student is working within an occasion frame that can sometimes put constraints on the amount of time spent in the reading. Being forced to learn the material more times than is important can be a waste of time. This doesn't show that the student will browse the material only one time; oftentimes, 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 opportunity to learn the material significantly more than once. This fact implies that the technique of taking notes can be more deliberate; the student can take the time needed to create a couple of structured notes, as opposed to utilizing a method of note-taking that minimizes time. For this reason, probably the best method of taking notes while reading is to use an outline. By creating an outline, the structure of the material can be easier understood.MyReadingManga
The outline must be constructed as a sequence of layers, as opposed to trying to get the whole outline done with one pass. The very first layer must be on the basis of the structure of the reading; if section headers are provided, these may supply a readily available initial structure. Within each section, the very first thing to find out is the objective of the section. Is this section putting forth an argument? Is it explaining a concept? Providing an illustration? Once the reason is decided, this should be written underneath the section heading.
After the section's purpose is decided, the reader then needs to include the details. I are finding that achieving this twice and comparing the outcomes creates the most truly effective notes. Browse the section through, creating an outline on the basis of the reading. After the section is performed, the student normally has a better understanding of what that area of reading is doing. Then reading the section an additional time, developing a fresh outline provides a fuller understanding. Whether this second reading is performed just after the first is entirely up to the student. With particularly difficult sections, going for a break involving the readings provides a fuller perspective on the reading, developing a better outline.
When the outline is established, it ought to be reviewed for completeness. Is anything in the outline unclear, confusing? If that's the case, then your student has two options. Either he can reread the material, buying clearer understanding, or a question can be designed for the next class, looking a clearer understanding from the instructor.
Reading Technical Material
This technique is best suited in material where claims are made and supported, such as for instance in economics, design principles, or surveys. Technical writing, such as for instance mathematics and electronics, require a slightly different approach. The important thing sections for technical material in many cases are not the sections given by the reading material nevertheless the formulas being presented. When the formulas are presented, then your outline should provide first a conclusion of what is in the formula then a minumum of one example; more examples are useful if the material is not clearly understood the initial time.
Practice makes Perfect
If you have any academic activity which improves with practice, it is reading and taking notes. Initially, the student will find the endeavor difficult and fraught with uncertainty. Dealing with others, comparing notes and examples, can be of immense help when learning how exactly to take notes on reading material. Because the student practices, however, she will notice a remarkable improvement. As in a great many other efforts, persistence in reading and taking notes pays off.
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