NOTE-TAKING is the process of writing down or recording information for later use.

It is a
way to organize and retain information and can be used for personal or professional purposes.
The method of note-taking can vary depending on the person and the situation, but some
common methods include writing by hand, typing on a computer, or recording audio. Effective
note-taking involves actively listening, reading, summarizing, synthesizing information, and
reviewing notes regularly.
Note-taking is the practice of recording information from different sources and platforms. By
taking notes, the writer records the essence of the information, freeing their mind from having
to recall everything. Notes are commonly drawn from a transient source (i.e. for a short period
of time), such as an oral discussion at a meeting, or a lecture (notes of a meeting are usually
called minutes), in which case the notes may be the only record of the event. Since the advent
of writing and literacy, notes traditionally were almost always handwritten (often in
notebooks), but the advent of notetaking software has made digital notetaking possible and
widespread. Note-taking is a foundational skill in personal knowledge management.
NOTE-MAKING is the process of organizing and summarizing information in a concise and
structured manner. It is a way to condense and simplify information for better understanding
and recall. It can be used as a study, research, or problem-solving tool. There are many different
techniques and methods of note-making, such as the Cornell method, outlining, mapping, and
charting. These techniques involve breaking down information into smaller chunks, using
symbols and abbreviations, and highlighting key concepts. Effective note-making requires
active listening, reading, and understanding of the material, and the ability to condense
information in a way that makes sense to the individual.
There are three main principles common to any note-making process: rephrasing the original
idea, connecting the ideas, and building upon ideas. Keep in your mind that while you are
making notes, you should actively engage with them, revisit them, and revise them.
Meaning of Note-making:
Note-making is the act of retaining documentation from various sources. By taking notes, an
individual can store the embodiment of the data, liberating their wits from reviewing
everything. Notes are ordinarily extracted from a short source, for example, a talk or an oral
conversation at a gathering or a conference wherein the notes might be the main record of the
occasion or from a long substance. Note-making isn’t only recording all that you peruse or
hear, but additionally, a course of orchestrating and looking into thoughts from reading or from
one’s talks.
Methods of Note-taking:
Listed below are a few methods of note-making.
• The Outlining Method.
• The Mapping Method.
• The Sentence Method.
• The Cornell Method.
• The Charting Method.
Systems of Note-making:
The utilisation of bullet points is something we generally run over in different books. The
fundamental thought behind this application is giving substance to something, in a manner that
isn’t effectively forgettable. The reason for note-making is something similar; in bringing the
attention of perusers to the main data, to pull back beyond all the other things.
1. Heading and Subheading:
To assign a short and best-got heading and subheading, one must go through the source content
to some extent twice.
2. Content:
Just compose the most pertinent substance to make your notes genuinely exact. Furthermore,
remember to incorporate those significant subtleties that you figure you will struggle reviewing
later.
3. Comprehensibility:
There are a couple of tips that one can use to stay away from any uncertainty to make the notes
more snappy.
Try not to pass on pointless spaces to keep away from disarray.
Utilise however many acronyms as it would be prudent, yet, it ought not to come out as a
helpless understanding.
Formats of Note-making:
A note-making design includes the choosing, examination, outlining, and association of data.
There are distinctive note-production designs. Allow us to make you acquainted with them.
1. Graph or Pattern design (A visual note-making design strategy): In this technique, the
data is presented by a chart. Related thoughts associate with the fundamental subject.
This technique is outwardly clearer.
2. Mind Map (A visual note-making strategy): Here, the central matters and all the related
focuses are introduced through a guide or a map. It contains text and pictures. For an
unmistakable agreement, the data is connected in the appropriate grouping.
3. Layout or Outline Format (A visual note-making design technique): Here, the data is
introduced as a blueprint. Appropriate titles and captions are numbered in like manner
for this blueprint.
4. Question and Prompt Format (A visual strategy): Here, the central matters are featured
as a progression of inquiries with suitable replies. It helps in rapidly going through the
notes.
5. Split Page Format (A descriptive form of note-making technique): In this strategy, the
page is partitioned into two sections. The primary section has the standard notes. The
subsequent segment will have a rundown or a summary. This is the most widely
recognised arrangement for jotting down meetings or lecture notes.
Benefits of Note-making:
• It is a record of the primary concerns of a lecture, meeting, or study for later use.
 • It helps in keeping the data convenient at whatever point we require it.
• Note-making helps in remembering and reviewing the previous occasions, said or
heard.
• It helps in comprehension, and thinking, and gives a super-lasting record.
• The arrangement assists an essayist with going through massive archives quicker.
• It helps in understanding an idea effectively if the notes are in a way that would sound
natural to you.
• It assists with recognising the central issues and subtleties.
• It has extraordinary significance in tests or scholastic composition.
The main difference between note-taking and note-making is that note-taking is a faster
process than note-making and most frequently involves someone else’s language, while note-
making is a relatively slow process and involves more of our own language.
In note-taking, there is a good possibility of poorly comprehending and easily forgetting the
content as it highly uses the language of the original author. In contrast, in note-making, the
content is relatively easier to grasp and memorize as the process mainly involves our own
language.
However, compared to note-making, the main issue in note-taking is that note-taking usually
happens while we are listening, and the objective is to grab the key points quickly and note
them down as we hear them in order to refer back to them later. We often use the original
author’s language as it’s easier. But this can result in poor comprehension of the notes when
we refer back to them later, and it is possible that we might easily forget the content.
