NATIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL

ITPL, BENGALURU
ENGLISH
Grade: XI

TOPIC - NOTE MAKING

 It is a brief record of writing something to assist the memory or for future important references.
Notes are usually taken to record the speeches or dictations after listening to it or after reading any
materials like a book, comprehension, magazine or an article. It is initiated to refer whenever needed
and may be reproduced in the desired manner. Note making is important as knowledge and subject
information is vast and cannot be stored or remembered altogether by anyone, hence note making
helps in keeping information handy whenever we require at any point of time. One can recall the
entire information of past events said or heard, any read content or delivery of speeches for
debates/discussions, writing an essay and revising lesson before examinations.

 Purpose of Note making:

 Summarising
 Synthesising or contrasting
 Critically analysing

 Characteristics of good notes:

 Short and Compact: Good notes must be short and compact.
 Complete Information: They must contain all the important information.
 Logical: They must be presented in a logical way.
 Understandable: They should be understandable when consulted at a later stage.

 Mechanics of note making:

While making notes we follow certain standard practices. These may be listed as follows:
 Heading and Sub-headings
 Abbreviation and Symbols
 Note-form
 Numbering and Indentation

 The Procedure of Note Making (Points to be remembered):

 Reading of the passage or the extract provided.

 While reading the extract, underline the important key sentences. It helps in the formation of the
titles and subtitles. (Main headings and sub headings)
 Make a rough note of all important and main points to be included and then give them a logical
sequence.
 Avoid using sentences as heading or title.
 Do not change the idea or the message of the passage.
 Use a format which is applicable to the extract and write down the summarization of the paragraph.
 Organize them in a logical order or sequence for the final note (logical sequencing and proper
indentation)
 They should be precise and to the point.
 They should have all the relevant and important information of the extract.
  Leave no spaces to avoid confusion.
 Do not include your own version or understandings.
 Do not include irrelevant parts of the extract while taking down notes.
 All information should be systematically divided, and subdivided.
 Use universally relevant symbols and abbreviations necessary and provide key to the abbreviations.
 The main title should be short and apt to the extract.
 Try to avoid any long sentence as a title unless it is a common proverb. It must reflect the essence of
the extract.
 Use abbreviations and make your notes more memorable.

 Formats:
Format I – Mixed Indent

(A) Reasons
i. can’t rem’ber much info. w’out wrtng
ii. help mem. exams
iii. can consult

(B) Characteristics

i. short
ii. main pts only
iii. note form
iv. no cmplt sent
v. divs & sub – divs.
vi. use of abbr. & symbls
vii. undrstandbl ltr

Format II – Indented Decimals

1. Reasons
1.1. can’t rem’ber much info. w’out wrtng
1.2. help mem. exams
1.3. can consult
2. Characteristics
2.1. short
2.2. main pts only
2.3. note form
2. 3.1. no cmplt sent.
2. 3.2. divs & sub – divs.
2. 3.3. use of abbr. & symbls
2. 3.4. undrstandbl ltr

 Usage of abbreviation:

 Capital letters to be used for first letter of the words for (eg: UNO, NCERT etc.).
 Usage of abbreviations and symbols (for e.g. >, < @, % etc.)
 Commonly used in newspapers and magazines. (gov., sec., Bio.)
 Key to be used for own short forms - (For e.g. Trans.=Transparent)

 Ensure that the Summary is:

 Comprehensive: It is complete and all inclusive in the sense that it carries All of the author’s major
ideas.
 Accurate: Do NOT misrepresent the author’s ideas.
  Neutral: Be unbiased and do NOT include your own opinions.
 Independent: anyone who has not read the source text should be able to understand it.

 Steps in Writing a Summary

A. Use basic signal words

 WHO? (subject)
 WHAT? (action)
 WHERE? (location)
 WHEN? (time)
 WHY? (reason)
 HOW? (process)

B. The Process ………………………………. .

Main idea: Identify main idea from TOPIC SENTENCE (if there is one) or use BASIC SIGNAL
WORDS

C. Identify Supporting Details

D. Disregard unimportant information
E. Analyse redundant information
F. Simplify, categorises, and label important information

 Notes:
 Make sure that it does not exceed 1/3 of the length of the original text.
 Avoid sentences using words like “and’, ‘not only’, ‘but also’, ‘such that’ and ‘which’.
 Avoid lifting complete sentences from the original text. Instead, comprehend the meaning and write
in your own words, as far as possible.
 Your summary should read as a coherent paragraph.

Notes must be written in points and must be listed one after another and must be numbered properly.

