ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOL BARRACKPORE
STUDY MATERIAL
ENGLISH CORE
CLASS XI E, G
NOTE MAKING & SUMMARIZATION
I. How to make notes:
1. Read the passage carefully.
2. Give a heading to your work. The heading will be based on the following
considerations.
(i) What is the main idea of the passage?
(ii) Frame a heading based on the main idea.
(iii) Write it in the middle of the page.
3. Give subheadings
(i) How has the main idea been presented and developed?
(ii) Are there three subordinate/associated ideas?
(iii) Frame subheadings based on these.
4. Points are to be noted under each subheading.
Are there further details or points of the subtitles that you wish to keep in these
notes? These are called points. Points may have subpoints.
5. All subheadings should be at a uniform distance from the margin.
6. Indenting – Points should also be at the same distance away from the margin.
7. Do not write complete sentences.
8. Abbreviations should be used, minimum 3.
II. Help with abbreviations:
1. Use standard abbreviations and symbols as far as possible.
(i) Capitalise the first letters of the names of states, countries or organisations.
For example: UP, USA, UK and UNO.
(ii) Common abbreviations
Sc. (for science), Mr, Mrs, Dr, govt, BSc, etc.
(iii) Common symbols such as i.e. (that is), e.g. (example), Rx (medical
prescription/recipe), /(Or), ∴ (therefore), +ve (positive), -ve (negative), → (leading to)
↑ (rising), ↓ (falling), = (equal), > (greater than), < (less than)
(iv) Measurements and figures – 100″, 100′, 100 kg, 100 mm, 100 mL.
2. Make your own abbreviations.
(i) Keep the main sounds of the words: edn (education), progm. (programme).
(ii) It is a good practice to keep the first few and the last letters of the word such as
education – edu’n, developing – dev’ing. Retain the suffix so that later when you are
going over the notes, you may recall the full form of the word, for example: ed’nal
(educational), prog’ve (progressive).
3. Take the following caution:
(i) Do not get overenthusiastic about abbreviations.
(ii) You should not abbreviate every word.
(iii) One abbreviation in one point is enough.
(iv) As a general rule, the heading should not be abbreviated.
III. Your notes should look like this:
(i) Indenting is essential.
Notice that indenting, i.e., shifting from the margin, has been used to clearly indicate
subheadings, points and subpoints. Subheadings, though separated by points, occur
below one another. Similarly, points and subpoints should also come below one
another. Such use of indenting gives your notes a visual character. At a glance, you
can see the main idea and its various aspects.
(ii) Numbering: You may follow any system but you should be consistent, that is,
you should follow the same system throughout. Some examples are given below.
IV. Abbreviations:
Note-making is an informal exercise as it is meant for your use only. You will not
present a formal document in note form. Notes will be developed into a more formal
piece of writing. Since notes are informal and are meant for your use only, you can
abbreviate long words or use accepted abbreviations and symbols.
V. Writing a summary:
The summary is an abstract of the passage. Expand your heading and subheadings
and write down the ideas developed in the passage in the specified word limit.
EXAMPLE
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Flexibility and mobility are essential not only to reduce the risk of injuries but to
generally feel better. Living a nine to five desk life can be demanding on health and
wellness. Here is how you can keep the most common problems at bay.
2. Even if you are not exercising you need to make sure that you maintain correct
posture and sit at your desk in the right way. It is important that your chair is placed
correctly and your legs are not left hanging. Proper alignment ensures that your neck
and back are not strained. Exercises and abdominal crunches two to three times a
week can strengthen the core. It will help take the pressure off your back and will
make it easier to maintain good posture. Chairs with a back that support your upper
back are preferable for those who work long hours in front of screens.
3. Constant typing, writing reports, and answering e-mails can exert your wrists
leading to long-term damage. The frequency of your use and how you position your
wrists at your keyboard can be a reason. The tell-tale signs of exertion would be a
tingling sensation or numbness. One should not ignore initial signs. Make sure that
you rest your wrist at regular intervals. To relieve tension quickly fold your hands in a
NAMASTE in front of your chest with elbows moving out and lower your hands till
you feel a good stretch in your wrists. Also rotating your fists inside and outside
provides much relief to strained wrists.
4. Since those who work on desks spend a lot of time looking at a computer screen,
they are at a risk of straining their eyes. This may also lead to dry eyes and fatigue.
Poor eyesight is the result of continued and improper exposure to screens. Keeping
the computer screen at an optimal distance helps a lot in minimising strain to eyes.
The screen shouldn’t be too close or too far. To ease eye strain, use good lighting
and make it a point to look at a distance away from your screen every twenty to thirty
minutes.
(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it using
headings and subheadings. Use recognisable abbreviations and a format you
consider suitable. Also, supply a title to it.
(b) Write a summary of the passage in not more than 50 words using the notes
made.
Answer:
(a) Health and Wellness for Desk users
1. Correct posture
1.1 Place chair corr’ly for neck and back
1.2 Don’t hang legs
1.3 Excises & abdom’l crunches
1.4 Choose chairs with support from upper back
2. Maintaining wrist flexibility
2.1 Wrong position can cause wrist damg, cause tingling
2.2 Relax wrists reg’ly in Namaste position and stretch
2.3 Rotate wrists inside and outside.
3. Preventing eye strain
3.1 Eye strain can cause dry eyes and fatigue
3.2 Keep computer screen at an optimal distance to prevent poor eyesight
3.3 Use good light’g
3.4 Look at a distant spot every 20-30 minutes.
Key to the Abbreviations Used
1. corr’ly – correctly
2. excises – exercises
3. abdom’l – abdominal
4. damg – damage
5. reg’ly – regularly
6. light’g – lighting
(b) Summary
Desk users are at risk of losing flexibility, mobility, and wellness due to long working
hours. Good selection of office chairs and proper posture are essential for neck and
back health. Damage to the wrists can be prevented by exercising them frequently.
Eyes too are at a risk due to looking at the computer screen for long. Optimal
distance from the screen will prevent fatigue, dry eyes and poor vision. Good lighting
is essential. One should look away from the screen every 20-30 minutes.
