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W E D N E S D A Y , J U L Y 1 5 , 2 0 0 9
Making notes
This is a very important process. You have millions of books and they
seem intimidating at times.
It's always a good idea to make notes.
First, do not ever make notes in your first reading. I would go for
notes maybe in 2nd or better in 3rd read.
There are many kind of notes that you can make.
1) If you select certain most important topics in your optionals, eg
distt administration, RTI in pub ad, then select the best books for that
topic and write all of that on A4 sized sheets. select such 50 60 topics
from your optionals by looking at the pattern of paper and make the
best notes possible. Initially it seems like a lot of hard work. But it
really helps. I made such notes for about 80-90 topics in Pub ad.
Remember, you can not afford to leave the rest of the syllabus.
because even in the best case scenaro you might get questions outside
this list.
So finish your syllabus thoroughly and these notes will work as addons.
2) Chapter-wise notes- I did this in both psychology and Pub ad.
take an A4 sheet and fold it in between so that it has 2 parts. write
synoptical notes just the gist that is relevant to you. write it in
condensed form so that it doesnt take much space. Also, use
highlighters and red/pink/green pens to highlight imp stuff.
You must be wondering why I a stressing on A4 sheets. They are easy
to handle and you can classify the notes whenever you want. You don't
have to carry a big notebook at the time of exam.
3) Post-it notes-
Suppose you have GS notes from a coaching class. They are good. But
they are huge. Also, you have already spent enough time on optionals
notes. So there's a short cut for these notes. Buy Post-it notes, the
yellow coloured stickies. When you have studied a topic, just write
the +ves, -ves, anything on that post it and stick it onto that page.
When you are revising the stuff, just look at the post-its. That will
save your time and stick better in head.
About Me
Shubhra
Hi I am Shubhra Saxena. I am an
engineer from IIT Roorkee 2002
batch of Paper Technology. I am
an IAS Officer of 2009 Batch, U.P.
Cadre. I am currently posted asDistrict Magistrate, Shravasti,
Uttar Pradesh
View my complete profile
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Posted by Shubhra at 12:05 PM
Just before the exam, you can just glance at these notes for the last
time. Remember you should have done this many times before. But
the last revision is the most crucial. Psychology students would
understand why. When you write your paper this year, you would
understand the significance of this last look you gave your notes.
Also understand that the note making exercise is a tedious one andyou might think you are wasting a lot of time. rather you could study
from books. but for a single topic you will have to open 4 5 books at a
time. That's even more tedious. Plus it will be difficult to retrieve the
stuff. Get it all in one place and you are all set.
69 comments:
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Tanuja July 15, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Ma'am a request, can we get your notes ?
That would also save lot of time for us and as we know they are the
best ones and far better than any coaching notes . I am not doing any
coachings so it would be a great help for me and those who can't
afford a coaching . Thanks
Reply
Shubhra July 15, 2009 at 2:29 PM
No, my notes can not help you as they might not be relevant for you.
you will have to do the requisite hard work for thus exam. Do not shy
away from hard work if you wanna clear this exam.
Reply
Shubhra July 15, 2009 at 2:31 PM
I did it all on my own. I didn't have even this guidance that you have
in the form of this blog. So go ahead and work hard. there's no short
cut to success.
Reply
Nuke July 15, 2009 at 9:47 PM
thanks a lot mam this was enlightng just hope i get the schedule frm
you ..i am sorry mam i might seem kinda freaked out but to be frank i
am nt a very good planner so if you could just give me a skeleton i
would work on it and improvise ..looking for the guidance
Reply
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coolblue July 16, 2009 at 8:23 AM
also let us know how to make notes from news papers.
thank u
Reply
monu July 16, 2009 at 8:56 AM
mam so u dont suggest making notes of a particular book like dd basu
and bipin chandra?which in a sense says that no book is holistic for a
particular topic?and if we make notes on a4 sheets then how to keep
them together?may be pin them up together?and what if we use
notebooks to make notes?
and how to make notes from newspaper?
Reply
Shubhra July 16, 2009 at 9:21 AM
I didn't make notes from newpapers.
Reply
Shubhra July 16, 2009 at 9:23 AM
@monu
staple them together.
