Improving Study Skills: An Analysis of Reading and Note-Taking Methods

This report examines essential study skills for higher education, focusing on reading and note-taking techniques. It identifies various reading methods such as scanning, skimming, active reading, detailed reading, speed reading, and structure proposition evaluation, highlighting their benefits and drawbacks. The report also discusses four key note-taking methods: Cornell's method, outlining, mapping, and charting, detailing how each can improve information retention and organization. The study concludes that mastering these academic skills enhances a student's ability to learn effectively and achieve greater academic success. Desklib provides this and many other solved assignments for students.

Study Skills for Higher
Education

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Identifying important reading techniques to become efficient readers.......................................3
Discussing the methods of note taking to remember certain information..................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Professional skills allows the person to create positive effect on performance at any
workplace. Also, the present report will discuss various reading techniques that will help the
individual to learn various concepts or topic according to the required needs. Further, study will
also discus the significance of note taking on students through discussing the four main
techniques of note taking in detail.
MAIN BODY
Identifying important reading techniques to become efficient readers.
There are various reading techniques that might be used by students so that various texts
might be understood in meaningful languages. Also, below are the lists of some reading
techniques that could be used by any reader to excel in any business field
Scanning : This is technique in which specific points need to be collected by reader
while reading the whole texts starting form the beginning of the topic till the end (Anjum, 2020).
Also, such scanning technique is used when the whole information does not need to be extracted.
For example : Finding names in telephone book.
Skimming: Under this technique all the certain points of any topic are read quickly
without focusing much on main details. Also, this technique is usually applied when reader
wants to get the idea of whole topic before reading it in full manner. Thus, it can be said that
skimming technique allows the reader to become flexible and also it prepares students to become
independent readers (Gruzdev and et.al., 2018). Moreover, this reading technique trained the
individual to get the information in quicker and direct manner. However major demerits is that
there are chances of poor retention and comprehension of reading material by the reader.
Active reading style: In this technique reader is actively involved in reading and
understanding of whole concept without missing any content or any point. Moreover, through
adopting such style the reader is able to understand clarity of content in detail (7 Reading
Techniques for Increasing Learning & Knowledge, 2022). Also, this technique helps in
maintaining prolonged engagement and motivation of the individual. Furthermore, person learns
more from trial and error method within the context. However, there are higher chances that
students develop misconceptions about certain topics as all outcomes are not predictable.

Detailed reading: It is the technique that is mostly used when in depth knowledge have
to be gained form whole text so that no important information is left out. Also, its requires more
time from part of reader so that information in interpreted in correct manner (Sarapaivanich and
et.al., 2019). Furthermore, it is done when the reader wants to conduct detail analysis on any
particular topic. Thus, this approach helps in developing analytical skills of the individual as
knowledge is improved to greater extent. However, to make this technique successful it is crucial
that reader has interest and little technical skill to get the idea of topic clearly.
Speed reading: It is done through reading the text or words in speed without
compromising the understanding of texts. Also, here reader spend very less time on phrases and
skim small sections (Retnanto, Parsaei and Parsaei, 2018). Moreover, this technique is adopted
usually when the reader has very less time and is preoccupied in carrying out other important
tasks in a day. Moreover, to incorporate effective speed reading technique it is important that
reader slows down the speed on the first sentence of any content than increase the speed as it
goes.
Structure proposition and evaluation: It is applicable to non-fiction writing and
understanding of text is through its layout. Thus, concept is evaluated on the basis of heading and
subheadings mentioned in the text (Sotiriadou and et.al., 2020). Also, in each section of text
logical relationship within author propositions are find out so that statement might be related
with each other in well manner. Moreover, here the readers looks at conclusion of each text and
determine whether statements of texts actually lead to conclusion or not.
Discussing the methods of note taking to remember certain information.
Note taking is method of recording various information through various sources and
platforms. Also, here individual note down the key points that might be used later in the future
for revising the knowledge. Below are some methods as follows:
Cornell's method: It is method focus on organizing notes through following steps such
as record where all the meaningful facts are noted down, reduce when the facts are summarized
in short form, recite where the notes are revised again, reflect in which opinions are drawn out
from the notes and last is review where notes are reviewed to retain most of the information
(Guraya and Chen, 2019). Also, this method is used mostly in the lecture sessions where the
individual draws out three columns in which fist is note taking area, next is the cue column that
specifies the heading of content.

