UNIT6

A1003/UNIT6/12

 

 

 

 

UNIT 6: READING SKILLS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNIT 6: NOTE MAKING/TAKING and   SUMMARISING SKILLS

 

General  Objectives:     

 

                          To read and be able to skim and scan texts, understand

                          texts, make /take notes, write summaries and response to texts.  

 

 

Specific Objective:

                        By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

1. write short notes
2. distinguish relevant from irrelevant details
3. select and extract important information required for a particular purpose.

4.  give their opinions about information presented in the text

                           5.  relate texts to experience/ other text/ other information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.1   Taking notes

Input

 

       

 

Almost everyone who studies has to take notes at some time. But have you  ever asked yourself the reason for taking notes? There are three main reasons:

1. to have a record of the speaker’s or writers main ideas but not verbatim

           (to take down or copy every word).

2. to help one’s memory when revising , e.g. before an examination.
3. to make what the speaker or writer says a part of your own knowledge.

 

Task  1

Read through the list of methods for taking down notes:

• notes taken while listening
• notes taken while reading
• notes taken from memory
• shorthand
• underlining etc.

 

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the methods listed with your lecturer.  Which methods do you use and which methods would be most useful to you?

 

Input

 

Taking notes from a text

           First of all, survey the text to acquaint yourself with the text. This will help you to find out what the writer’s main points are. Do your survey quickly and then read again making  note of the main points and how they are related to one another. If it is a short text you can do it mentally; or on the text by underlining; or directly into your notebook.

             

 

           If you are writing the main points in a notebook, put them down in  way that relates them to one another. It is better to put them in a form of a diagram as it is easier to remember in diagram form. If you decided to use a list, then you can use one of the listing systems given.

 

Listing and numbering

Arabic numerals	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.
Decimal system	1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, etc. Subdivisions e.g. 2.1.1 , 2.1.2 etc.
Large roman numerals	I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, etc
Small roman numerals (usually in brackets)	(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vii) etc.
Capital letters	A, B, C, D, E, F, etc.
Small letters ( often in brackets)	(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), etc

 

 

Except for the decimal system, these systems can be used in combination.

Compare:

I                                                                                                  1

II  A                                                                                                  2  (a)

     B                                                                                                      (b)

1. (i)
2. (ii)
3. (iii)
4. (iv)

III  A                                                                                                  3  (a)

       B                                                                                                      (b)

       C                                                                                                       (c)

IV                                                                                                  4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task  2

 

Below are some headings from a lecture on ‘Communication’. There are three main sections to the talk: Non-electronic methods, Electronic methods and the Use of satellites. Use numbering to show how the topics fit into one another.

 

              Communication

 

              NON-ELECTRONIC METHODS

              Messengers

              Human messengers

              Birds as messengers – pigeons

              Signals

              Signals that can be seen

              Smoke signals

              Lighthouses

              Semaphore

              Handwritings

              Printed books

              Newspapers

              Signals that can be heard

              Drums

              Horns (motor-horns, fog-horns)

             

ELECTRONIC METHODS

              Using wires

              Telephones

              Cables

              Without using wires

              Radio

              Television

              Radio-telephone

              Handphones

              Cinema

 

THE USE OF SATELLITES

Communication satellites

Weather satellites

Navigation satellites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task  3

 

Look at the passage below. Arrange it in note form, using headings, numbering etc.

 

Acquiring information

What are the ways in which students can acquire information? Firstly, he will acquire information from his tutors, in three main ways – by lecture, by tutorial and by handouts which the tutor may give him. Secondly, he may acquire information from ‘other experts’ outside his college: principally by reading but also by listening to the radio, listening to cassette recordings, or watching educational TV programs. Thirdly, he will get information from his fellow students: perhaps in student lead seminars, perhaps just informal conversation. Lastly, he can acquire information himself! By thinking about his subjects and linking together what he has heard and seen, he may come up with new ideas, which are his alone.

Input

 

 

 

Semantic markers

 

When you are listening to a lecture or reading a text you should look out for semantic markers. They signal the meaning and structure of the lecture or text and how the ideas are organized.

