Before you actually start Preparing Notes first thing you have to do is to throw your pen away and pay heed towards your Learning Process. When I say it like- Learning Process, I try to become more of philosophical and less scientific, if you allow me to be so. First of all we have to understand the whole Process Of Learning, which our mind undergoes through, mostly sub-consciously.
So let’s start the fairy tale, based on my fancies. Our mind has number of Neuron Cells where the data is stored when we study. A collection of cells, far from biology, and according to computer science, can be understood as a Grid of lacs of cells. The number of cells keep on changing.
For example- if we read a piece which says India’s capital is New Delhi, there are two cells formed, nested one into another, first cell, bigger one, is to store “India” and other inside the bigger one to store “New Delhi”.
So the point to be noted is, if the two cells are not formed, first they get formed and data is stored. If they are already formed, some more cells, inside the existing Mother Cell, are formed as a Sub Grid and the finer details are stored such as area of Delhi, population etc.
So the issue before us is twofold-
- Enlargement of grid as far as possible.
- Creation of sub grids, sub grids, sub sub grids etc
To store maximum possible information while reading the least.
Here comes the role of two things for this purpose-
- Preparing notes
- Revision
Let us restrict ourselves to the first one so that focus is not lost.
Preparing notes: Let me deal it point wise-
If the book is a basic book, which has to be done religiously (eg- Prasad and Prasad for Public Administration)
- Read the book as fast as possible in first iteration, avoid all the data/ facts. You don’t have to mug any number, remember, no data at all. Just have an overview and get the theme the author wants you to understand. Relate it to your existing knowledge, to better comprehend. Identify the Core Themes.
- In the second iteration, try to focus on the Core Themes. Try to retain only one or two illustrations, whereas the authors have a tend to put various illustrations to prove their point. Now its time to highlight/ underline the important lines. Be miser to do it.
- In third iteration, we use different color’s pen to highlight. Identify the topic/ question where you would like to fit the info. Write on the book’s margin itself.
Now you are all qualified to take notes.
Some points to remember, while actually writing it on the notebook.
- Use least number of words, this is possible only when you have a good understanding of the topic. Remember we don’t have to copy- paste from the book in toto.
- Leave spaces between the topics. To allow future updations.
- Try to innovate, a flow chart or diagram if it strikes to your mind.
- After completing the chapter I used to prepare a Single Page Summary of whole of the chapter, mentioning headings and sub headings, to revise it in 5 minutes On the D Day.
- If you have read the same chapter form some other sources, try to write that also in continuation. If possible.
If the book is NOT a basic book and its to be studied for updating purposes (Magazines, journals like IJPA )
Highlight/ underline in the first iteration itself. Jot down the things you want to, in the study material itself.
To conclude, I think I have reproduced what all I did last four years while preparing notes. The smart you work here, your Answer Structuring gets nourished automatically. So the much hyped Ghost Of Answer Writing is also managed to a great extent.
At the same time my memory’s vulnerability is also to be appreciated. As and when I recall anything worthy I will surely update. Its also to be repeated time and again that there is NO ONE BEST WAY to get it done, this is just an experiment by me, its subjective and explanations vary considerably. I think it’s good enough to start with towards our cherished dream Ie. IAS. Go and get it!
NB- its an humble request to all those handful of readers who have reached till the last line to SHARE THIS STATUS so as to benefit the maximum as I have invested a lot of time to conceptualise and type this write-up. Thanks.
With best wishes,
Swarochish Somavanshi,
AIR-49, CSE-2011
AIR- 575, CSE- 2009