Note Making and Summarising
What is note making and summarising?
Note making and summarising is a crucial skill that helps us in academics. The function of notes is
to filter the important information and help us retain it. It also makes it easier for us to refer to the
important points in future.
In CBSE, the note-making and summarising question consists of two parts. First, students are asked
to prepare notes from the given passage which they are required to convert into a summary in the
second part of the question.
Importance of Note making and summarising
1. It transforms the entire set of information into a manageable size.
2. It includes the key points which make it more readable.
3. It helps in better understanding of the concept.
4. It aids quick revision during exam time.
Marking scheme for Note making and summarising
As prescribed by the CBSE, the word limit for note-making and summarization for classes 11 and 12
should be 200-250 words.
The question is a total of 8 marks with the following bifurcation:
5 Marks
Note Making
1. Title 1 Mark
2. Numbering and indenting 1 Mark
3. Key/ Glossary 1 Mark
4. Notes 2 Marks
3 Marks
Summarizing (up to 50 words)
1. Content 2 Marks
2. Expression 1 Mark
TOTAL 8 Marks
Top
Note Making Format
Taking notes is a method of organising and summarising data from multiple sources. The following
components make up the standard note-taking format:
TITLE: The title of your notes should reflect their main subject matter.
SOURCE: Identify the notes’ source, such as the book, article, or lecture, in the text.
CURRENT DATE: When taking notes, be sure to include the current date.
TITLES & SUB TITLES: Take advantage of headings and subheadings to structure your notes and
facilitate later research.
USE BULLETS: Use bullet points to highlight key points and specifics in a list. Use simple, direct
language, and zero in on the most important ideas rather than trying to include everything.
USE ABBREVIATIONS: When taking notes, abbreviations can help you save time and space. Use
“w/” instead of “with” or “b/c” instead of “because,” etc.
HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANT POINTS: Utilize highlighting to draw attention to specific points or single
out specific pieces of information that are crucial to your understanding of the whole.
USE DIAGRAMS/VISUAL AIDS: Use visual aids, such as flowcharts or graphs, to break down and
internalise information that might otherwise be difficult to grasp and retain.
SUMMARISE: Write a brief paragraph or two summarising the main ideas and information from the
notes. This is a great way to quickly review and recall the most crucial points.
REVIEW: Regularly reviewing your notes is an excellent way to ensure that you retain the most
crucial information from the course.
(Title)
Note Format example-
1.
1.1 (sub-points)
1.2
1.3
2.
2.1
2.2
2.3
3.
3.1
3.2
3.2.1 (sub-sub points)
3.2.2
4.
4.1
4.2
Key to Abbreviations
1
2
3
4
5
Summary
Summary
(Heading)
–Body–
Points to remember- Note making and summarising
Effective Note making Strategies
Select only the relevant data and include only the essential phrases from the passage.
Try to use a minimum amount of words. Complete sentences would not be accepted as notes. Thus,
the usage of full sentences must be avoided.
Only really important examples need to be included.
Eliminate the use of auxiliary verbs, prepositions etc.
It is necessary to give a suitable title to notes and maintain proper indentation.
It is mandatory to make at least four headings and subheadings.
The summary should be brief and should be made using notes prepared. It is important that one
keeps in mind the word limit of the summary and strictly adheres to the notes.
It is mandatory to include at least four abbreviations in your notes. Add a full stop after each
abbreviation to make it clear for the reader. They should be common and easily identifiable. For
example- “carbs.” for carbohydrates
It is necessary to prepare a key to abbreviations (minimum four) and enclose it within a box.
The presentation of this writing skill is of utmost importance.
Note Making Examples as per Previous Years Question
Papers| Note Making Sample
Note Making Example 1: Read the passage given below:(Sample Question Paper CBSE, 2019-20)
BALANCING THE SCALES
Artificial intelligence (AI) is making a difference to how legal work is done, but it isn’t the threat it is
made out to be. AI is making impressive progress and shaking up things all over the world today.
The assumption that advancements in technology and artificial intelligence will render any profession
defunct is just that, an assumption and a false one. The only purpose this assumption serves is
creating mass panic and hostility towards embracing technology that is meant to make our lives
easier.
Let us understand what this means explicitly for the legal world. The ambit of AI includes recognizing
human speech and objects, making decisions based on data, and translating languages. Tasks that
can be defined as ‘search-and-find’ type can be performed by AI.
Introducing AI to this profession will primarily be for the purpose of automating mundane, tedious
tasks that require negligible human intelligence. The kind of artificial intelligence that is employed by
industries in the current scene, when extended to the law will enable quicker services at a lower
price. AI is meant to automate a number of tasks that take up precious working hours lawyers could
be devoted to tasks that require discerning, empathy, and trust- qualities that cannot be replicated by
even the most sophisticated form of AI. The legal profession is one of the oldest professions in the
world. Thriving over 1000 years; trust, judgement, and diligence are the pillars of this profession. The
most important pillar is the relationship of trust between a lawyer and clients, which can only be
achieved through human connection and interaction.
While artificial intelligence can be useful in scanning and organizing documents pertaining to a case,
it cannot perform higher-level tasks such as sharp decisionmaking, relationship-building with
valuable clients and writing legal briefs, advising clients, and appearing in court. These are over and
above the realm of computerization.