NOTE SUMMARIZING is the process of condensing and simplifying information by
extracting the main ideas and key points from a text or speech. It is a way to retain important
information while discarding unnecessary details. Summarizing notes can be done by
identifying the main topic, main idea and important details, and then rephrasing them in your
own words. Summarizing helps to increase comprehension and understanding of the material,
and also helps to improve recall of information. Additionally, it's useful for making quick
references and recall of important information. The process of summarizing requires the ability
to understand and analyse the material, and the ability to express the main ideas in a concise
and clear manner.
Note-taking, note-making, and note-summarizing are all related but distinct processes
that involve organizing and retaining information.
note taking is a process of recording information, note-making is a process of organizing and
simplifying information, and note summarizing is a process of condensing information by
extracting the main ideas.
Agenda: Agenda means things to be done. It is usually sent along with the notice of the
meeting. It is a plan of action to be followed and entails a list of topics to be discussed in a
meeting.
Sometimes the agenda items are prepared after the circulation of the notice in order to include
the member’s opinions. If the subject matter of the business meeting is secret, the meeting
agenda may not be circulated. Some definitions of agenda are as follows:
According to Rajendra pal and Korlahalli, an “Agenda is a document that outlines the
contents of a forthcoming meeting.”
In retrospect, the agenda is the version of the meeting plan shared with meeting attendees. It
can be in reference to a new scheduled board meeting or continuation of previous meeting to
address unfinished business. A meeting agenda may be considered a list of items to discuss, a
sequence of planned activities, or both. The simplest agendas are formatted as a short bulleted
list.
An agenda lists the items of business to be taken up during a meeting or session. It may also
be called a "calendar". A meeting agenda may be headed with the date, time and location of
the meeting, followed by a series of points outlining the order in which the business is to be
conducted. Steps on any agenda can include any type of schedule or order the group wants to
follow. Agendas may take different forms depending on the specific purpose of the group and
may include any number of items.
In business meetings of a deliberative assembly, the items on the agenda are also known as
the orders of the day. Optimally, the agenda is distributed to a meeting's participants prior to
the meeting, so that they will be aware of the subjects to be discussed, and are able to prepare
for the meeting accordingly.
In a workshop, the sequence of agenda items is important, as later agenda steps may be
dependent upon information derived from or completion of earlier steps in the agenda.
Frequently in standard meetings, agenda items may be "time boxed" or fixed so as not to exceed
a predetermined amount of time. In workshops, time boxing may not be effective because
completion of each agenda step may be critical to beginning the next step.
In parliamentary procedure, an agenda is not binding upon an assembly unless its own rules
make it so, or unless it has been adopted as the agenda for the meeting by a majority vote at
the start of the meeting. Otherwise, it is merely for the guidance of the chair.
If an agenda is binding upon an assembly, and a specific time is listed for an item, that item
cannot be taken up before that time and must be taken up when that time arrives even if another
business is pending. If it is desired to do otherwise, the rules can be suspended for that purpose.
Importance of the agenda: The agenda is the backbone of a meeting. It gives structure to the
meeting. That is because it sets out the items to be discussed and the order in which they are to
be discussed. It channelises the discussion and focuses the members' attention on a given topic
at a given time. By thus controlling the discussions, it makes sure time is not wasted and the
intended outcome of the meeting is achieved in the planned time span.
How to make a good agenda?
When you want to call a meeting, you have a purpose in mind. 'A good agenda is one which
helps you achieve that purpose. But to achieve that, ' purpose, you must first prepare a good
agenda. How you can do it? Here are some tips:
a) Be clear about the purpose of the meeting.
b) Make a rough list of the various things that are in your mind that you want to discuss at the
meeting.
c) Consult other people in the organization who may be involved in the same work. You might
get some good suggestions. Incorporate them in the rough list.
d) See if items that are sirnil3 or related can be combined together, then order them logically,
e.g., if the decision on one item will facilitate discussion on another, order it before the latter.
e) Now start preparing the agenda. Put the routine items first and get them out of the way before
getting down to the important items.
f) If there are persons at the meeting whose presence is required for only one or two items,
order those items first so that those members do not have to waste their time waiting for their
items to come up.
g) Order the more difficult and complicated & before others (immediately after the routine
items) so that they can be tackled while the minds are still fresh.
h) Keep the number of items limited. If there are too many items, plan for two meetings.
Meetings that run for more than two hours are tiring for members.
i) Decide what information the members will require to understand the items and contribute to
the discussion. Send the information with the agenda in the form of notes on items (called
'agenda notes'), and annexures (if there are reports or documents).
j) If there are certain agenda items that you think lie within the area of competence or concern
of certain individuals in your organization, consider asking them to lead the item into the
discussion. Inform them in advance that they will be required to introduce the item. Indicate
the fact in the agenda.
k) Make an estimate of the amount of time each item will take, and mention it against each
item on the agenda. This will act as a guideline for the speakers.
Notice: A notice is a written or oral statement that contains the particulars of holding a meeting.
When a circular is served among the members of the meeting to attend the meeting, it is called
a notice. It is a letter of invitation that carries the request to the members to attend a meeting.
A notice includes the time, place, date and agenda of a meeting. The notice should be sent by
the proper authority in due time so that the members can attend the meeting on time.
Notice is a formal, written, or printed announcement for a group of people. It is written
in a very precise language avoiding any extra details.