I didn't make notes for all topics of polity and history. I just put
synopsis of topics on few pages to revise. That's all.
Reply
Nihar Ashish July 16, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Ruchi di.. Nihar here from our good ol' Kargali colony. I just came to
know about you and - Wow! You've made each one of us soooooo
proud.
Reply
monu July 16, 2009 at 10:18 AM
mam then how does notes and synopsis differ?and i must say that u
would be very brilliant just as most iitns r!
but mam u must have read the books on polity and history many a
times?
Reply
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Shubhra July 16, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Thanks Nihar!! good to hear from you!!! how are you?
Reply
Shubhra July 16, 2009 at 10:42 AM
@monu
yes i read the books many times.
synopsis is v brief notes..almost in point form.
the other notes for your optionals should be more detailed.
Reply
Rohit July 16, 2009 at 11:27 PM
Dear Shubhra,
Many thanks for you guidance and precious time. This blog is really a
blessing for CS aspirants.
If you didn't make notes from newspapers, then how did you cover
current affairs? And, without making notes from editorials, how did
you gather viewpoints from mains perspective?
Does current affairs magazine sufficient for these purposes?
Best Regards,
Rohit
Reply
monu July 17, 2009 at 5:21 AM
would it be a bad idea to make otes on note book instead of a4 size
paper?
and what abt notes making from ncert etc?
Reply
Shubhra July 17, 2009 at 5:48 AM
@rohit
I followed 1 current affairs magazine to keep up with current affairs
after i was done with newspapers.
I just cut editorials that I thought were important for my optionals
and GS, classified them, highlighted the points and kept in a file.
Reply
Shubhra July 17, 2009 at 5:49 AM
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@monu
i found it handy to have notes on a4 sheets. I could organize them
easily and carry whichever i wanted easily.
Reply
vandna July 17, 2009 at 5:50 AM
Hello Ma'm,
U said u didnt make notes from the newspaper..but..its obvious u
followed the magazines and the newspapers daily...what I am doing
is I take d gist of daily news from AIR news at night and follow it up
with d newspaper d next morning...taking tit-bits out of those and
reading the editorials...and finally I supplement with my monthly
magazine...
the problem I am facing is that a lot of time goes into it..almost 2 hrs
per day...so plz suggest a way to tk cr of it...
thnx n regards.
Reply
Shubhra July 17, 2009 at 6:06 AM
@vandna
That will take a lot of time.
you are supposed to work hard...but smart hard work. so don't waste
unnecessary time. you have a long way to go.
Reply
kanishka July 17, 2009 at 6:45 AM
bureaucracy as stucture ,andadministration as functions explain
give few suggestions to make decision making value free
mam,
such kind of questions confuse a lot and they have limited matter to
put up,can you just tell how to do away with such questions.
irrelavent plz,ignore it.
thanking you,
kanishka shukla.
Reply
VINAY July 18, 2009 at 5:33 AM
mam,
can u tell me how u prepare for GS papers & essays paper. which
magzine, books essential for GS.
Thanks
vinay
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Reply
Shubhra July 18, 2009 at 10:41 AM
please go thru the blog to get ur answers
essay post will follow in august.
Reply
vandna July 18, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Thanks a lot ma'm..I would work upon it positively.
Warm regards.
Reply
Shubhra July 18, 2009 at 1:24 PM
@kanishkathe question you have given is easy to understand. Whether decision
making process in admn can be value free or value laden. You have to
talk baout simon's bounded rationality model here.
Reply
Vikas July 20, 2009 at 9:11 AM
maam thank you for throwing light on how to make notes...maam you
said that you covered a lots of books for different topics but maam
the books you mentioned in psychology tips are just baron and
ciccareli and given the time constraint do one has to go through (in
psychology)these books perfectly or read many books ..i mean is it
good to do few books thoroughly or read many books ..did you went
through other than the books mentioned in psychology ...
thank you maam
Reply
Arjun BM July 20, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Hello ma'am,
Your tips are very helpful. Regarding point 1 - selection of important
topics and making notes.
a. Can you please share the 80-90 topics that you had prepared notes
on and also other important topics for Pub Ad - based on your
experience?
b. If possible, can you please share the notes you have made - since
it will help us read your valuable notes and leave us with more time
to focus on other topics.
