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TO GATHER INFORMATION ON A SPECIFIC TOPIC

• Find accurate information quickly
• Scan for key words
• Skim for important facts
• Write down only key facts
• Use abbreviations and symbols
• Organise notes clearly

• Find accurate information quickly
• Scan for key words
• Skim for important facts
• Write down only key facts
• Use abbreviations and symbols
• Organise notes clearly

• Use the contents to search for a general topic

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• Use the index to search for more specific information

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• Think of the important words that link to what you want to find out
• Quickly scan the text for these words
• Only read the parts of the text that contain your key words

• Once you have found the correct section, you do not have to read every single word

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• Skim over each sentence, taking in the important facts

• Decide what is most important and write that down

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• Only write down key words and phrases; you do not need to write in full sentences

• Abbreviations are shortened words:

‘e.g.’ for ‘for example’, ‘info.’ instead of ‘information’. If you shorten a word, put a full stop at the end of it to show it is an abbreviation.

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• Symbols: &, +, =, %, $,@. As long as you understand them, you can make up your own symbols.

• If you organise your notes clearly, they will act as a plan for your piece of writing.

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Purpose

Skills

Organisation