Function of semantic markers

 

1. The markers may be used for listing, such as:

Firstly                                                                      Thirdly

In the first place                                                        My next point

Secondly                                                                      Last/Finally

 

2. They may show us the cause and effect relationship between one idea and another:

So                                                                                    because

Therefore                                                                      since

Thus (we see)

 

3. They indicate the speaker or writer is going to illustrate his ideas by giving examples:

For instance                                                        Let’s take ……..

For example                                                        An example/ instance of this is

 

4. They may introduce an idea which runs contrary of what has been said, or is going to be said:

But                                                                                    and yet

Nevertheless                          Although                         On the other hand

 

5. A very important kind of semantic marker is one which shows that speaker ot writer is about to sum up his message, or part of it:

To summarize                                                        It amount to this

In other words       If I can just sum up             What I have said is this

 

6. Semantic markers may be used to express a time relationship:

Then                                                                      previously

Next                                           while               After that                     when

 

7. They may be used to indicate the relative importance of something. The following are some examples:

       I would like to emphasize that…….              It is important to note that

       I repeat that……                                          The next point crucial to my argument…

       It is worth noting

 

8. They may be used to rephrase what has already been said, or to introduce a definition:

      In other words                                                        To put it another way                           

      Let me put it this way                                          That is to say

 

9. Also, to express a condition:

      If                                                                                     Assuming that

      Unless                                                                     

 

Task  4

Look at the passage A. Read it through, noting down or underlining all the semantic markers.

Passage A

 

The need for money originates from the fact that different people in society produce different things. This means that people depend on each other for goods and services. Let takes take the case of a farmer who produces more food than he requires and a carpenter who lives nearby  sells tables and chairs he has made. It will be obvious that unless some means of exchange is found, the farmer will not be able to get rid of his surplus food and the carpenter will starve! Clearly, the simplest means of exchange will be for them to use barter – in other words, to exchange a certain amount  of one kind of goods ( let’s say flour) for certain amount of another (tables or chairs, in this case).

 

 

6.2  Response to texts.

     

Input

 

 

 

Responding to text means understanding the text and then commenting by giving your opinions and relating to your experience.

You are supposed to understand texts before you could response to them. In the previous lessons, you have studied how to skim and scan, comprehend and summarize a text. Your previous knowledge should enable you to response to the text below and complete the activity.

 

Task 1

Read the following dialogue.

 

Journalist:       Everybody says the Internet is really exciting. But what exactly is the 

                       Internet?

Mr. Morgan:  Well it is a global network of computer networks, which allow users to

                       share all sorts of information and computer resources. The system

                       comprises networks interconnected all over the world, from universities

                       and large corporations to commercial online systems and non-profit 

                       organization.

Journalist:     And how do you connect yourself up to the Internet? What do you need?

Mr. Morgan:  Well, you just need a PC, a modem and a telephone line. Not a lot really.

Journalist:     And is it easy to install a modem?

Mr. Morgan:  Oh yes. You just connect one cable of the modem to the communications

                      port of  the computer and the other to the telephone line.

Journalist:      Right. And I imagine you need special software to get online.

 

 

Mr. Morgan: Yes, that’s right. You need communications software. This enables you to

                     transmit and receive data. To get your Internet identity you have to set up an

                     account with an Internet service provider – a commercial company that

                     offers connection for an annual fee.

Journalist:    Do you have to pay a lot of money?

Mr. Morgan: Not really. With a standard Internet account you pay just a few pounds. Of

                     course you also have to pay your phone bill for the time connected.

Journalist:    Right. And what services are offered by the Internet?

Mr. Morgan: It offers services such as e-mail, file transfer, news groups, real-time chats

                     and  information retrieval on the World Wide Web.

Journalist:  The Web is the most important part of the Internet, isn’t it? What is the  Web?

Mr. Morgan: The Web is a huge collection of “pages” stored on computers all over the

                     world. Web pages contain all sorts of information in the form of text,

                     pictures, sounds and video. They also have links to other resources on the

                     net.

Journalist:    OK, right. Thanks very much, Mr. Morgan. You’ve been very helpful.

 

Answer these questions.

