NOTE MAKING EXPLANATION AND ASSIGNMENT (SECTION B-READING)

STUDY MATERIAL 39

Characteristics of good notes

Short and Compact: Good notes must be short and compact.
Complete Information: They must contain all the important information.
Logical: They must be presented in a logical way.
Understandable: They should be understandable when consulted at a later stage.
Mechanics of note making

While making notes we follow certain standard practices. These may be listed as follows:
(a) Heading and Sub-headings
(b) Abbreviation and Symbols
(c) Note-form
(d) Numbering and Indentation

Heading and sub-headings

The heading reflects the main theme whereas the sub-headings point out how it has been
developed. The selection of proper heading and sub-heading reveals the grasp of the passage
by the students. In the absence of proper assimilation of main ideas and subsidiary points it is
impossible to make notes.
Abbreviations and symbols
They are used for precision and economy of words and hence quite helpful in note-making. At
least four recognisable abbreviations are to be used in note-making in your board examination.
These are essential components of note-making. Students often make use of abbreviations and
symbols in doing their written work.
Note Making Format Class 11
Note-Form
While making notes the whole information is listed in note-form in points only. Notes should
not be written in complete sentences as we can’t remember the whole information. So only the
main points are listed one under the other and numbered.
It implies the logical division and sub-division of the listed information by using figures, letters,
dashes and spaces.
All examples and figurative speeches are eliminated.

Numbering and indenting

Indentation
Indentation means leaving space at the beginning of a line of print or writing.
First write the title and then write down the notes in a logical order. From the main headings to
the sub-headings, the numbering should be spaced a little to the right.

Conclusion
Note-making is a useful skill. You must develop it with constant practice. Notes form an
essential part of your academic life and will serve you well in your School/Board examinations.

How to write note making

Follow the following steps:

Step 1 : (i)Read the passage carefully.
(ii)Try to get the theme and subject of the passage. You may ask yourself: “What is this passage
about?” This will provide you the gist.
Step 2 : Read carefully. Identify main ideas and important supporting details.
Step 3 : Make notes of the main ideas under headings and add sub-points under sub-headings.
Step 4 : Use proper layout/format, e.g.,
(a) Indented, linear form
(b) Sequential form
(c) Tabular form
(d) Flow chart
(e) Pie chart, graphs or diagrams, etc.
Step 5 : Use recognisable abbreviations wherever possible

Note making Example

Read the following passages carefully:

Note making Example – Passage 1:

1. Conversation is indeed the most easily teachable of all arts. All you need to do in order to
become a good conversationalist is to find a subject that interests you and your listeners.
There are, for example, numberless hobbies to talk about. But the important
thing is that you must talk about other fellow’s hobby rather than your own. Therein lies
the secret of your popularity. Talk to your friends about the things that interest them,
and you will get a reputation for good fellowship, charming wit, and a brilliant mind.
There is nothing that pleases people so much as your interest in their interest.
2. It is just as important to know what subjects to avoid and what subjects to select for good
conversation. If you don’t want to be set down as a wet blanket or a bore, be careful to
avoid certain unpleasant subjects. Avoid talking about yourself, unless you are asked to
do so. People are interested in their own problems not in yours. Sickness or death bores
everybody. The only one who willingly listens to such talk is the doctor, but he gets paid
for it.
3. To be a good conversationalist you must know not only what to say, but how also to say
it. Be mentally quick and witty. But don’t hurt others with your wit. Finally try to avoid
mannerism in your conversation. Don’t bite your lips or click your tongue, or roll your
eyes or use your hands excessively as you speak.
4. Don’t be like that Frenchman who said, “How can I talk if you hold my hand?”

