Taking notes on Critical Reasoning?

Question

Manhattan Startegy Guide encourages active note-taking when reading a critical reasoning. However, I have noticed this takes up a significant time. Not only does it take time to write down all the main points, come up with plausible abbreviations is cumbersome.

How do you do? Is it really necessary to improve this part? Or should I skip to write things down completly.

How do you do? Is it really necessary to improve this part? Or should I skip to write things down completly.

jumsumtak · Answer

if you are consuming a lot of time, don't do it.

there is no one way to do verbal.  do what is comfortable for you. 
 
My thought process was pretty similar to yours, in that I thought I was wasting too much time taking notes. (Well, I tried it only for 1-2 questions; I was pretty lazy and realized this thing is not going to work).

AristotlePrep · Answer

Note taking is indeed a time consuming method and while it may work for some candidates for some others it doesn't. Your focus while doing a critical reasoning question should be to understand the meaning of the argument instead of trying to figure out how to make symbols and abbreviations. In fact, keeping the diagrammatic approach at bay was one of our goals while writing the GMAT Critical Reasoning Grail.

This is not to say that the diagrammatic method is bad. It is useful in some cases but you certainly don't want to become that dependent on it that the moment you see a critical reasoning question, instead of trying to understand the meaning of the argument you straightway start putting your pen to paper.

AbhiJ · Answer

Note taking in CR works the same way as it does in RC. If you are taking some notes in RC then you may want to consider doing the same of 30-40% of CR problems you face on GMAT. The reason is simple you are going to be under stress during verbal section and working memory decreases under stress.You dont have to do a big T diagram by MGMAT.Rather some abbreviated notes about what you are reading to keep your focus on CR problems.Refer to any of the Stacey Koprince article on CR problems. She has a nice abbreviation system.

commdiver · Answer

Whether or not to take notes depends on you. Some think it helps, some do not.

I take notes not to go back and read them, but to force myself to remember what I read. I generally paraphrase, make abbreviations, and write sloppily (i.e. I could probably not re-read my notes anyway), but this forces me to remember what I just read. If you take notes, even ones that are meant to be re-read, it should only take a few seconds.

My suggestion is to work through the OG and try taking notes. See if it helps you.

I hope that helps

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Taking notes on Critical Reasoning?

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