Record Important Information

There are some general principles to recording:

1. Try to read a few paragraphs before you make a record. This will help you to summarize and paraphrase the main points of what you have read.

2. As you record, try to put information into your own words - this will help you to understand the information better.

3. There are several different ways to record information. Find a system that works well for you. Also, try to use recording strategies that match the kind of material you are reading. Several examples are given below.

Different ways to record information:

1. Make a set of summary notes . If you are reading to answer the questions you have formulated, you may want to write the question on one side of the page and answer on the other side. Remember to put notes into your own words.

2. Make an outline or concept map of the chapter. This will allow you to see the relationships between the various sections and sub-sections of the chapter.

3. Make your own glossary. Write key words and phrases in the margin of your page and write the definition of these words and phrases in the main area of the page. Later, when you study the words in y our glossary, cover up either the words or the definitions and recite the other from memory.

4. Underline or highlight the text. Some readers prefer these methods over any of the notetaking strategies detailed previously. Highlighting and underlining can be effective for selecting important portions of the text for future review. Some readers also find that highlighting or underlining helps them to stay focused while they read.

However, highlighting and underlining have some limitations. Some readers highlight or underline as they read, not after they have reflected on what is most important in a paragraph. The result is that they mark too much of the page, making review an inefficient and overwhelming task. Also, in comparison to notetaking, marking the text can be a relatively passive exercise, making concentation and comprehension more difficult. Still, if done properly, marking a reading using underlining or highlighting can be an effective and efficient way of moving through the text.

5. Write key words or brief notes in the margin of the text. This works well when combined with underlining or highlighting the text.

6. Make a diagram of the information. This is especially useful for showing the relationships between components of a larger concept.