 

1. What is the main idea of the dialogue?

    ________________________________________________________________________

 

2. How do you connect yourself up to the Internet? What do you need?

    ________________________________________________________________________

 

3. Why do you need  to install a modem?

    ________________________________________________________________________

 

4. What are the services offered by the Internet?

    _____________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

Task  2

Group discussion.

 

In groups of four, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet. Present your findings orally in front of the class.

 

Self-assessment.

 

Reading skills.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Computers.

 

Computers are machines that help people find answers to the questions. There are many kinds of computers. Some are very large; others are so small that we can put them in our pockets. The two basic, main, kinds of computers are analog and digital.

                Computers can do many things. They can solve, answer mathematic problems, record airline reservations, help in space flights and direct nuclear weapons. They can even speak and make translations from one language to another.

              Analog computers measure physical quantities, such as the movement of electricity or temperatures. This kind of computer, however, often does only one job. For example, it guides, directs, planes. Analog computers are often used in factories to control machines, to aim guns, and to help ships and planes stay on course (in the correct direction).

              Digital computers count numbers. These devices are very adaptable, so they are more popular than analog computers. Digital computers are often programmed, (instructed) to work alone, without people. This device can make choices in the middle of a problem. For example, if in the middle of a problem, the computer sees a positive number, it will continue working on the problem. If it sees a negative number, it will stop working.

              Every digital computer has five basic parts: the input, the memory, the control, the logic, and the output. The input is the information we put in the computer, like the data, numbers, and the instructions. The memory holds this information until it is needed for the problem. The control device decides where and when to send the information. The logic section solves the problem by using the instructions. The output section shows the information. Sometimes it is on paper. Sometimes it is on a TV screen.

              A computer needs to have a program in order to work. A computer program is the group, set, of directions that a computer needs to solve a problem. Programmers are the people who write these instructions in  computer language, such as COBOL for business or FORTRAN for math and science. These instructions include a code which tells the computer what to do and an address which tells it where to find the necessary information in its memory.

              We see computers almost everywhere around us. They are in businesses, stores, airports, schools, and homes. The young children learn to use them in their classes. Some people are unhappy about the computer revolution, but it is here to stay.

 

 

 

 

Answer the following questions.

1. The author explains the following words. What do they mean?
1. basic
2. solve
3. on course
4. data
5. programmer

    

2. What do the following pronouns refer to?
1. them ( paragraph 1 line 2 )
2. it ( paragraph 3 line 3 )
3. they ( paragraph 4 line 1 )
4. it ( paragraph 6 line 5 )
5. them ( paragraph 7 line 2 )

 

3. Highlight the examples in this passage.

 

4. Underline the main idea in each paragraph.

 

5. From the information in paragraph 5, label this diagram.

 

TITLE ________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Complete this outline for the passage on Computers.

 

Computers = _________________________________________________

A. Analog

1. Measure _______________________________________________
1. Examples: _________________ and __________________
2. Can do only ______________________ job
3. Uses

a. _________________________________________________

b. _________________________________________________

c. _________________________________________________

 

 

     B. __________________________________________________________

1. Count _________________________________________________
2. Works without __________________________________________
3. __________________ basic parts
1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________

 

 

    C. Programs = _________________________________________________

1. Programmer = __________________________________________
2. Languages
1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3. Include _______________________ and _____________________

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

  Read the passages and then complete the table and diagram that follows.

 

Three different kinds of engines have been used to move people and goods from one place to another.  The first of these was the steam engine which was used for many years to move ships and trains.  Then the internal combustion engine was invented.  This is still used in many motor vehicles and in some aeroplanes.  The diesel kind of internal combustion engine is used to move some trains and most ships.  The most recent kind of engine is the jet engine.  It is used in many aeroplanes.  There are also a few small jet boats, and one day there may be jet cars and jet trains.

 

No	Engine	Forms of Transport
1.
2.
3.
4.

 

       Metal- joining methods :  Metal-joining methods may be divided into soldering, welding and riveting.  Three types of soldering may be distinguished : soft soldering, silver soldering and brazing.  Welding methods are of two kinds: oxy-acetylene welding and electric arc welding.

Metal-joining methods

  

  

Electric arc