2.1 Make notes on the contents of above paragraph in any format, using abbreviations. Supply
a suitable title also. 5
2.2 Make a summary of the passage. 3
The Art of Conversation

1. Conv’n—most easily tch’ble art

(a) Reqd. interest’g subject – hobbies
(b) Talk about other fellow’s int./hobby
(c) Win’g reptn. as good conversationalist
(i) good f’ship
(ii) charm’g wit
(iii) brl. mind
2. Fit subs, for conversationalist
(a) What subs, to avoid/select?
(b) Avoid unpl’nt subs.
(i) sickness
(ii) death
(c) Avoid talk’g about self
3. Qualities of a good conversationalist
(a) What to say & how to say it
(b) ment’y quilistenersty
(c) pleasant & unhurt’g
(d) avoid mannerisms.

2.2 Conversation is the easiest and the most effective tool than other arts. To have such
attractive quality, you need to pick a subject that interest your listeners more than you. Talk to
your friends on topics that can indulge your friends in the conversation for a longer period.
Being a good conversationalist, you have to quick and witty. You should have a pleasant and
receptive quality. Mannerism should be avoided.
Note making Example Passage 2:

1. Good decoration reflects the personality of the people who live in the home. It
should, first of all, be distinctive, just as each person is distinctive. A home should
have unity
not only within each room but also throughout the house. Rooms should, to some
degree, harmonize with each other. The colour and styling of each room,
particularly, should fit into the colour and styling of the rooms which run out of it.
2. Attractive home furnishings set the stage for pleasant living. If they are an
expression of yourself, you will have a feeling of satisfaction every time you enter
your home, and friends will share your enjoyment.
3. However, furnishings and surroundings expressive of just the right note of
restfulness, gay informality, or elegant simplicity are not often assembled by
accident. Even enthusiasm alone is not enough. For most home decorators, it
takes poring over plans, trying colour schemes, finding ingenious ways to make
the best of what you have, and shopping around to search out just the right
purchases at prices you can afford to pay. But there is keen pleasure in striving for
the perfect result, and great satisfaction in achieving it.
4. A successful house and successful rooms will depend upon the proper relationship
of each element in it to the others and to the whole. Therefore, in selecting each
piece it is well to consider the background, the usage, the draperies, the floor
covering, the upholstering materials, the woods, shapes, colour scheme, and the
“feeling” you prefer for the room.
5. Work and plan to enjoy your house. Limit the expenditures of time, effort and
money to the extent of your abilities, so that just running the house doesn’t
 dominate your life. Elegance and delicate things may be a drain you can afford
only in a limited way. If you can’t afford outside help, select a house and
furnishings that require less care. Plan your activities so that tumult and upset are
limited to a few rooms—an activity room or a bedroom, or a comer of the dining
room.
6. You’ll get more pleasure out of a house if you have a hobby connected with it—
collecting glass or antiques, gardening or indoor flower growing ceramics, art,
cooking, decorating, flower arrangements, etc. And you’ll get more satisfaction
and a great deal of help from studying household activities.
7. You can select a pleasing combination of colours from a wallpaper, a fabric, an
oriental mg, a flower or scene, or even a picture in a magazine. If you don’t
already have the furniture or mgs, it is a good idea to make up a colour scheme in
this way. Let one colour predominate. Limit a colour scheme to two or three
colours, with white or gray tones.

These points will help you:

1. Always choose colours that please you personally— subtle, calm colours if you
prefer a restful atmosphere, intense colours if you like liveliness and cheer.
2. Don’t be afraid of colour. Experimenting on paper will give you confidence. (But
remember larger batches of colour are more intense.) Try out various colour
combinations, then live with them—look at them frequently before you actually
start buying.
3. Colours should harmonize with furniture, draperies, carpets.

2.1 Make notes on the passage in any suitable format. Use abbreviations, wherever necessary.
Give a suitable title. 5
2.2 Make a summary of the passage. 3
Answers:
2.1 Title: Decorating One’s Home
Notes:

1. Home reflects personality of home-owner

1.1 unity & harmony bet. rooms
1.2 colour & styling sh’d match
2. Elements of decoration
2.1 colour schemes
2.2 draperies, rugs, upholstery, woods, shape
3. Plan to enjoy the House
3.1 limit time, effort & money
3.2 select fumish’gs which require little care
3.3 confine hectic activities to a few rooms
3.4 hobby connected with house—great pleasure.
4. Choice of Colours
4.1 one colour sh’d predominate
4.2 one can expt with colours
4.3 calm colours for restfulness; intense for liveliness
4.4 colours sh’d harmonise with furniture, draperies, carpets

