1. Principles of business
Objective 1.02: Record information to maintain and present a report of business activity.

2. Objective Content Utilize note-taking strategies Organize information
Select and use appropriate graphic aids.

3. Utilize note-taking strategies
Why is it important to take notes?
Helps you to concentrate in class and remember important information.
Helps you prepare for tests and other assignments.
Helps you to understand material.
Provides valuable clues for what information, themes, and processes are most important.
Remember important information - Studies have shown that within two weeks you probably will forget 80 percent or more of what you have heard. And in four weeks you are lucky if 5 percent remains.
Review - It’s very important to read over your notes as much as possible so that you don’t forget. The more you read your notes, the less you forget.
Understand material - If the material that you’re learning is exceptionally difficult, taking notes helps you to understand the information. This is especially the case if you paraphrase by using your own words when taking notes. Also, during class discussions, someone else may say something that helps you to better grasp the information. It’s always a good idea to include that into your notes.

4. Note-taking strategies
Cornell two-column note-taking
Outlining
Mapping
Charting

5. 1. Cornell two-column note-taking
Divide the paper into 3 sections
Draw a dark horizontal line about 5 or 6 lines from the bottom.
Draw a dark vertical line about 2 inches from the left side of the paper from the top to the horizontal line.

6. 1. Cornell two-column note-taking
Document
Write course name, date, and topic at the top of each page.

7. 1. Cornell two-column note-taking
Write notes.
The Large box to the right is for writing notes.
Skip a line between ideas and topics.
Don’t use complete sentences. Use abbreviations, whenever possible.

8. 1. Cornell two-column note-taking
Review and clarify.
Review the notes as soon as possible after class.
Pull out main ideas, key points, dates, and people, and write these in the left column.

9. 1. Cornell two-column note-taking
Summarize.
Write a summary of the main ideas in the bottom section.

10. 1. Cornell two-column note-taking
Study your notes.
Re-read your notes in the right column.
Spend most of your time studying the ideas in the left column and the summary at the bottom. These are the most important ideas & will probably include most of the information that you will be tested on.

11. 2. Outlining Start main points at the margin.
Indent secondary and supporting details.
Further indent major subgroups.
Definitions, for example, should always start at the margin.
When a list of terms is presented, the heading should also start at the margin.
Each item in the series should be set in slightly from the margin.
Examples, too, should be indented under the point they illustrate.
When the lecturer moves from one idea to another, show this shift with white space by skipping a line or two.

12. 3. Mapping
Mapping is a visual system of condensing material to show relationships and importance. A map is a diagram of the major points, with their significant sub-points, that support a topic. The purpose of mapping as an organizing strategy is to improve memory by grouping material in a highly visual way.

13. 4. Charting
If the lecture format is distinct (such as chronological), you may set up your paper by drawing columns and labeling appropriate headings in a table.

14. Organize information
Common approaches to organizing/ordering information
Method of Organizing Information
Description
Example
Indexed order
e.g., Alphabetical
Items of a sequence can be arranged by some familiar characteristic. The most common is alphabetical.
Alphabetical is a logical way to arrange a booklet on vitamins (A, B, B1, and so on) or a directory of company employees.
Chronological order
A method of organization in which actions or events are presented as they occur (or occurred) in time. Information presented in time sequence, either forward or backward, is chronological
You can present events in the order in which they happened. History books are written this way.
Inverted pyramid
(aka anticlimactic order)
The lead paragraph summarizes the story, and the following paragraphs present the facts in order of decreasing importance.
You can use this format in journal articles, letters, memos, and reports. Useful for ranking items (such as candidates, where the best are placed first).
Climatic order
(aka clincher order)
The arrangement of details or ideas in order of increasing importance or force: the principle of saving the best for last.
It is frequently used in a sales pitch or for increasing motivation gradually. Designed to impel immediate action or leave a sweet taste in the reader’s mouth.
Spatial/Geographical Order of location
A method of organization in which details are presented as they are (or were) located in space--such as, from left to right or from top to bottom.
Geographical organization is illustrated by the division of a business into sales by state, county, or city. 

15. Organize information Method of Organizing Information Description
Example
Simple to Complex
Order of increasing difficulty
(aka progressive level of disclosure)
For difficult, technical, or abstract topics, the best plan of organization is often from simple to complex.
Good teachers, for example, begin with simple, basic concepts and proceed to more complex topics. 
Inductive (indirect)
This plan supplies examples, stories, facts, or reasons first and then draws conclusions from them.
For example, a report written to convince management to fund an employee fitness program might begin with the advantages of a fitness program. After describing the benefits, draw the conclusion that a company-sponsored fitness program is a wise investment. 
Deductive (direct)
Start with a generalization, and then support it with facts, research results, examples, and illustrations.
Scientists use this format in research papers that begin with the findings or main conclusions and then state the supporting evidence.
Sequential Process or instruction
generally follow a linear or sequential movement
Some technical activities, such as the installation of equipment, must be done in a certain order, and the presentation of instructions must follow that order.
Problem/solution
The problem/solution format begins with “Here’s what the problem was” and ends with “Here’s how we solved it.”
(Proposal) papers identify a problem, usually weigh alternative, and suggest a solution. They may also suggest ways to implement and evaluate the proposed plan.

