HarisinghKhedar
Hi KWizz,
Thanks for your prompt responses. I really appreciate we are on same page. I understand how important note-taking can be - specially when you have to refer back to passage for details/inference questions.
Can you elaborate on what/when to take notes? Is it also recommended for shorter passages which consists of two paragraphs? Should we skim any details we encounter while reading and note only keywords for later references because I learnt it is almost redundant to read details and also refer back the same. Apart from the tone, purpose and intent questions, I think one has to refer back the paragraphs almost all the time. For aforementioned reasons, it is def must to skim and take notes? Also, I felt too much of note which involves frequent pauses, hinders my hold on mental map etc.
Please shed some light on how to become more efficient Note-taker? Thanks for your tip on sentence corrections. I agree with Manhattans spilt find approach.
Cheers!
In addition to what
KWizz has mentioned, I followed the good old read a passage such that you understand
1. What is the purpose of that line in context of the entire passage / that particular paragraph/ sentences just before or after it.
2. I never took down any notes as I felt it slowed me down (again, this is my personal take).
3. Make sure to keep a close watch on the transition words such as furthermore/moreover etc that will give you a sense of what to expect in the next sentence/paragraph. Lets say you have "blah blah blah .Furthermore, ....". Here furthermore only goes to show that whatever will be mentioned in the following sentence(s) will only add as an additional example/additional explanation of what has already been discussed before.
4. Keep making a mental (or written) note of the purpose of a paragraph/example etc.
5. Come up with a 1 line summary of the entire passage taking into account whatever you read. This will become your answer for the "main point" or ""main idea" type of questions.
6. Do not try to remember specifics such as dates etc as you will and you should come back to the passage as and when detail questions are asked. Do not rely on your memory.
7. With details, make sure to understand the role of that piece of information. Is it to provide a supporting argument or is it talking about an exception or is it something else entirely?
All these methods will make you become more engaged with the passage , leading to a better understanding of what is getting talked about.
I did not budge from this strategy even when the passage was shorter or longer.
Hope this helps.