2.2 The maintenance of the house reflects the personality of the people who live in that. So the
distinctive decoration is as important as one attire in good clothes. A unity in the home can only
be seen if the rooms in the house have a degree of harmony, colour and styling. Furniture is a
working strategy for the pleasant living. If there is an expression of oneself then one will have a
mental satisfaction everytime one enter one’s home. To attain such satisfaction one need to
pore over plants, try colour schemes, window shopping to search the best thing for one’s home.

Note making Example Passage 3:

EXERCISE YOUR WAY TO A HEALTHY HEART

1. The epidemic of heart attacks has been attaining alarming proportion in recent
times causing grave concern specially to the medical fraternity.
2. To contain and control the increasing death and disability from heart attacks and
to focus on public awareness and their involvement at global level, the World
Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Heart Federation observed September
24th as the World Heart Day.
3. What causes heart attacks? Dr H.S. Wasir, Chief Cardiologist and Medical Director,
Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre lists four main habits which adversely
affect the heart health. These are lack of physical exercise, wrong eating habits,
cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and stressful lifestyle.
4. The importance of physical exercise in minimising the incidence of heart attacks
cannot be underestimated. “Physical exercise,” says Dr Wasir, “plays a major role
 in achieving a long and healthy life in general and prevention of heart attacks in
particular.” There are several studies showing that physically active people have
higher longevity than those sedentary or physically inactive.
5. In fact, the review of modern medical literature sums up the role of physical
activity in health as ‘Regular physical exercise adds not only years to life but also
life to years. It is the experience of many modern-day physicians that some
patients of angina (chest pain or discomfort on physical or mental exertion or
after meals) do get relief with regularly done physical exercise.
6. What type of physical exercise and how much, one may ask. It is the isotonic
(dynamic) exercise that is beneficial for the heart and not the isometric (static)
exercise which should be avoided by heart patients. Weightlifting, carrying heavy
suitcases while travelling, pushing a car are some of the examples of isometric
exercises. Examples of the beneficial type of physical activity (dynamic exercise)
are brisk walking, swimming, golf without power carts, badminton and tennis
(doubles for those with old heart attacks but fully recovered, to be started only
after physician’s advice).
7. Walking is the best mode of doing regular physical exercise which requires no
equipment, money, material or membership of a club! 30 to 60 minutes brisk walk
even on alternate day has been proven to be beneficial. Stationary cycling or
walking on a treadmill at home are the other alternatives.
8. Walking up the stairs instead of using a lift if going up to three or four floors or
getting off the lift two or three floors before the destination and walking up the
rest through stairs. Going up several floors in a overcrowded lift with limited fresh
air to be shared by so many may also prove unhealthy.
9. Park a little away from the work place and walk that healthy distance.
10. Best time for brisk walks would be the early mornings before the traffic flow picks
up and walking in the parks with thick plantation. Jogging on the roads with heavy
traffic should be avoided as you will be inhaling air polluted with the toxins from
vehicular exhaust such as dioxides of sulphur and nitrogen.
11. “Before starting any physical exercise programmes for the first time, one must get
fully evaluated by a cardiologist so as to avoid any harm being done by exercise if
 there is serious underlying heart disease needing treatment,” warns Dr Wasir.