Outlining method: In this method the individual listens and write points in organized
manner in form of heading and sub heading that clearly defines the topic and its content. Also,
here the information is organized in most logical and structured manner through inserting the
supporting facts and data in the content. Furthermore, through this method relationship between
different subjects is also clearly visible in notes and reader requires very less time in editing the
notes later in the future (Saunders, 2020). Moreover, through using this method the listener
would be able to turn all the main points into study questions. However, it is not better method
when any individual need to write lot of formulas and graphs than Cornell and other note taking
method are more effective.
Mapping method: It is technique where data is presented in the form of graphic
representation and here each data is related to every other fact or data. Also, this method
involves active participation of the user as it requires proper knowledge and understanding to
note down all the content in well systematic manner. Moreover, only main points are written in
this format and thus it does not include detailed information. Also, such technique is adopted
when lecture matter is very vast and detailed information cannot be note down or presented at
once. Furthermore, individual need to be very careful while using this type of method as once
information is noted in graphical format than it might not be easily changed or revised.
Charting method: Under this method various charts have to be used in organizing and
condensing the information. Also, here the document is split into several columns where the
summary of the overall informations is noted down. Moreover, this method is adopted when any
kind of comparison is to be made under similar topics or relationships between facts have to be
studied. Also, this method is mostly used in statistical or factual data where information is better
explained in column format (Carracedo and et.al., 2018). Moreover, this technique is most
effective as it has the ability to reduce the notes to minimum as there is no need of writing
complete sentences in the chart. Furthermore, to use this method the individual need to first
identify all the topics and categories clearly and then create new chart to insert all the category
and sub categories in it.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that proper development of academic skills
allow the person to garb better opportunities in the future. Also, the report had identified various
important reading techniques such as skimming, scanning, detailed and much more that might be

adopted by the individuals based on the objective it wants to fulfil in the future. Lastly, the study
had discussed in detail four methods of note taking as Cornell, outlining, mapping and charting
method that would help the students to remember the information in better manner.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals.
Anjum, S., 2020. Impact of internship programs on professional and personal development of
business students: a case study from Pakistan. Future Business Journal. 6(1). pp.1-13.
Carracedo, F. and et.al., 2018. A proposal to develop and assess professional skills in
engineering final year projects. International Journal of Engineering Education. 34(2).
Gruzdev, M. V., and et.al., 2018. University Graduates' Soft Skills: The Employers'
Opinion. European journal of contemporary education, 7(4), pp.690-698.
Guraya, S. Y. and Chen, S., 2019. The impact and effectiveness of faculty development program
in fostering the faculty’s knowledge, skills, and professional competence: A systematic
review and meta-analysis. Saudi journal of biological sciences. 26(4). pp.688-697.
Retnanto, A., Parsaei, H. R. and Parsaei, B., 2018, July. Capacity building through strengthening
professional skills in engineering graduates. In International Conference on Applied
Human Factors and Ergonomics (pp. 146-150). Springer, Cham.
Sarapaivanich, N. and et.al., 2019. Factors Affecting the Need to have Accounting Technical
Competence, Professional Skills and Professional Values, Ethics, and Attitudes –The
Case of Thailand. Asian Journal of Business and Accounting. 12(1). pp.71-96.
Saunders, L., 2020. Core knowledge and specialized skills in academic libraries. College &
Research Libraries. 81(2). p.288.
Sotiriadou, P. and et.al., 2020. The role of authentic assessment to preserve academic integrity
and promote skill development and employability. Studies in Higher Education. 45(11).
pp.2132-2148.
Online
7 Reading Techniques for Increasing Learning & Knowledge. 2022. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.iedunote.com/reading-techniques>.