HOW TO MAKE PATTERNED NOTES FROM TEXTS

HOW TO MAKE PATTERNED NOTES FROM TEXTS

I have no doubt that from my observation and experience of introducing my POL4301 students to patterned note-making, in the First Semester of the 2004/2005 Academic Session, that indeed increased their comprehension of the materials read and “effective” performance in the Semester Examinations. By this note to all my other students in the Second Semester of the session, I wish to bring the same skills so as to consolidate that success.

First of all, how does a patterned note look like? A patterned note is like a one page of (foolscaps size of the sheet of paper) a plan or model or a design constructed to fit the summary of the text you have read. It will contain the title of the text. Then the sub-titles. A student could create many sub-titles even if there are none on the text. Other elements of the model include that the student would skim through the text and state in a sentence or two its overall theme. Then in different corners of the design the main ideas are to be identified and positioned. Then by using arrows, lines, numbers on letters or headings and sub headings the supporting details of the main points identified and positioned could be brought out. In bringing out the supporting details students should be able to know the unimportant bits in the text and leave them out. To cap it all patterned note-making requires among other things, understanding the text, identifying the main ideas and their supporting details, recording them in your words and in a form that is logical, comprehensible, and retrievable.

Students must be conscious that note-making is a difficult skill to acquire. Therefore, it requires much practice. Once students master note-making, it contributes to their academic performance, helps them to become independent learners, and makes it possible for them to continue learning after they leave the university. Indeed, for their immediate purposes, students use the notes for revision during examinations or as source materials for essays, assignments, projects and reports.

M.M. Yusif
March, 2005