PROBLEM SOLVING TEACHING SERVICES
STUDY AIDS TWO: NOTE-TAKING SKILLS
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Contents |
Aims And Objectives
Section One:
Core
Concepts
Section Two:
Reasons
For Note Taking
Section Three:
The
Characteristics Of Good And Bad Notes
Section Four: Nucleated Notes
Section Five: The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Nucleated Notes
Section
Six:
Sequential
Notes
Section
Seven: The Main
Characteristics Of Sequential Notes
Section
Eight: The Advantages And
Disadvantages Of Sequential Notes
Section Nine: Concluding Comments
Appendix One: A Contents Page For A File Of Notes
Appendix
Two: Sample
Notes On Business Ethics
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Aims |
On completion of this document, the student should be in a better position to devise good notes, and in particular, he/she should be able to:-
1. Understand The Purpose Of Note Taking
2. Distinguish Between
Good And Bad Forms Of Note Taking
3. Distinguish Between The Two Main Types Of Note Taking
4. Know About The Advantages And Disadvantages To Be Found In The Main Types Of Notes
5. Begin Writing Good Quality Notes
6. Develop An Effective Storage System
7. Avoid Repeating Any Source Material `Ad Verbatim`
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Section
One:
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NOTES are the written summaries of lectures, literature and any other form of audio-visual material. By nature, they tend to be arranged in an ordered sequence.
For its part, note taking is simply the compilation of notes. This activity is usually carried out for two main reasons. These are:
1.1 To Store Information
1.2 To Aid Revision
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Section
Two:
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Note taking serves to:-
2.1 Assist Reference And Revision
2.2 Clarify Thinking
2.3 Draw The Various Parts Of A Written Work Together
2.4 Focus Attention
2.5 Help Formulate Conclusions
2.6 Help Recall Ideas And Facts
2.7 Keep The Mind Alert And Active.
2.8 Make Sense Of A Written Text
2.9 Monitor Progress
2.10 Organise Any Information Gained Into A Logical Sequence
2.11 Provide A Basis For Written Work
2.12 Provide Facts.
2.13 Provide A Summary Of What's Been Said
2.14 Record Original Ideas And Thoughts
2.15 Show The Connections Between Certain Points
2.16 Trigger Or Jog The Memory.
However, note taking should rarely serve as a means to take things down `ad verbatim`. Usually, notes only ever represent a summary of what's been said or written.
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Section
Three: The Characteristics of Good and Bad Notes
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Good Notes Should
Attempt to be: |
Bad Notes Often
are: |
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3.1 |
Accurate in their use of diagrams and
tables |
Inaccurate when employing diagrams and
tables |
|
3.2 |
Brief and concise |
Too long |
|
3.3 |
Clear in their layout of paragraphs |
Lacking in paragraphs |
|
3.4 |
Clear in their style of writing |
Unclear |
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3.5 |
Clear in their use of headings |
Unheeded |
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3.6 |
Dated |
Undated |
|
3.7 |
Easily comprehensible |
Incomprehensible |
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3.8 |
Neatly written or typed |
Badly written |
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3.9 |
Neatly written in outline form |
Lacking in any outline |
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3.10 |
Organised when giving key definitions |
Muddled when giving key definitions |
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3.11 |
Organised when meeting personal needs |
Not organised in meeting personal needs |
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3.12 |
Organised in relating key ideas |
Unable to show the relationship between
ideas |
|
3.13 |
Organised in separating main ideas, Within
individual sections |
Disorganised, with various unrelated
ideas clumped together |
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3.14 |
Organised in the separation of sections |
Disorganised in the use of separation of
sections. |
|
3.15 |
Written down on appropriate stationery |
Written down on poor quality stationery |
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3.16 |
Readily accessible |
Difficult to find |
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3.17 |
Relevant |
Irrelevant |
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3.18 |
Safely filed |
Left lying about not filed |
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3.19 |
Selective in the use of quotes |
No discernment in the use of quotes |
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3.20 |
Skilful in highlighting original ideas |
Guilty of passing over good ideas |
N.B. If a large amount of notes have been made a contents page should usually be placed at the beginning. (Appendix One)
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Section
Four:
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4.1 Nucleated Notes Are Notes That Begin From A Central Reference Point Before Moving Out In Linear Branches.