Thank you very much for your guidance till now and we all look
forward to more tips.
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- Arjun
Reply
Shubhra July 20, 2009 at 9:30 AM
@vikas.Kindly post ur question in relevant post.
Reply
akhil July 22, 2009 at 6:15 AM
Hi Ma'am,
I belive in a first reading of about 10 -15 Pages and then making brief
notes of them.. Would you recommend this statergy?
Also Ma'am please enlighten us on how to improve our vocabulary andincrease our retention skills.
Reply
Vikas July 22, 2009 at 7:22 AM
maam i thought that my question was related to note making from
diff. books otherwise i would not have troubled you like that..i hope
you would understand that this was mistakenly posted here..
Reply
Shubhra July 22, 2009 at 9:58 AM
In the first reading, you will end up writing everything in the book.
Second reading helps you decide what to select.
Reply
Abhimanyu July 23, 2009 at 3:01 AM
Hello Maam
About the chp wise note making..since you didn take coaching..you'd
have to make the notes(apart from the synopsis) yourself..could
explain how you went about that?..or did you buy the notes of some
class and added a synopsis at the end?
Thnks
Reply
Shubhra July 23, 2009 at 7:49 AM
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I looked at the syllabus and the topics to be covered and prepared
notes from books and internet accordingly.
Reply
aloksingh July 23, 2009 at 8:24 AM
Mam what were internet sources(URL)apart from wikipedia, for notemaking.
Reply
Shubhra July 23, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Eg.suppose u want ARC-II recommendations, go to ARC website. You
will have to search sources per topic separately.
Reply
vandna July 24, 2009 at 4:30 AM
Hello Ma'm,
I have taken out around 80 topics for an optional from the syllabus
and past year papers pattern...I am still in a fix..
Should I follow the syllabus in a flow chapter-wise and make notes on
those gross topics as they appear while I am covering the
syllabus...this way I feel I would have covered the text also nicely...
OR should I just start with note-making on those gross identified
areas and cover the remaining general ones from the book later...thismight break the flow somehow hopping from one topic to another but
could save up on time...
I don't know if I am putting it clearly..this is what I have
comprehended so far..You followed both ways as u have mentioned
for your optionals...I am so confused about the initiation..plz help
me with it..
Thanks n regards
Reply
Shubhra July 24, 2009 at 8:40 AM
First make notes for whole units so that your whole syllabus is over.
Then, start about making notes for these spl areas consulting the best
sources.
Reply
vandna July 24, 2009 at 2:59 PM
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ok ma'm..thanks very much!
Reply
saurabh July 26, 2009 at 11:34 AM
thanks shubhra mam...ur reflections on notes makeing r really
motivating. infact sometime b i too concluded that there is noalternative to notes making...n i started with great enthu. but soon i
found that i m spending lot of timein this exercise n lost interest in
the process. but again i was with no better alternative or short cut. n
was sceptical about success of this method. but really after going
through ur post i hav regained my faith in notes making...its really a
tedious work but at the end of the day i feel that a particular topic is
in my full control. n i can handle any question on that.
i hav read all of ur posts...mam u really doing a true social service
here by helping aspirants. i m sure that our administrative system is
going to hav a very dynamic n committed civil servant.
best wishes for ur career.
Reply
Twinkle July 27, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Dear Ma'am,
Suppose I want to make notes on Topic 1 (PA) & I'm reading
M.Bhattchrya, Awasthi Mahesh. & N.Henry. Do I make notes on the
relevant chaps from the 3 books & then a final synopsis (for final
revision)? Or a combined notes after going thru the 3 books? Plz
suggest.
Thanks,
Twinkle
Reply
Shubhra July 27, 2009 at 3:29 PM
combined notes after going thru the 3 books
select the best from all sources.
Reply
rasheda July 30, 2009 at 12:27 AM
Hello Shubhra Mam...hw r u??
1st of all I would like to congratulate u 4 yr great achievements.
Your tips on making notes is indeed very much helpfull 4 all aspirants
of civil services.