The smooth proceeding of a case is not possible without sound legal research. While presenting
cases lawyers need to assimilate information in the form of legal research by referring to a number
of relevant cases to find those that will favour their client’s motion. Lawyers are even required to
thoroughly know the opposing stand and supporting legal arguments they can expect to prepare a
watertight defence strategy. AI, software that operates on natural language enables electronic
discovery of information relevant to a case, contract reviews, and automation generation of legal
documents.
AI utilizes big-data analytics which enables visualization of case data. It also allows for creation of a
map of the cases which were cited in previous cases and their resulting verdicts, as per the website
Towards Data Science. The probability of a positive outcome of a case can be predicted by
leveraging predictive analytics with machine learning. This is advantageous to firms as they can
determine the return on investment in litigation and whether an agreement or arbitration should be
considered.
(a) On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, make notes on it using
headings and subheadings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary- minimum
four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it. (5)
(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words. (3)
SAMPLE NOTE MAKING FORMAT FOR ABOVE QUESTION
Solution 1:
Suggested Notes by CBSE
Artificial Intelligence: Not a threat
1. Not a threat
1.1 is of help
1.2 makes life easier
1.3 no profession defunct
2. AI.will help legal field
2.1 recog.human speech and object
2.2 making decisions based on data
2.3 translates langs.
2.4 do search and find tasks
3. AI. cannot perform high level tasks like
3.1 writing legal briefs
3.2 advising clients
3.3 apprng in courts
3.4 sharp decision making
4. Function of AI.
4.1 collates data
4.2 predicts probable outcomes
4.3 tells return on invest.
4.4 considering agreement or arbitration
Key to Abbreviations
Abbreviations Words
AI Artificial Intelligence
recog. recognises
langs. languages
apprng. appearing
invt. investment
Suggested Summary as per CBSE
Summary
Artificial Intelligence: Not a threat
Artificial Intelligence is not a threat but makes life easier especially in the legal field. It cannot
perform certain high-level tasks like writing legal briefs, advising clients, making sharp decisions and
appearing in courts but it can collate data, aid research and decisions based on data. It can
recognize human speech and translate languages. It can also predict probable outcomes, tell return
on investment, consider agreement or arbitration and is thus advantageous to legal firms.
Note Making Example 2: Read the passage given below: (Sample Question Paper CBSE, 2017-18)
1. Colour Therapy is a complementary therapy for which there is evidence dating back thousands of
years to the ancient cultures of Egypt, China and India. If we define it in simple terms, Colour is a
light of varying wavelengths, thus each colour has its own particular wavelength and energy.
2. Colours contribute to energy. This energy may be motivational and encouraging. Each of the
seven colours of the spectrum are associated with energy. The energy relating to each of the seven
spectrum colours of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, resonates with the energy of
each of the seven main chakras/energy centres of the body. Colour therapy can help to re-balance
and/or stimulate these energies by applying the appropriate colour to the body.
3. Red relates to the base chakra, orange the sacral chakra, yellow the solar plexus chakra, green
the heart chakra, blue the throat chakra, indigo the brow chakra (sometimes referred to as the third
eye) and violet relates to the crown chakra.
4. Colour is absorbed by the eyes, skin, skull, our ‘magnetic energy field’ or aura and the energy of
colour affects us on all levels, that is to say, physical, spiritual and emotional. Every cell in the body
needs light energy – thus colour energy has widespread effects on the whole body. There are many
different ways of giving colour, including; Solarised Water, Light boxes/lamps with colour filters,
colour silks and hands on healing using colour.
5. Colour therapy can be shown to help on a physical level, which is perhaps easier to quantify,
however there are deeper issues around the colours on the psychological and spiritual levels. Our
wellbeing is not, of course, purely a physical issue. Fortunately, many more practitioners, both
orthodox and complementary, are now treating patients in a holistic manner.
6. Colour Therapy is a totally holistic and non-invasive therapy and, really, colour should be a part of
our everyday life, not just something we experience for an hour or two with a therapist. Colour is all
around us everywhere. This wonderful planet does not contain all the beautiful colours of the
rainbow for no reason. Nothing on this earth is here just by chance; everything in nature is here for a
purpose. Colour is no exception. All we need to do is to heighten our awareness of the energy of
colour, absorb it and see how it can transform our lives.
(a) On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, make notes on it using
headings and sub- headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary-minimum
four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it. (5)
(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words. (3)
Solution 2:
Suggested Notes as per CBSE
NOTE MAKING FORMAT FOR ABOVE QUESTION
Colour Therapy
1. Age old therapy
1.1 Found in
1.1.1 Egypt
1.1.2 China
1.1.3 India
1.2 light of vryng wvlngth & energy
2. Colour relate to energy of chakras
2.1 red –base
2.2 orange – sacral
2.3 yellow – solar plexus
2.4 green – heart
2.5 blue – throat
2.6 indigo – brow
2.7 violet – crown
3. Holistic benefits
3.1 phy’l
3.2 spirit’l
3.3 emtn’l
Key to Abbreviations
Abbreviations Words
vryng varying
wvlngth wavelength
& and
phy’l physical
spirit’l spiritual
emtin’l emotional