Basically, notices are a tool for disseminating information regarding any occasion or
issue. They reach a large number of people in less time, that is why they are precise and
brief in nature.

If it will not be precise, then the readers might not devote so much time only for reading
it. And, it must be an art of a writer that he can express a long message in the shortest
words possible. Plus, being simple is an extra advantage. Make sure you do not include
any extra details as it may misinterpret the real message. If you are still feeling confused,
then check the format of the notice given below. With this, you will get a fair idea of
writing a good notice.

Format of a Notice
1. Name of the Organisation - It refers to the name of the institution of which the
person writing a notice is a part. It is written on the top of the page, it helps the
readers identify who issued the notice.
2. Title - ‘Notice’- This title says” notice’, It lets the readers know that they are going
to read the notice.
3. Date - The date is written on the left corner of the notice after leaving a tile. As
the notices are formal communication, the date of issuing a notice is very
important. The date should be written in a proper format, which is clear and
easily understandable.
4. Heading - Heading explains what the notice is about in brief. Heading should
reflect the content of the meeting. It is just like a ‘subject’ of an email, which gives
a synopsis or purpose of the communication
5. Body - The body of the notice includes the main content for which the notice was
issued. The body should contain all the necessary information required in the
notice like the time of an event, venue of the event, and a date and it should be
written in a passive voice without the use of first-person.
Example of Notice Writing
On the occasion of Environment day, the school has decided to organise a Fair. Nandita,
the secretary of the environmental studies department, wants to call a meeting of the
department students to discuss the details about the fair.

XYZ High School, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

Notice
10 May 2020
Meeting of the Environment Studies Society
On the occasion of Environment Day, the school has decided to organise a Fair. All the
students from the environment society are requested to attend the meeting on 11th May at
10 am in the auditorium to discuss the arrangements for the fair.