Before joining yr blog site I was in deep confusion tht have almost
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been solved now.
I would like to solve 1 query regarding making notes...tht's while
making notes 4 relevant topic we should go 4 different books 4 the
same topic & then make it comprehensive...but should we focus on
current situation passing into government in a year 4 the same topic
if any happens???
Hw to apply it into our conventional notes???
& wht should b the body of answer???Should we mention tht current topic into our preface & conclusion??
Hw to start an effective preface 4 each topic & wht's qualities should
our conclusion have???
Thnx & regards
Rasheda Khatun.
Reply
rasheda July 30, 2009 at 12:44 AM
Shubhra ji wht's the importance of notes frm coaching class???which coaching class notes r useful 4 pub adm. & GS???
Vaji Ram & Ravi's notes r better 4 GS or should we buy another
coaching class' notes??
have u gone through notes by coaching??
Reply
Shubhra July 30, 2009 at 6:33 PM
Rasheda,
you will have to consult more than 1 book in most cases.
You should make a separate notebook for current related information
so that you can keep noting all of the current stuff in that notebook.
When your notes are over, just supplement these details to your
relevant topics.
Reply
Shubhra July 30, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Rasheda,
For GS, Vajiram notes are good.
For Pub ad, Vajiram notes are not good.
You can also get notes of any other GS coaching u find around.
Yes, I have gone through Vajiram and ALS notes.
Reply
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mano July 30, 2009 at 11:30 PM
hello mam,
im mano ,preparing for civil services examination.first of all
mam,congratulation for your greatest achievement.well mam,im
having lot of problems with my study routine,taking notes,reading
newspaper....can you please help me
i will enlist all problems below
1.im goin to coaching center mam,their i write down notes in a4
sheets dictated by sir...should i memorize all content or just
read ....how can i make synotic notes...i hav tries but still a topic
covers 2 to 3 papers of my synopsis.is memoring all day to day topis
essential?....please guide me thru this...
2.secondly the newspaper which is read daily ,has to be revised again
and again?
3.how can i manage my time mam?
these are my doubts ,please guide me thru it....i would be greatly
obliged
Reply
Shubhra July 31, 2009 at 4:04 PM
@Mano
Please do not memorise everyday.
Finish whole chapter from relevant sources and then start making
notes.
No, newspaper doesnt have to be memorised at all.
Time managemnet can be done by making daily, weekly and monthly
timetables, You should break your syllabus in parts and then planyour timetable accordingly.
Reply
mano July 31, 2009 at 6:20 PM
mam,hence the synopsis which i take can be memorized....
or is it that the answers should be memorized which i hav written
Reply
mano July 31, 2009 at 6:24 PM
hi mam,
congratulations for your achievement.
im mano,ias asprirant going to give my prelims next yr
im having lot of problems with manking notes in synoptic for,reading
newspaper....i have enlisted my probles in detail below
1.im not able to make synoptic notes,im goin for vajiram classes for
geo,notes are pilling up ,the notes im reading but is it mandatory to
memorize the notes ,or can it be memorized by writing synopsis,but
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in that sitaution synopsis are to be in detail......im not able to
understand mam.....are synopsis supposed to be short or sufficient
for having main ponts which can make up answer by
manipulating....please help me man...i would be greatly obliged
Reply
Shubhra August 1, 2009 at 9:13 AM
@Mano
First study the topics well from expansive notes and books
Once you have finished the topic well for about 2 times, then start
making synoptic notes, how detailed or how brief the notes should
be, depends on your level of comfort in the topic.
Reply
rithik August 10, 2009 at 9:18 PM
ma'am,
In case of shortlisted topics ,how comprehensively are we expected
to cover the topic since there are many interlinkages.
Eg:CIVIL SOCIETY --
The questions which i can think of are --
civil society and public policy ;civil society and good governance;civil
society and accountabity
so should i just make generic points about civil society and apply
them in the exam or try to cover all the aspects around it.
or is it good to answer all the previous year questions on that topic?
Thanks & regards ma'am.
Reply
Shubhra August 10, 2009 at 11:02 PM
You should make generic notes and try to apply them to specific
situation. If you strat doing it by question per question, you will have
to put in tremendous amount of time and patience.