4.2 Stages In The Development Of Nucleated Notes Are:-
4.2.1 Referencing - The Central Reference Point Is Written Down. This May Consist Of The Essay Title, Or A Word Summing Up The Main Topic.
4.2.2 Main-Branching - Main Ideas Are Recorded As If They Were Branches From The Central Reference Point.
4.2.3 Sub-Branching - Any Derived Ideas Are Recorded.
4.2.4 Concluding - Any Possible Causal Connections Are Noted Before Summarising A Conclusion.
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Section
Five: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Nucleated Notes |
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Their Advantages
are: |
Their
Disadvantages are: |
|
5.1 |
They act as a basis for sequential notes |
They can't record large pieces of
information |
|
5.2 |
They assist creative
"Brainstorming" |
They don't record the information in a
clear order |
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5.3 |
They can be easily added to |
They may include irrelevant ideas |
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5.4 |
They can record new ideas |
They tend to be messy |
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5.5 |
They tend to be brief |
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5.6 |
They show causal relationships |
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Section
Six:
Sequential Notes
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Sequential notes are notes that record information in an ordered and logical sequence. To be effective they need to:-
6.1 Adopt The Characteristics Of Good Notes (3.1-3.20)
6.2 Be Interspersed With Diagrams And Lists
6.3 Be Well-Spaced So That New Material Could Easily Be Inserted
6.4 Be Written Down Using A4 Paper And Placed Within A loose-leaf Folder (Thus Enabling New Material To Be Added When Necessary)
6.5 Be Written In One's Own Personal Style
6.6 Display A Coherent Numbering Order
6.7 Employ Highlighter Pens To Show Key Points
6.8 Make Use Of A
Coloured Asterisk Within The Margin In Order To Highlight Key Points
6.9 Pick Out Essential Points From The Source Material
6.10 Record Sources Of Information
6.11 Reinforce Any Previous Information
6.12 Resist The Temptation To Make Them Into A Work Of Art
6.13 Underline (and/or Print) Key Words
6.14 Utilise Memory Joggers To Aid Assimilation
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Section Seven: The Main Characteristics of Sequential Notes |
7.1 Sequential notes should be able to separate or at least to clearly define:-
7.1.1 Creative ideas
7.1.2 Diagrams and tables
7.1.3 Any general information
7.1.4 Quotes and citations
7.2 Sequential notes should avoid using:
7.2.1 Irrelevant material
7.2.2 Lengthy illustrations
7.2.3 Long quotes
7.2.4 Repetition
7.2.5 School exercise books
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Section
Eight:
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Sequential
Notes |
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Their Advantages
are: |
Their
Disadvantages are: |
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8.1 |
They facilitate cross-referencing |
They can easily get cluttered |
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8.2 |
They group together in a clear order |
They can easily get too big |
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8.3 |
They have a definite structure |
They can hinder creativity |
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8.4 |
They record diagrams, tables and charts |
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8.5 |
They record solid pieces of information |
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8.6 |
They show chronological events more
clearly |
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Section Nine: Concluding Comments |
Without good notes, exam success is usually impossible. They are the workaday tools of any academic study. Good note-taking should be adapted at the beginning of the academic year. Should they be left in a dishevelled, unheeded heap, then the student runs the serious risk of examination revision becoming well nigh impossible. A sample of well laid out and easily replicated notes on Business Ethics is provided in Appendix Two.
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1)
Absolute (or Universal) Standards
- are
those standards and codes of conduct applying to all people at all times
regardless of their circumstances. They are summed up in the major commandments
of the major world faiths.
2)
Relative (or Contingency) Standards -
are
those standards and codes of conduct applying only to some people at some times
depending upon their circumstances. They are mainly prevalent in the business
area.
3)
Ethics,
originating in the Ancient
Greek
word ‘ethos’
meaning ‘custom’ ethics is the philosophical discipline, which is
concerned with establishing what is right conduct among people at either the
small or large-scale level. Business ethics is concerned with trying to
establish right practices or customs in the area of commerce.
Warm Up Exercise
List up to three to
five of the most common temptations in the Business world. How do you think
those temptations come about? Suggest ways in which you may be able to overcome
them. What do you think may be the long-term results of unethical behaviour in a
Business?
Part A: What Is Business Ethics?
1.
