7.1: Cornell's method of note taking

There are two columns in the Cornell's method of note taking as shown in the picture. 

The right column is the main section for the notes.

The left column is mainly designed for the key words and ideas that are related to that section of the notes.

A brief summary has to be written at the end of the column.

Cornell's Method of Note Taking

Advantages of Cornell Method

Organized structure: The layout fosters an organized approach to note-taking, helping you easily categorize and retrieve information later.

Summary skill: Writing summaries encourages synthesis and evaluation, making the process not just about capturing information but understanding it.

Review-friendly: Because it is structured, reviewing the notes is easier.

Disadvantages of Cornell Method

Not visual: Not ideal for visualizing information, or for subjects that require diagrams.

Time-consuming: Setting up the page requires time, especially adding cues and summaries afterwards.

Limited space: Handwritten notes may feel cramped.

Requires preparation: Pages must be organized in advance.

Thank You!

7: Note Taking

"Note-taking is the process of recording information from lectures, readings, or discussions in a structured way to aid understanding and retention."

Taking notes is one of the best way to store information.

Benefits of Note-taking

Taking notes enables students to:

-Actively and critically engage with the material being taught.

-Prepare for effective writing and develop well-structured arguments.

-Arrange information in a way that suits their learning style.

-Enhance understanding by rephrasing complex ideas in their own words.

-Support knowledge growth and improve memory retention.

-Manage study time effectively by focusing on key information.

Tips for Effective Note-taking

The 5 R's of note-taking include:

Record – identify and capture the main concepts.

Reduce – keep notes concise by using key terms and abbreviations.

Recite – review notes by reading them aloud or recalling them.

Reflect – consider the importance of the notes.

Review – prepare for exams, assignments, or presentations through regular review.

Thank You!

6.1: Purpose of referencing

A. It recognizes the contributions of the scholar or author, showing that their ideas have supported our own work.  

B. It offers readers a range of bibliographic information.  

C. It helps prevent plagiarism and preserves academic integrity.

Thank You!

6: Unit 5 APA Referencing Style

Referencing is a key academic skill that demonstrates understanding and rigor by situating our arguments within a relevant framework for the topic. It involves recognizing the contributions of other scholars, showing how their ideas support our work, and helping to avoid plagiarism while upholding academic integrity.

APA stands for the American Psychological Association. In academic writing, APA refers to a widely used citation style created by this association.

Five Criteria for Evaluating Sources

1) Authority: Understand the author’s identity, the information provided, and their area of expertise.

2) Purpose: Consider why the source was created and whether its intent is educational or persuasive.

3) Publication and Format: Note when the source was published, its version, and the publication format.

4) Relevance: Assess the source’s relevance to the research topic and the breadth of its topic coverage.

5) Documentation: Check if sources are cited properly and examine related sources for proper citation.

Thank You!

5: Unit 6 Academic Essay

An academic essay is a piece of writing that focuses on a topic, an idea, or a theme with a predictable pattern based on researched evidence using academic language.

One of the effective ways to read and understand instructions and questions in a university setting is to use the BUG method.

 BUG stands for the action to:

1) Box all the instruction words in the question

2) Underline all the content words in the question

3) Glance back and see what are neither instruction nor content words.

Format of an academic essay;

1) Introduction 

 -Thesis statement.

2) Body Paragraph 

 -Topic Sentence.

3) Conclusion 

  -Restatement of the Thesis.

Additional Materials.

1. https://youtu.be/MD2upUW9HgI(Essay Writing |Academic skills | University of Melbourne)

Thank You!

4.2: Do's and Don'ts in an academic writing.

We must take the following measures into consideration while doing academic writing.

- Avoid using personal pronouns like "I," "we," "my," or "myself."

- Refrain from using "you" to address the reader directly.

- Do not make broad generalizations without supporting evidence or research.

- Steer clear of phrases such as "obviously," "of course," or "everybody knows."

