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Taking notes from texts



Students use a variety of techniques to take notes when they are reading for an essay. Probably the least useful of these is the type done with a highlighting pen - where the student succeeds mainly in altering the colour of certain sections of text.

The better techniques are those where students attempt to record key ideas and information in their own words (full sentences or in note form). The main benefit of this approach is that it helps you to impose your own understanding on the texts you have read - something your lecturers will be looking for in your writing. Such an approach will also help you avoid the danger of plagiarism.

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