Views
on ethics include: -
a)
The Emotivist, ethical
decisions are entirely left to the individual.
b)
The Cultural, ethical
decisions are determined by culture. What is ethical in one culture may be
unethical in another.
c)
The Behaviourist,
physical and social pressures may be used to alter behaviour into desired
ethical directions.
d)
The Egotistical,
ethical decisions are based on the amount of pleasure they give.
e)
The Utilitarian,
ethical decisions should be based on what gives the greatest happiness to
the greatest number.
f)
The
laissez-faire,
ethical decisions have no role in business activity where profit maximisation is the
only important goal. Things should be left as they are.
g)
The contingency, immediate situational
constraints should determine ethical decisions, what’s right or wrong depends
upon circumstances and may change as circumstances change.
2.
Briefly
stress the fact that Business ethics is not a new discipline. Cite examples from
ancient sources to prove this point.
3.
For
individual employees business ethical considerations usually surface when: -
a)
They compete for job promotions.
b)
They record expense accounts.
c)
They make a difficult sale during times of economic recession.
d)
They are called upon to meet an impossible deadline.
e)
They uncover some form of abuse.
f)
They are asked by their work mates or boss to do something unethical.
g)
They
entertain an important client.
h)
They
entertain a genuine grievance against a work mate or their employee.
4.
For
employers some of the above considerations also apply, but in addition ethical
issues often raise their head when: -
a)
They
are forced to compete with ruthless competitors in a stagnant market.
b)
They advertise a new product but sales do not seem to rise.
c)
They automate an old production line.
d)
They are forced to make loyal employees redundant.
e)
They confront an employee’s genuine grievance.
f)
They are in dispute with a trade union.
g)
They face adverse publicity.
h)
They are in a serious legal dispute with a major rival.
Part
B: The Causes Of Ethical Behaviour In A Business
1.
Business
ethics are influenced by all of the factors that help change society, Remind
class of the change web. However concerning business ethics the main external
influences are: -
a)
The influence of the Media. Secrets are more difficult to keep these days.
b)
The influence of pressure groups that may stir up public opinion.
c)
The nature of the industry and its products. A Nuclear Power Plant would
obviously need a strict ethical policy in the area of health and safety.
d)
Shifting cultural values.
e)
The
legal and regulatory environment.
2.
In
contrast, the main internal influences
on ethical behaviour are: -
a)
The history of the company, its original vision and the traditions it has
followed.
b)
The current performance of a company and the reputation it enjoys with
outsiders.
c)
The effectiveness of internal communication and monitoring systems.
d)
The
type of organisational structure. This will determine the proportion of informal
as compared to formal controls over
behaviour.
e)
The decisions made and personal examples given by senior management.
3.
Carefully
link the determinants of ethical behaviour with the areas of knowledge taught in
previous lessons.
Mid-lesson exercise
Do
you think that ethics should play any part in Business behaviour? To what
extent, if any, do you think business behaviour in Britain is becoming more or
less ethical? Give reasons for your answers.
Part
C: The Effects Of Ethical Behaviour On A Business
1.
Brainstorm with class the likely short and long-term effects of unethical
behaviour.
2. Show
how ethical behaviour can help a business by reinforcing: -
a) Stakeholder
loyalty.
b) Reducing
labour turnover.
c)
Creating a positive public image.
d) Increasing
sales. One is viewed as being part of 'a company that is good to do business
with.'
e) Preventing
the legal and non-legal problems caused by unethical behaviour.
3. However
costs of ethical behaviour can include: -
a) Higher
costs leading to lower profit.
b) Conflict
of aims in which financial goals clash with ethical aspirations.
c)
Slower decision making due to ethical considerations being taken into account.
d)
Vulnerability to Media led charges of hypocrisy.
e)
Being taken advantage of by ruthless competitors.
Part
D: The Impact Of Culture
1.
Summarise the most recent cultural changes with the aid of the Modernism and Post-Modernism handout. Stress that it is a change in a whole way of thinking. It
leads invariably to different work practices. Demonstrate how business works in
a constantly changing environment. Get class to brainstorm ways in which a
business may fit into a local community.
2. Look
at the difficulties a business may get into when it ignores cultural changes.
Illustrate this point with some real life examples.
3. Examine the ways in which a business may act as a ‘change agent’ within a particular culture. Show the interrelationship existing between business and culture.