2.1 Make notes on the above passage in any suitable format using recognizable abbreviations
wherever necessary. Assign a suitable heading to the passage. 5
2.2 Make a summary of the passage. 3

Answers:
2.1 Title: Having a Healthy Heart
Notes:

1. World Heart Day. 24 Sept.

(a) to control death & disability
(b) to increase awareness
2. Causes of Heart Attacks
(a) lack of phy’l exercise
(b) wrong eating habits
(c) smoking & alcohol
(d) stressful lifestyle
3. Role of Physical Excse.
(a) prevents hrt attacks—longer life
(b) isotonic-beneficial; isometric—harmful
(c) walking: best excse.
(i) 30 to 60 mts. brisk walk
(ii) no equipment, money, mat’l or membership of club
(iii) early morning: ideal for walking
(d) Other beneficial excses
(i) stay cycling
(ii) swimming
(iii) walk’g on treadmill
4. Consult cardiologist before beginning an excse progrme.
2.2 In recent times, heart attack is an epidemic disease that cause grave concern to the medical
fraternity. To have control on increasing death and disability due to heart attacks, the World
Health Organisation (W.H.O) and World Heart Federation has observed September 24th as the
World Heart Day to focus on public awareness. According to health expert there are four main
habits that cause heart attack, these are lack of physical exercise, wrong eating habits, smoking,
excessive alcohol consumption and stressful lifestyle. The effects of heart attack can be reduced
to greater extent with the help of regular exercise.

Assignment:

1. According to the National Council for Applied Economic Research’s latest report, India’.
Human Development Report which is a profile of the Indian states in the 1990s, there
are many problems in women’s education. Girls are taken out of school as soon as some
calamity hits the family’s fortunes. They are made to look after their younger siblings
and they are not looked upon as ‘investment’. In order to marry them off early and
without problems, girls are not allowed to traverse long distances to go to schools. They
are not allowed to study under male teachers. Affluent families invest in girls’ education
only if they are assured of getting better bridegrooms.
2. So high is the girls’ drop out rate that there are only 52 girls to every 100 boys who
complete middle school. Gender disparity is higher among matriculates and 40 women
to every 100 men ever pass the examination. The only gender egalitarian state is Kerala
and it is very difficult to come across a female graduate in a village excepting in Kerala.
Gender disparity varies with household income and poverty level and the poorer the
family, the greater the temptation to invest in boys’ education. It also varies according
to social class. The lowest level of matriculates is among the SC/STs and Muslims.
3. Another important finding is that at the critical age of 25 to 34 years, there is higher
gender disparity in education, with high levels of female illiteracy, in the problematic
central Indian states (Bihar, MP, Rajasthan and UP). This is indicative of other connected
problems that these states face. When women are illiterate, they are not able to look
after their children’s health and the mortality rate may be high. Faced with a high
mortality rate of children, there is a tendency to have more children and the fertility
rate remains high. Among the SC/ST women in the reproductive age of 15 to 35, only 6
to 9 percentage of literacy can be found in Bihar and UP.
4. Female labour participation reveals that as soon as the family’s income improves,
women give up working whether in the fields or in non-farm activities or at home in
income generating activities. It is not surprising that they stop working because there is
a huge gender disparity in wage rates. Even when women do the same arduous work
they are paid on average ? ₹ 17 a day as compared to ? ₹ 23 for men.
5. When women are educated they can at least look after their own and the family’s
health, better. Without adequate education, there is a low level of awareness about
ailments and sheer ignorance can cause them to ascribe ailments to non-medical, often
supernatural causes. Uneducated women are often too shy to reveal their diseases and
many do not go to doctors out of fear that it may cause undue expenses to their
 budgetary balances. Pregnant women in many villages have been found not to be given
any special diet. In fact they often reduce their food intake because of the prevailing
belief that they cannot digest heavy food. There is gender disparity in most states in the
treatment of young children and the elderly.
6. In any case, a majority of the rural areas do not have provision for primary health care
services. The prevalence of diseases is rather high in the southern states, West Bengal
and Punjab perhaps because of better reporting of sickness and the availability of
treatment. About 41 million individuals receive medication for major illnesses at a point
of time in India and the highest prevalence is of hypertension followed by tuberculosis.
The critical issues of education and health are closely connected with expansion of job
opportunities and while reducing unemployment has been a standard slogan during the
elections by all parties, the emphasis on health and education has been subdued.

2.1 Make notes on the contents of the passage you have read. Use a format you
consider suitable. Use abbreviations where necessary. Also give a suitable title to the
passage.
2.2 Make a summary of the passage.