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Online Study Skills Hub: Reading & Note Taking

Competencies essential for academic and professional success

Reading & Note Taking Introduction

Reading and Note-Taking are essential skills for university students, helping to effectively absorb and organise information from lectures, textbooks, and research materials.

Effective Reading:

  • Active Reading: Engage with the text by asking questions, making predictions, and summarising key points as you read. This helps improve comprehension and retention.

  • Skimming and Scanning: Skim the material to get an overview of the content, and scan for specific information or keywords. This is useful for quickly identifying relevant sections in large texts.

  • Critical Reading: Analyse the author’s arguments, identify biases, and assess the credibility of the sources. Critical reading involves questioning the material and forming your own understanding of the topic.

Effective Note-Taking:

  • Structured Notes: Use methods like the Cornell system, mind mapping, or outlining to organise your notes clearly. Structured notes make it easier to review and connect ideas.

  • Summarization: Focus on summarising key concepts and arguments in your own words rather than transcribing everything verbatim. This helps reinforce understanding and retention.

  • Review and Revise: Regularly review your notes to reinforce learning. After lectures or reading, revise your notes to clarify any unclear points and add additional insights.

  • Digital Tools: Consider using digital note-taking tools like OneNote, Evernote, or Google Docs for easy organization, searchability, and accessibility. These tools also allow for collaboration and integration with other study materials.

Overall Strategy:

Effective reading and note-taking involve active engagement with the material and strategic organisation of information. By reading critically, summarising key points, and using structured note-taking methods, university students can enhance their understanding, retention, and ability to apply knowledge in exams and assignments.