Just try to cover all aspects of civil society from some good books and
make notes in one place.
Questions come in all shades and packages. Do not try to outsmart
the exam. Just be flexible enough to accomodate any eccentricities
the q paper throws at you.
Reply
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ruby August 14, 2009 at 5:23 AM
for gs i m relying upon-
the hindu, yojna, kurkshetra, competition wizard, chronicle mag.
is it all enough or do i need to edit the list?
Reply
Shubhra August 14, 2009 at 8:51 PM
why read 2 curr affairs magazines? choose one and stick to it.
Reply
ruby August 15, 2009 at 3:56 AM
but in your opinion which 1 is better out of wizard and chronicle?
Reply
Shubhra August 15, 2009 at 9:02 PM
I referred Wizard.
Reply
ruby August 17, 2009 at 10:10 PM
so nice of you for the guaidance
Reply
rithik August 24, 2009 at 12:15 PM
ma'am,
When do you think we should generally prepare the notes??Since i'm
writng '09 mains,is it late to be making notes now since its a little
time consuming?
and also ma'am,kindly guide us about the last month/2 month
preparation strategy(the do's and dont's)
Thanks and regards ma'am..
Reply
raja August 25, 2009 at 7:46 AM
This comment has been removed by the author.
Reply
Shubhra August 25, 2009 at 10:46 AM
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@rithik
It's a bit late now.
Reply
Lavanya August 26, 2009 at 3:28 AM
Hi Shubra mam
Is it necessary to make newspaper notes for prelims and how much
time be invested for that. And regrdg my optional P.A - as of now i'm
not writing the mains but preparing with the mains focus for next yr
use, so in order to check whether i'm in the right track i'm answering
the previous yr questions. Shall i post my answer in order to get ur
correction.
Thank You
Reply
rithik August 26, 2009 at 2:51 PM
ma'am,
kindly guide us about the last month/2 month preparation strategy
(the do's and dont's)
Thanks and regards ma'am..
Reply
Shubhra August 27, 2009 at 5:58 AM
@Lavanya
yes, plz post ur answer.
u dont need to make notes from newspaper, that will take a long
time. refer magazines for Curr affairs.
Reply
Marut August 27, 2009 at 10:25 AM
hey shubhra... impressive wat ur doin... helpin UPSC aspirants!! whr
ru these days.. ur whereabouts?..sad 2 interact wid u thru dis
medium though!! :) m bakk in India... n wid CSC.. wrkin in BidMgmt/Proposals/Presales for CSC India sales.....!!! hs ur induction
already startd?..
keep in touch!!
Marut
Reply
Shubhra August 27, 2009 at 10:49 AM
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Hey Marut,
Good to hear from you.
My no is still the same. Call me tomorrow.
or just put your email id here...I will send u my no.
TC
Reply
adi August 28, 2009 at 8:14 AM
hi, madam ive start preparing for ias very later( in aug) ..also i m
doing job..so i m not able to join any coaching class (coz i m posted
in a remote area) ..so i m lil worried as how to manage..as there any
substitute for classes...can i buy notes of these classes n strt reading
thm..will it be useful...pls do help..waiting for ur reply...
Reply
adi August 28, 2009 at 8:14 AM
hi, madam, im bit confused as how to go about making notes..should
i make them without refering books(i.e. by learning ) or from books.
as there are many topics in a chapter , so what should be the ideal
approach..pls help...
Reply
Shubhra August 28, 2009 at 8:33 AM
@adiyes you should buy these notes and start studying from them.
Reply
Sunil September 6, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Hello Ma'am... It feels great getting CS tips from you... I thank you
very much for helping all of us taking out your valuable time for this
blog... This blog will help us to utilize our time and potential in the
best way possible. Thanx a lot..
Reply
Gaurav November 8, 2009 at 2:55 AM
Madam
chapter wise notes is in respect to prelims or what?
Also please provide more detail if possible how to go about chapter
wise notes.
After analysing the paper should we go about those kind of points
only whose type is asked in question papers.
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regards
Gaurav shrivastava
Reply
Shubhra November 14, 2009 at 5:34 AM
for mains
Reply
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