- Avoid contractions (e.g., "isn't," "aren't," "it's").

- Refrain from using informal language (e.g., "guys," "kids," "man").

- Avoid rhetorical questions; do not pose questions to the reader.

Thank You!

4.1: Important Features of Academic Writing

1) Formality: 

-The language should be more formal than everyday speech.

2) Structure: 

-Writing must be well-organized and clearly structured.

3) Logic: 

-Writers need to use logical reasoning throughout.

4) Evidence: 

-Academic writing relies on evidence rather than personal opinions.

5) Objectivity: 

-Avoid generalizations or exaggerations in presenting information.

6) Precision: 

-Be direct, supporting findings with specific facts and figures for validation.

Thank You!

4: Unit 4 Academic Writing

"Academic writing is a formal style of writing commonly used in universities, colleges, research publications and generally in the scholarly discourse." 

                                -Google

Academic writing is a formal way of writing practiced by the students of at the university level by meeting up the academic standards setup by the Universities.

Features of Effective Academic Writing

1) Reason of effective academic writing:

-Statements or data should result from research, using information from credible sources.

2) The student's claim are made with adequate supporting evidence: 

-Each claim must be backed by sufficient evidence, research, or statistics.

3) The students should not exaggerate on his or her claims:

-Writers should avoid overstating information based on personal interests and instead present it objectively.

4) Clear reasoning:

-Arguments should be supported by clear, verified research data and statistics.

5) Open-mindedness and discipline: 

-Writers should consider other viewpoints and maintain a focused approach.

6) Acknowledgment of opposing views:

-Respectfully include and recognize alternative perspectives when appropriate.

Thank You!

3.3: Paraphrasing

"Paraphrasing is the process of expressing the meaning of something written or spoken using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity." -Dictionary.

Paraphrasing involves rewording information from another source in your own words without altering its meaning.

Following are some of the Paraphrasing Tips that I have learnt:

1) Start at a different point than the original.

2) Use synonyms and related terms, keeping the original meaning.

3) Alter sentence structure and split information into separate sentences if needed.

4) Read the passage multiple times to grasp the meaning.

5) Take notes on key ideas after reading.

6) Rewrite based on your understanding, without checking the source.

7) Remember to cite where the information is from.

Thank You!

3.2: SQ3R Method -Francis P. Robinson

The SQ3R method is a helpful way to read and remember information while doing an academic reading.

1. Survey:  Skimming over the material quickly to see main ideas, titles, and headings.

2. Question: Think and form questions you want to answer while reading.

3. Read: Read actively to find answers to your questions and understand the main ideas.

4. Recite: Summarize the material in your own words to reinforce understanding and remember it better.

5. Review: Go over the material regularly to consolidate knowledge and remember it longer.

Using SQ3R makes reading easier to understand and helps you remember what you’ve learned.

Thank You!

3.1: Ways of an effective reading.

There are several ways which you can follow up to become an effective reader. Following are some of the methods I have learned to become an effective reader.

1.Skimming and scanning: It helps us get an overview of the text, identifying the main ideas and structure, while scanning allows us to locate specific information quickly. I realized that using these techniques can save a lot of time, especially when dealing with lengthy academic materials.

2. Active reading: It involves highlighting key points, taking notes, and asking questions while reading. This approach not only improves focus but also helps in retaining and understanding complex information. I tried this during the session, and I found that it made the content feel much clearer and more engaging.

3. Summarizing after reading: Summarizing forces us to process the information actively, solidifying our understanding and making it easier to recall later. 

Thank You!

3: Unit 3 Academic Reading

To me, "academic reading involves studying materials that contribute to knowledge in the academic field, especially when it comes to improving reading skills."  Academic reading can include textbooks, notes from teachers, and group research projects, especially at the high school level. It is essential for developing a deeper understanding of subjects and enhancing critical thinking skills.