Nandita
Kulmi
(Secretary of Environment Society)

Memorandum: This letter in brief is called 'Memos'. It is the most used means of official
communication in the business world. Its main purpose is to serve as a reminder or to give
instructions. A memorandum, or memo, is a document shared with a group of people to
disperse information on a task, project, event, or other. The purpose of a memo is to bring
immediate attention to that information in a quick and brief manner.
Memos are written in the under-mentioned conditions:
1)When a message is simple.
2) When the addressee is subordinate.
3) To a good servant only.
4) To remind him.
5) To call him personally.
Purpose:
Memos are designed for official internal communications of a business or organization. They
are often sent to an entire organization but are also useful for informing a single department,
team, or smaller group of people. Memos disperse necessary information using a simple, easy-
to-follow format.
• broadcast internal changes
• disseminate news
 • share an upcoming event
• update public safety guidelines
• raise awareness about an issue
• address a problem
• make a request
• share project updates

POINTS TO BE KEPT IN MIND WHILE WRITING A MEMORANDUM

While writing memorandum the, the main points to be kept in mind are as follows:
(1) They are written in the third person.
(2) There is no salutation or thankful words in the end.
(3) It is put up only in one paragraph.
(4) It is signed by a subordinate.
(5) By signature ‘By order’ is written
(6) Addressee’ address is noted on left side in the last
Letters carrying messages of official matters are known as official letters. On the other hand, the
business letter refers to the formal written letter where business-related issues and formation are
exchanged with the suppliers, customers, banks, insurance companies and other external parties of the
organization. The distinctions between an official letter and a business letter are given below:

Points of Difference Official Letter Business Letter

 The purpose of Business letters is to
The purpose of the official letter is create or maintain business or business
1. Purpose to serve the official interest. relations.
2. Nature Its nature is official. Its nature is business.
Various functions of business such as
trading, manufacturing, marketing,
human resources activities,
procurement of materials, acquisition
and disposal of assets, credit
management, advertisement of the
An official order, instruction, product line, and liaison with various
circular, and notices are expressed private and govt. bodies are dealt with
3. Subject through an official letter. through business letters.
A specific and pre-determined
structure is required to be followed Any type of formal structure can be
4. Structure to write such a letter. followed here.
There may or may not be any
5. Salutation salutation in such a letter. Salutation is compulsory here.
There is no courteous
complimentary close in such a The courteous complimentary close is
6. Complimentary letter. Letters are written in a dry a must in such a letter. Business letters
close language and in a particular style. are very polite in their language.
It can use both direct and indirect
7. Method methods. It uses only the direct method.
Its size is smaller than the business
8. Size letter. Its size is larger than the official letter.
It is written in terms of specific and Convincing and attractive language is
9. Use of Language traditional language. used in such a letter.
Here, the relation between the
sender and the receiver is not
10. Relation significant at all. The relation is the key factor here.
11. Emotions Lack of emotions. Possess emotional language.
Service stamps are used for official Postal stamps are used for business
12. Stamps letters. letters.
The get-up of government letters is Business letters are very attractive and
13. Get up very poor. decorative.

