Notes
are for your personal use so you should create your own style. Your teachers
will not read or mark them, but you need to make sure you can still understand
your notes months after reading the original book or article.
a)
To avoid the risk of plagiarism you must use your own words and not copy
phrases from the original.
b)
The quantity of notes you make depends on your task: you may only need a few
points, or a lot of detail.
c)
Always record the source of your notes. This will save time when you have to
write the list of references.
d)
Notes are often written quickly, so keep them simple. Do not write sentences.
Leave out articles (a/ the) and prepositions (of/ to).
e)
If you write lists, it is important to have clear headings (underlined)
and numbering systems (a, b, c, or 1, 2, 3,) to organise the information. Do
not crowd your notes.
f)
Use symbols (+, >, =) to save time.
g) Use abbreviations (e.g. = for example). You
need to make up your own abbreviations for your subject area. But do not
abbreviate too much, or you may find your notes hard to understand in the
future!
But remember, taking notes is not a substitute for writing your essay! Don't delay starting to write for too long!