There may be various approaches to reading based on individual understanding, but with academic reading, it’s important to be thorough and analyze critically to grasp the exact message the material is meant to convey. This level of engagement encourages not just comprehension but also the ability to synthesize information and apply it in different contexts.

Reading materials like library books, newspapers, novels, magazines, articles, and personal blogs can help us gain new information and enhance both reading and speaking skills. However, I feel that reading novels is more for enjoyment, helping to avoid boredom and keeping us engaged in meaningful ways, rather than academic purposes, as we often read them without critically analyzing their messages. Novels can also foster creativity and imagination, which are valuable in other areas of study.

When reading news and articles, it's important to read critically, forming conclusions based on the material from multiple sources. This approach not only enhances our understanding of current events but also develops our ability to think independently and evaluate the reliability of information.

Additional Materials.

1. https://youtu.be/e2-ahs905MQ(How to Read a Book a Day | Jordan Harry | TEDxBathUniversity)

Thank You!

2.2: The Final Presentation

The day of the final presentation arrived too early. It felt like it was just yesterday that I had completed my mock presentation. We were all divided into different cohort with 10 students each and we all did our final presentation simultaneously. Many of my friends were presenting really very well. After sometime it was my turn to present. I prepared well accordingly with the feedback I got during the mock presentation. Despite having prepared, I felt nervous when I started speaking, noticing my hands shaking slightly. I began a bit too quickly, but as I went on, I gradually calmed down and found a comfortable pace. 

One thing I’m proud of is that I maintained good eye contact with the audience, which helped me connect better with my classmates. I noticed that they seemed engaged and were nodding along, which boosted my confidence. However, I realized that I could have explained a few key points more clearly, as some sections felt a bit rushed. I am happy that I was able to improve keeping in concern the feedbacks I got. My tutor has complemented that I had improved which made me even more elated.

One thing which made me happy was that some of my friends chose my presentation to be the best when our tutor asked each one of us on whose presentation was the best.

My Final Presentation

Overall, this experience taught me a lot about presenting confidently and adapting to my audience. I’m eager to improve my skills further and look forward to my next presentation with less anxiety and more preparation.

Thank You!

2.1: Mock Presentation

The mock presentation which lasted for almost 2 weeks, was both a challenging and rewarding experience. We were all divided into groups and was called upon one after another. Our tutor was really kind and generous enough to provide each group with 2 periods for the mock presentation as he wanted us to learn well on the basics of presentationml. He took time providing each and everyone of us with feedbacks which will help us in evolving for success.

Our group was the last one to do the mock presentation and I was lucky enough to have got lots of time preparing for it. On the day of our mock presentation I was really anxious. I prepared thoroughly, but as soon as I started speaking, I felt a bit nervous. Initially, my pace was too fast, which made it difficult to fully convey my points. However, as I progressed, I found my rhythm and became more confident.

Key Takeaways

One key takeaway was the importance of engaging the audience. Although I had solid content, I realized that simply presenting information isn't enough; I need to make the delivery more interactive and relatable. My feedback highlighted this, and I was advised to ask questions or use examples to better hold attention.

I was also reminded of the value of visual aids in supporting my points. My slides were informative, but I could improve them by adding more visuals to simplify complex ideas. Moreover I was told not to be stiff while presenting. I was reminded on the importance of the body movement in attracting the attention of the audience.

The video on "Three Magic Ingredients of amazing Presentation" by Phil WAKNEL has given me more insights on how to give a powerful presentation. According to WAKNEL the Audience, the speaker, and the transformation are the three magic ingredients of amazing presentation.

Phil WAKNEL

Overall, this experience taught me a lot about pacing, audience connection, and effective visuals. I had a big fear of not being able to present in front of a huge audience as I failed in front of just few friends. However, after the feedback session I feel more prepared for future presentations and look forward to applying what I’ve learned to improve my delivery and engagement.

Additional Material.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoD8RMq2OkU

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8eLdbKXGzk 

Thank you!