RESUME AND CV
Writing a Resume “Resume” and “Curriculum Vitae (CV)” as it is often called, is the most important
weapon when it comes to job hunting. It is a tool to advertise yourself to the world of potential
employees and is an instrument to present yourself and impress your potential employer. An employer
normally gets a large number of applications when a job is advertised. To ensure that your application
stands out, it is most important to ensure that your Resume is perfect in every respect. A prospective
employer will often make a snap judgment as soon as he/she reads your resume. Even the most qualified
people can find themselves rejected if their resume fails to catch an employer’s attention.
In a resume two things are important:
In a resume two things are important:
The contents: how good your credentials are, that is your qualifications, experience, achievements,
skills and competencies etc.
The presentation: even if you have a good story to tell about yourself, it is most important to
communicate it properly.
Your resume is a summary of your work. Its appearance indicates how seriously you take your work
and in turn, how seriously you should be taken. It is the first impression that you give of yourself, and
creating a positive first impression depends on presenting a neat, error-free, well-organised and easy-
to-read copy.
Resume length: There are no set rules governing the length of your resume – this will be decided on
the basis of your career history, education and achievements. If possible, keep it to one page, but if this
looks too crowded, spread it out over two sheets. The employer has too much to read if you write more
than this. Everyone has a different theory when it comes to the design of a resume. Don’t make your
design very complicated; just make sure everything is clearly marked. Include your career, progress,
education and achievements prominently so your prospective employer doesn’t have to search.
Basic Format
• Start off with your name, address and contact details clearly listed at the top of the page.
• Follow this with a profile of yourself which should include an outline of your skills, experience and
immediate career goals.
• After this you can put in your career history – in reverse chronological order over the past 10 years –
with brief descriptions of your responsibilities and achievements.
• Then comes education, interests/personal details and references. You can’t do much about the content;
you can only include what you possess! A bad presentation of good content can result in the application
getting rejected. how good your credentials are, that is your qualifications, experience, achievements,
skills and competencies, etc.
The presentation: even if you have a good story to tell about yourself, it is most important to
communicate it properly. Your resume is a summary of your work. Its appearance indicates how
seriously you take your work and in turn, how seriously you should be taken. It is the first impression
that you give of yourself, and creating a positive first impression depends on presenting a neat, error-
free, well-organised and easy-to-read copy.
Finally, remember that it is important to be truthful. Never try to smudge dates to hide periods of
unemployment. A basic check will expose your deceit and ruin any chance of getting a job.
A curriculum vitae (CV) is a massive document, and it gets longer as you get more work
experience. On the other hand, a resume is shorter and can always change.
Function
One significant difference between a CV and a resume is the function. Many people in academia use a
CV because it shows all of the person's accomplishments. That way, they can land a position teaching
or researching at a college or university.
However, a resume functions a little differently. While a resume can help you land a job, it's more
common to use a resume for a non-academic job. Whether you want to work for a major corporation or
a small business, a resume is a great tool to use.
Another functional difference is that CVs are based on your credentials, while resumes are based on
competency and skills. Both have a purpose, but one might be more important for an application than
the other.
Length
Another difference between a resume and a CV is the length. CVs can be a few pages or a few dozen
pages. As someone gains more credentials and experience, their CV will get longer. It covers everything
someone has ever done in their professional life.
On the other hand, a resume is almost always a page or two. Some employers don't want a resume that's
longer than one page. You can still showcase your experience in a resume, but you need to be concise
and consider what is most important.
Some resumes can be longer, but they're mostly shorter than CVs. And the difference in length can
make it much easier to create a resume than a CV.
Information
Because of the difference in length, you don't have to worry about what to include in a CV. If you've
gone to an event or given a presentation, you can include it. The same is true for any certifications you
obtain or jobs you have.
When conducting resume writing, you can still include some information. However, you may not be
able to include every job you've had or degree you've earned. Your resume is a highlight reel of your
career, and it needs to make you look like the perfect candidate.
Both a CV and a resume should contain your name and contact information. They might also include
your education and work experience. However, a resume may not include as many certifications or
activities you've done.
Specificity
Another major difference between a CV and a resume is how specific each document is. If you use a
CV, you can use the same document for every job or research position you apply for. You will need to
update it regularly, but the file itself doesn't have to change.
On the other hand, a resume is more specific. Whether you want to move up in a company or switch
fields, your resume should help achieve that goal. You should adjust your resume objective to highlight
certain skills that will help you succeed in different jobs.
Using a resume can be great if you want to get a job outside of your field. One of the best resume
building tips is to focus on how you're a good fit for that job. And you don't have to worry about an
employer focusing too much on your background.
Format
When comparing a curriculum vitae vs. resume, you should think about the format. Because a CV is an
overview of your entire life, they're almost always chronological. That way, you can add new
accomplishments as they happen.
If you choose to use a resume, you can also make it chronological. But a functional resume is a great
option if you don't have much job experience. Instead, you can use a functional format to showcase
relevant skills that can help you get the job.
Another option is to combine a chronological and functional resume. That way, you can include your
work experience and highlight any relevant skills or certifications you have.

