The document provides tips for effective note-taking during lectures, including writing brief notes using your own words and symbols, numbering or bulleting points, and reviewing notes after class. It also discusses reading strategies like skimming, identifying main ideas, and not needing to read every word to comprehend academic texts. Various online resources from the Dawn Fitzgerald LRC are listed for additional information on databases and subject resources.

1. Taking lecture notes
• Taking notes makes us listen and tests our understanding.
• Personal notes are easier to remember than words from a
text.
• Taking notes of important points helps us remember.

2. Taking lecture notes
• Writing on a white board.
• Repetition.
• Emphasis – voice and gesture and time spent on a topic.
Also the number of examples provided.
• Signposting – eg there are 2 points of view, the 3rd
reason, in conclusion and so on.
• Summaries – important points will be repeated.
• Reviews given at the beginning of next class.

3. Taking lecture notes
• Make your notes brief – use words and phrases – not
sentences.
• Use abbreviations and symbols but keep them consistent.
• Use your own words as far as possible – definitions and
specific facts should be noted exactly.
• Note-making can be done in the form of a mind-map
making it a visual tool.
• Use numbers and/or bullet points – easier to read back.
• If you miss a statement, write key words, leave spaces and
get full information later.
• Date your notes – helps keep order.
• Review your notes soon after and regularly.

4. How to read your texts: The SQ2R
method of reading
• Survey
• Question
• Read
• Review

5. Reading myths for academic purposes
• Myth 1
I have to read every word.

6. Reading myths for academic purposes
• Myth 2
Reading once is enough.

7. Reading myths for academic purposes
• Myth 3
It is wrong to skip some passages in reading.

8. Good reading is selective reading.

9. Steps to follow in skimming for the
main ideas
1. Read the title carefully
2. Look at the headings and other
organisational clues.
3. Boldface headings and itallics.
4. Numbers and paragraphs.
5. Repeats and rewords.

10. Dawn Fitzgerald LRC
http://intranet.rave.ac.uk/lrc/electronicDatabases.htm
http://intranet.rave.ac.uk/lrc/resourcesSubject.htm