Listening and Non-Taking Skills

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 445.

The purpose of listening is not only to hear the words, but also to be able remember what you have heard and to make notes on the most important points. While listening to the entire passage, you must learn to select key words and write them down before the next important point is made. In order to do this you must first learn to notice the overall organization of the material. Good speakers and writers present their ideas in a logical manner. Finding the pattern of organization is the first step in learning how to take notes.

The first paragraph of this lesson is a definition. It explains what business is and gives several examples. It concludes with a summary or restatement of the definition.

There are some words and phrases which might indicate the organi­zation of a passage. For example, when the author says that there are four basic factors in business, you might expect that he will mention the four items and explain something about each one. The passage will most likely be organized in four sections. Certain other phrases like in summary or in conclusion might show that the statement that follows is the end of a particular part of the discussion.

Here are some important words and phrases which can help you determine the organization of a passage.

Words which indicate the beginning of separate sections or points:

ordinal numbers — first, second, etc.

another, one other

besides

further, furthermore

in -addition

Words which show the end of separate sections:

in conclusion

then

therefore

as a result

finally

lastly

in summary