Practice exercise

Q1. Read the passage given and complete the tasks that follow:

1. The Mayan civilization of Mexico and Central America are one of the ancient world’s most fascinating,
prolific, and mysterious civilisations. They left their mark on the region’s culture, architecture, cuisine, and
language – and left an indelible impression on the imagination of the modern world. Who were they? How
were they able to build such an impressive civilisation of towering temples and sophisticated artwork in the
middle of the harsh rainforests of Mesoamerica? And why did they vanish?

2. The earliest Mayans lived along the Pacific coast of what is now Guatemala and can be dated to about
1800 BC; by 1000 BC they were also living in Guatemala’s southern lowlands. The period from about 1800
BC to about AD 250 is referred to as the Pre – classic, a time when the early Mayans lived as farmers in
small villages along rivers and other bodies of water, hunting game, tending gardens and making use of the
abundant natural foods found in the region’s marshes and seasonal swamps. In time, strong rulers began
wielding power over these communities, and the Mayan culture grew in complexity. Cities rose from the
forest floor, boasting stone temples with stuccoed and painted facades created at the behest of elite rulers.
People in the new power centres communicated over long distances, and traders using the same routes
carried luxury goods such as cacao beans, jade ornaments, quetzal feathers, and jaguar pelts.
3. The Classic period, AD 250 – 900, is the time of the civilisation’s greatest glory – and of the greatest
depths of political intrigue between rival cities. During these centuries, the Mayans erected countless stelae,
stone monuments inscribed with portraits and hieroglyphs that recorded dynastic histories – the births,
marriages and conquests of the ruling families. There were dozens of important regional capitals at the time,
and among the most important were Tikal in Guatemala and its fierce rival Calakmul in Mexico, Palenque in
southern Mexico, Caracol in Belize, and Copán in Honduras.

4. The Classic period is known for artistic and intellectual splendour. The Mayans developed a complex
religious and ritual system that considered rulers divine beings and called for blood sacrifices. They also
grasped the numerical notion of zero, created agricultural timetables and sophisticated calendars to track the
heavens, and made beautiful polychrome pottery as well as exquisite ornaments, murals, and carved
decorations.

5. But the Classic Mayans were also known for their rancorous political fighting and for being extremely
bellicose – warfare was always on the horizon. One by one, the cities in the southern Mayan lowlands fell to
each other, their downfall often recorded on stela in the conquering city. By AD 900 most of the important
Classic period cities had collapsed, and their remaining populations had scattered into the surrounding
forests. The last date recorded on stela that archaeologists have found so far is from 909 in Toniná, in
southern Mexico. Among the factors that help explain why the civilisation collapsed were the endemic
warfare, overpopulation, degradation of the environment, and drastic climate change and drought.

6. While the cities and ceremonial centres of the southern lowlands were being reclaimed by the jungle, the
Mayans living to the north were gaining prominence, rising to amazing heights during the post-classic
period (900 – 1502). Wonderful and wealthy cities in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula flourished, most famous
among them being Chichén Itzá. Yet it too fell victim to political infighting and by 1200 had collapsed.

7. “The Mayans never truly disappeared. Centuries after the major cities were abandoned, small groups of
Mayans continued to live in the area. It was they who met and resisted the Spanish conquistadors after the
first contact, in 1502. And today, more than six million Mayans live in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize,
speaking 28 languages, and blending ancient and modern ways.

i. On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it using headings and sub-headings.
Use recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary. Supply an appropriate title to it. (5)
ii. Write a summary of the above passage in 80 words. (3)

Title: Mayan and its civilization

Notes:

1. Glorious Past
1.1 It’s the civilization of Mexico & Cent. America
1.2 Makes for the world’s most mysterious & prolific civilization
1.3 Resided in Guatemala since 1800 BC

2. Classical Period
2.1 Spans from 250 – 900 AD
2.2 Cities developed tremendously
2.3 Artistic & intellectual splendour dominated
 2.4 Religious & agricultural systems were consolidated and devised

3. Downfall
3.1 Major S. Mayan cities collapsed, 900 AD
3.2 Remaining popu. scattered in the forests
3.3 Northern popu. rose
3.4 Though they also perished in the 1200, Chichén Itzá

4. Current Scenario
4.1 Mayans didn’t disappear completely
4.2 Met in small groups
4.3 Reside in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize

Key to Abbreviations

Abbreviation Word
1. & and
2. Cent. Central
3. S. Southern
4. Popu. population

Summary The Mayan Civilization of Mexico and Central America is one of the world’s most glorious and
fascinating civilizations. They Mayans reside in Guatemala in 1800 BC. The era which spans from 250 –
900 AD was the classical period which saw the development of cities, religious capital etc. There were also
advancements in religious and ritual systems and agricultural practices were also established. However,
majority of the south Mayan cities collapsed due to overpopulation, environmental degradation, warfare etc.
By 900 AD, the northern part of the civilization gain prominence and reached newer heights. They had
wealthy cities. However, it’s most flourishing city, Chichén Itzá collapsed by 1200. But the population never
really dwindled and today six million Mayans reside in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.

