Of Note making

Of Note-making

An exercise in making short notes of a given passage with the help of headline, subheadings, recognizable abbreviations and arithmetic symbols

By Mukesh Sharma

When there were no tape-recorders/mobiles,  jotting down notes was the only option for the journos to cover any interview, event, incident or happening. However with the advent of internet, life has changed phenomenally. But to students, note-making is still a popular choice to take down notes in the class. And, of course, in academic exams at senior secondary level, note-making is also one of the questions in English paper as per CBSE syllabus where examinees are asked to make notes of a given passage; it is also one of the compulsory questions in several competitive exams for government services.

Note-making

As far as exams are concerned, note-making is an exercise in making short-notes of a given passage with the help of headline, subheadings, recognizable abbreviations and arithmetic symbols.

Ground rules

While making notes of a given passage, the student must keep in mind certain important points that reflect the characteristic of notes, as follows:

1.       All important sentences/main points of the given passage must be given an appropriate sub- heading.

2.       If the main point under sub-heading  has many other important details, it must be mentioned through points.

3.       If point has other inevitable details, it must be mentioned with proper indentation.

4.       Use keywords to denote certain ideas with the help of abbreviation e.g. UNO, NCERT, etc. and arithmetic symbols such as > <,  kg, %, etc.

5.       As used by the newspaper, use coined short words e.g. SC, govt., Eng., etc.

6.       Use invented words e.g. edu., mfg, etc.

7.       Must follow the logical sequence of ideas/thoughts discussed in the passage.

8.       Must include important information in brief.

9.       Must be short to the point.

10.   Give a suitable headline/title to the given passage.

Suggest standardized format

Though a student can go by his/her own format that conforms to all above said important characteristics of  note-making, generally speaking, the under mentioned suggested standardized format may help the students in attempting the question on note-making, easily, comfortably and confidently.

Note-making format

How to start

1.        Read the passage carefully to have the idea of theme/central idea under discussion.

2.       Underline the leading sentence/outline in each para that leads to development of a fact in the para.

3.       Look at the last para that concludes the theme/central idea.

4.       Give the central idea/theme discussed in the passage a headline.

5.       Now give each para a sub-heading based on the fact/idea discussed.

6.       Mark related/relevant details and mention it as point-1, point-2, and so on.

 7.       Underline the words/key words that can be abbreviated and any increase or decrease of something may be mentioned through arithmetic symbols

Specimen

Question:

On the basis of your reading of the passage, make notes on it using recognizable abbreviation (minimum-4) wherever necessary. Use a format that you consider appropriate. Also suggest a suitable title.

Write a summary of the passage in 80 words.

Toddlers with graying hair, an 8 year old with high pressure and cholesterol, a pre-adolescent who has the physique of a 20 year old – the sign are ominous. Biological clocks in children are ticking rapidly and the rate at which their organs are aging in faster than their chronological age.

The country’s medical fraternity may take pride in improving life expectancy, but  the spurt in life style disease, especially among children has resulted in premature aging. This means the increase life expectancy doesn’t necessary translate into improved quality of life. Every organ in human body has an age and when a child suffers from life style disease like cholesterol and diabetes, his or her organ takes a beating. Thus the functionality of eight year old child’s organ is that of a 30 years old. Manifestation of their problems are evident, with children as young as sporting glasses, early sign of facial hair in boys.

Doctors in India say that they are treating more children with ailments usually associated with adults.

Diabetes and hypertension is leading to stress on organs. Children’s organ are aging, though they may be young in terms of years. Genetic factors account for a meager 20 % of premature aging. The main reasons are the environmental and dietary. Pediatric obesity, which is reaching epidemic proportion, high stress level, sedentary and changing lifestyles and various chemical used in food contribute to premature aging.

When diabetes sets in at an early stage, the child’s blood vessels start stiffening which happens only in older people. Technically, we are starting at a scenario where the child is aging much faster than his chronological age.

Courtesy: Times of India

                                                                                                                                                           

Answer

Premature Aging

Toddler with grey hair -1

      a)      BC > CA -1

Lifestyle disease – 2

       a)      Chol and Diabetes

        b)      Org. has age

Main reasons – 3

        a)      Env and diet – 1

        b)      Genetics – 20% - 2

        c)       PO (Pediatric obesity) –3

         d)      Sedentary lifestyle – 4

Diabetes early age-4

       a)      Aging of CA(chronological age)

Keywords:

BC – Biological Clock

CA – Chronological Age

Org- Organs

PO- Pediatric obesity

Summary 

PREMATURE AGING

Biological clocks in children are ticking faster than chronological age. Children with grey hair, high BP and cholesterol, are getting older than their age. Life style disease like diabetes and cholesterol are causing pre mature aging. Genetics is responsible just 20%. But environment and diet coupled with sedentary lifestyle are causing pre mature aging among children.

Mind you, practice improves the skill. All kinds of writing needs only three things : practice, practice and practice.