16. Organize information Method of Organizing Information Description
Example
Classification
groups objects or people into related categories
the good student, the struggling student, the laid back student
Cause & Effect
Address a single cause that has many effects or with many causes that produce a single effect.
 Paper on Renewable Energy and Non-Renewable of Energy
Comparison and Contrast
A rhetorical strategy and method of organization in which a writer examines similarities and/or differences between two people, places, ideas, or things
Comparing the advantages and disadvantages of products such as Andriod and Apple.
Value/Size
The logical order for some topics begins with the most valuable or the largest item first. 
Realtors listing their properties from the most expensive to the least expensive (or vice-versa) is helpful to buyers and sellers

17. Abbreviations for Note-Taking
Don’t try to perfect a definite system of “shorthand”. Use what works for you.
Standard Abbreviations
Symbols
First Syllable
Does not equal ≠
Change ∆
Politics
Pol
Liberals
Lib
Democracy
Dem
Capitalism
Cap
Department
Dept
New York City
NYC
Example Ex

18. Common abbreviations for notetaking
For example = e.g., ex.
Approximately =approx.
Saturday = Sat
Street = st.
Sunday = Sun
Apartment = Apt.
= 1920s
Monday= Mon
As soon as possible = ASAP
Tuesday= Tues
With = w/
Wednesday = Wed
Without = W/out
Thursday =Thurs
Because = b/c
Friday = Fri
Thursday = Thurs

19. Common Errors in Note-Taking
Click on picture hyperlink to review “Note to Self: Try to Avoid the Four Big Note-Taking Mistakes”

20. Common Error is Note Taking
Using complete sentences instead of phrases
Inability to read or understand what is written
Writing too much down
Not reviewing notes within 24 hours

21. Select and Use Appropriate Graphic Aids
Reasons to use graphic aids.
When time is limited.
Overcoming language barriers.
To retain information.
Information overload.
Information processing.
Limited time – A picture is still worth 1,000 words; thus, visual aids save time in conveying ideas.
Language barriers are a common communication barrier, especially as the workplace becomes more diverse. If someone in your target audience doesn’t speak the same language as you, visual aids can maybe help them use deductive reasoning to grasp your main ideas.
Information retention - If you are standing in front of a group presenting information for 30 minutes, the likelihood of them retaining the information is slim, especially if the audience has a hard time concentrating or is uninterested in your information. Using visual aids, along with verbal or written forms of communication, can help the audience retain the information.
Information overload - A common communication barrier employers and employees face when presenting or receiving information is that too much information is presented at once. When this happens, it's hard to determine which information is most important and relevant to their tasks and responsibilities. Visual aids, such as graphs and flow charts, can condense large chunks of information into the most important portions.
Information processing - Since people process and digest information differently, combining visual aids with a presentation or document can present the audience with various ways to receive the information. As a result, you increase your chances of having the audience understand what is being communicated. Some people understand things better orally; others prefer the written word, while others prefer a graph or table.

22. Commonly Used Graphic Aids
Tables
Bar graphs
Line graphs
Pie charts
Pictures
Diagrams

23. Commonly Used Graphic Aids
Tables work best when the data presented:
Is used to look up or compare individual values.
Requires precise values.
Values involve multiple units of measurement.
Student
1st 6 Weeks Average
2nd 6 Weeks Average
Ben
82%
90%
Kara
98%
95%
Sean
75%
85%
Amanda
87%
93%

24. Commonly Used Graphic Aids
Bar graphs
Used to compare things between different groups or to track changes over time.
When trying to measure changes over time, bar graphs are best when the changes are larger.
Bar graphs are used to compare things between different groups or to track changes over time. However, when trying to measure change over time, bar graphs are best when the changes are larger

25. Commonly Used Graphic Aids
Line graphs
Used to track changes over short and long periods of time.
When smaller changes exist, line graphs are better to use than bar graphs.
Line graphs are used to track changes over short and long periods of time. When smaller changes exist, line graphs are better to use than bar graphs. Line graphs can also be used to compare changes over the same period of time for more than one group

26. Commonly Used Graphic Aids
Pie charts
Best to use when you are trying to compare parts of a whole.
Does not show changes over time.
Pie charts are best to use when you are trying to compare parts of a whole. They do not show changes over time

27. Commonly Used Graphic Aids
Pictures
A realistic visual representation that allows you to see exactly what is being described.
Trying to describe this sunset to someone would hardly do it justice. Often times, pictures can lead to better understanding.

28. Commonly Used Graphic Aids
Diagrams
Visual representations of thinking.
Allow people to literally see the relationship between all parts of the topic.
Examples
Venn diagram
Fish bone diagram
Venn diagrams allow you to compare and contrast two things or ideas.
Fish bone diagram is a cause and effect map used to show the interaction of a complex event.