Passage 2

The Maasai tribe live on the wide plains in southern and northern Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are
among the best-known local populations due to their residence near the many game parks of the African
Great Lakes, as well as their distinctive customs and dress. The Maasai were famous fighters. They used to
raid the neighbouring tribes and carry away their cattle. All the other tribes were afraid of them because of
their skills in war. The Maasai are handsome people, tall and slim with light brown skin, straight noses and
long hair. They do not belong completely to the Negro race. They belong mostly to the same race as the
people of ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians probably looked like the Maasais of today.

The Maasai land consists of miles of rolling grassland, on which you can find thorny bushes and rocky hills.
The people move from one place to another according to the seasons, looking for grasses and other plants on
which their cattle can graze. They have no permanent home. When they want to settle in a place for some
time, they build a kind of camp called a ‘Manyatta’, where a few families live for a few weeks or months.
Then they move on again, taking their few belongings with them, and burning the old ‘Manyatta’ to the
ground.

To make a hut, they take a number of long thin wooden poles and plant them in a circle. Then each pole is
bent into a shape of a ‘U’ and its other end is also planted into the earth. Now the framework for the hut is
ready. Next, the space between the poles is filled with leaves, and small branches of tree and mud. Then the
outside of the hut is covered or plastered with cow-dung, which quickly becomes hard in the sun. An
opening is left for the door, but there are no windows. The hut is about 5 feet high; a grown-up man cannot
stand up straight inside the hut. There is no furniture, except perhaps a small wooden stool for the head of
the family.
The huts are arranged in a big circle. Around the outside of the circle the Maasais build a thorn fence, about
7 feet high, with several openings so that the people can go in and out with their cattle. After dark, all the
openings are closed. Then all the people and cattle in the ‘Manyatta’ are safe from wild animals.

The Maasais like to kill lions with spears, and a lion-hunt is a great test of courage. The warrior who first
kills a lion is given great honour, and he wears the lion’s mane round his neck to show that he is a lion-
killer. The Maasais are fairly well-to-do and intelligent and live comfortable lives. However, most of them
are happy to live as their ancestors lived hundreds of years ago. The Tanzanian and Kenyan governments
have instituted programmes to encourage the Maasai to abandon their traditional semi-nomadic lifestyle, but
the people have continued their age-old customs. Many Maasai tribes throughout Tanzania and Kenya
welcome visits to their village to experience their culture, traditions, and lifestyle.

(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it using headings and sub-headings. Use
recognisable abbreviations wherever necessary. Supply an appropriate title to it. [5]
(b) Write a summary of the above passage in 80 words. [3]

(a) Title: The Maasai Tribe – Life and History

Notes:
1. Maasai Tribe-Famous Fighters
1.1. live in Kenya & northern Tanzania
1. 2. carried away cattle of nbrg tribes

2. Maasais Handsome People

2.1. tall & slim with light brown skins
2.2. straight noses & long hair
2.3. don’t belong to Negro groups
2.4. belong to people of ancient Egypt

3. Maasais are Nomadic Cattle Herders

3.1. move from place to place looking for grass for cattle
3.2. build ‘Manyatta’ – a camp
3.3. Manyatta –

3. 3.1 use wdn poles to build huts

3. 3.2 plant U shaped wdn poles in circle on earth
3. 3.3 fill frmwk with leaves, branches & mud
3. 3.4 plaster outside with cow-dung
3. 3.5 opening kept for door – no windows
3. 3.6 no furniture- wdn stool for family head
3. 3.7 put thorn fence around ‘Manyatta’
3. 3.8 keeps them safe from wild animals

4. Nowadays- No War Between Tribes

4.1. Maasai warriors go hunting for lions
4.1.1 Lion hunt- test of courage
4.2. lion killer wears lion’s mane as sign
4.3. Maasais live comfortable life
4.4. invite people to experience their lives

Key to Abbreviations

Abbreviations Words
& and
nbrg neighbouring
big belong
wdn wooden
frmwk framework

(b)
The Maasai tribe live in Kenya and northern Tanzania. They were famous fighters and attacked other tribes
for cattle. They were handsome people and belong mostly to the same race as that of ancient Egypt, and not
to the Negro race. They move from place to place looking for grass for their cattle. When they settle in a
place, they build a camp called ’Manyatta’ with dome shaped wood-frame huts in a big circle. They put a
thorn fence around the ’Manyatta’ to save themselves from wild animals. Lion hunting is a test of courage
for them. They are intelligent and live comfortable lives.