REPORTS
Reports are documents that provide information about a specific topic, issue, or event. They are
typically written in a formal style and often include data, analysis, and recommendations.
1. Utility Report: A utility report is a document that provides information about utility services,
such as electricity, water, gas, or telecommunications. Utility reports may include information
about service rates, usage data, infrastructure upgrades, and customer service issues. Utility
reports are typically produced by utility companies and may be used by customers, regulatory
agencies, or other stakeholders. E.g.: Water bill, Gas bill, Electricity bill, internet bill basically
basics
2. Technical Report: A technical report is a document that provides information about the
technical aspects of a project or research study. Technical reports may include information
about methodology, data analysis, experimental results, and technical specifications. Technical
 reports are typically used in academia, engineering, and industry to communicate research
results, propose solutions to technical problems, or share technical information with others.
3. Project Report: After the project has been completed, a completion report has to be submitted.
When submitting the completion report references to the original proposal and the
modifications that were necessary during the implementation will have to be made. The format
remains the same. Make sure that the report has all the relevant information. A project report is
a document that provides information about the progress, status, and outcomes of a project.
Project reports may include information about project objectives, timelines, budgets, risks, and
achievements. Project reports are typically used in project management to keep stakeholders
informed about the status of a project.
4. Enquiry Report: An enquiry report is a document that provides information about a specific
topic or issue. Enquiry reports may be used to investigate a complaint, answer a question, or
provide recommendations for a course of action. Enquiry reports may include information
about research findings, analysis of data, and recommendations for action. E.g., Vigilance
department.
Each of these reports serves a different purpose and audience. The content and format of each report
will vary depending on the specific requirements of the audience and the information that needs to be
conveyed.
PARAGRAPH WRITING
Mastering the art of writing paragraphs is essential to get success in any form of writing,
whether it is a letter, a report, a newspaper article or any piece of academic writing that you do
in the course of your studies. In these longer pieces of writing, paragraphs generally introduce
new ideas to develop the central theme. The division into paragraphs also prevents boredom as
it provides a physical break on the page.
The paragraph is unified by a central, controlling idea or theme. This idea or theme is called
the topic of the paragraph. It is sometimes expressed in some place in the paragraph by one
sentence, which is usually called the topic sentence. We can write the topic sentence in the
form of a statement or even a problem. This topic sentence you can either write at the beginning
of a paragraph, in the end, or even in the middle of the paragraph. Very often you can find that
there may not be a topic sentence in a paragraph but it may be implied within the paragraph.
Narrative Paragraph
Narrative paragraphs tell stories. They differ from short stories or novels in length as well as
in the amount of detail provided; they sometimes are little more than brief vignettes. True
narrative paragraphs, however, are similar to short stories in that they feature characters,
follow a plot line, including a conflict that is resolved and are told from an identifiable point
of view. They may also establish a setting or include a moral.
Descriptive Paragraph
The purpose of a descriptive paragraph is to allow the reader to experience the item,
phenomenon, or event being described as vividly as possible without physically sensing
it. That is, the reader cannot see it, but knows what it looks like; cannot taste it, but knows
whether it is salty or sweet; cannot touch it, but knows its texture. Descriptive paragraphs
typically include modifiers (ex., adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases) and figurative
language (ex., metaphors, personification, similes) to help enrich the "experience" for the
reader.
Expository Paragraph
An expository paragraph explains something; its purpose is to help the reader
understand. Exposition often includes techniques such as the use of examples or illustrations
to support a point or the use of some kind of ordering (chronological or numerical, for example)
to help a reader follow a process. Exposition needs to be clear; language is often quite direct
although sometimes a writer may use language devices to help illustrate a point.
Persuasive Paragraph
The purpose of a persuasive paragraph is to convince the reader of something, such as the
writer's position on a controversial topic or a proposal for a new project. The structure is often
similar to that of an expository piece, as it is usually helpful to explain a little bit about the
subject, but rhetorical devices are often employed to help sway the reader's opinion. The
language can be highly charged; the intent is to get a reaction.
Literary Paragraph
Literary paragraphs are paragraphs written about literature; they are part of a genre known as
"literary criticism." This does not mean they are supposed to find fault with a piece of
literature; criticism, in this sense, is an analytical examination of a poem, story, novel, play,
essay, or other literary work. The writer of a literary paragraph must choose a specific aspect
of the text to examine and then focus on that aspect, always referring back to the
literature. Literary paragraphs do not make references to “real life” – the protagonist may be
just like the writer’s Great-aunt Gertrude, but this observation has no place in a literary
paragraph. Quotations are often used to support the observations and evaluations made by the
writer.