Format of note making

How to make notes

• Read the passage carefully.
• Heading
  What is the main idea of the passage? Frame a heading based on the central idea and write it in the middle of the page.
• Subheadings
  How has the main idea been presented and developed? Are there two or three subordinate/associated ideas? You can frame subheadings based on these.
• Points
  Are there further details or points of the subtitles that you wish to keep in these notes? Indent, i.e., suitably space and number.

   

  All subheadings should be written at a uniform distance from the margin.

• Indenting
  All points should also maintain the same distance away from the margin.

Note: Do not write full sentences. And use abbreviations wherever necessary. Read below for more help on abbreviations.

Help with abbreviations

1. Use standard abbreviations and symbols as far as possible:
   1. Capitalized first letters of words
      e.g. U.P.,U.S.A.,U.K.,U.S.S.R.,etc.
   2. Common abbreviations
      Sc. (for science), Mr., Mrs., Dr., Govt., etc
   3. Common symbols
      e.g., : \, ∴ , +ve, -ve, ® (leading to), ↑ (rising), ↓ (falling), =, etc.
   4. Measurements and Figures
      e.g., : 100′, 100”, 100 kg, 1000 mm, 100ml, etc.
2. Making your own abbreviations:
   1. Keep the main sounds of the word. For example, edn. (education), progm. (programme)
   2. Retain the suffix so that later when you are going over the notes you may recall the full form of the word —e.g., ed’nal (educational), prog’ve (progressive).
3. Caution
   1. Do not get over-enthusiastic about abbreviations. You should not abbreviate every word. One abbreviation in point is enough.
   2. As a general rule, the heading should not be abbreviated. You may use abbreviations in subheadings.

Your notes should look like this

Notice that indenting, i.e., shifting from the margin has been used to clearly indicate subheadings, points and sub points. Subheadings, though separated by points occur below one another. Points and sub points too come below one another, similarly. Such use of indenting gives your notes a visual character. At a glance you can see the main idea and its aspects.