How To Make Notes By Swarochish Somawanshi Sir IAS AIR 49

Before you actually start Preparing
Notes first thing you have to do is to
throw your pen away and pay heed
towards your Learning
Process. When I say it like- Learning
Process, I try to become more of
philosophical and less scientific, if
you allow me to be so. First of all we
have to understand the whole
Process Of Learning, which our mind
undergoes through, mostly sub-
consciously.
So let’s start the fairy tale , based on
my fancies. Our mind has number of
Neuron Cells where the data is stored
when we study. A collection of cells,
far from biology, and according to
computer science, can be understood
as a Grid of lacs of cells. The
number of cells keep on changing.
For example- if we read a piece
which says India’s capital is New
Delhi, there are two cells formed,
nested one into another, first cell,
bigger one, is to store “India” and
other inside the bigger one to store
“New Delhi”.
So the point to be noted is, if the two
cells are not formed, first they get
formed and data is stored. If they are
already formed, some more cells,
inside the existing Mother Cell, are
formed as a Sub Grid and the finer
details are stored such as area of
Delhi, population etc.
So the issue before us is twofold-
Enlargement of grid as far as
possible.
Creation of sub grids, sub grids, sub
sub grids etc
To store maximum possible
information while reading the least.
Here comes the role of two things for
this purpose-
Preparing notes
Revision
Let us restrict ourselves to the first
one so that focus is not lost.
Preparing notes: Let me deal it point
wise-
If the book is a basic book, which
has to be done religiously (eg-
Prasad and Prasad for Public
Administration)
Read the book as fast as possible in
first iteration , avoid all the data/
facts. You don’t have to mug any
number, remember, no data at all .
Just have an overview and get the
theme the author wants you to
understand. Relate it to your existing
knowledge, to better comprehend.
Identify the Core Themes .
In the second iteration , try to focus on
the Core Themes. Try to retain only
one or two illustrations, whereas the
authors have a tend to put various
illustrations to prove their point. Now
its time to highlight/ underline the
important lines. Be miser to do it.
In third iteration , we use different
color’s pen to highlight. Identify the
topic/ question where you would like
to fit the info. Write on the book’s
margin itself .
Now you are all qualified to take
notes.
Some points to remember, while
actually writing it on the notebook.
Use least number of words, this is
possible only when you have a good
understanding of the topic.
Remember we don’t have to copy-
paste from the book in toto.
Leave spaces between the topics. To
allow future updations.
Try to innovate, a flow chart or
diagram if it strikes to your mind.
After completing the chapter I used
to prepare a Single Page Summary of
whole of the chapter, mentioning
headings and sub headings, to revise
it in 5 minutes On the D Day.
If you have read the same chapter
form some other sources, try to write
that also in continuation. If possible.
If the book is NOT a basic book and
its to be studied for updation
purposes (Magazines, journals like
IJPA )
Highlight/ underline in the first
iteration itself. Jot down the things
you want to, in the study material
itself.
To conclude, I think I have
reproduced what all I did last four
years while preparing notes. The
smart you work here, your Answer
Structuring gets nourished
automatically. So the much hyped
Ghost Of Answer Writing is also
managed to a great extent.
At the same time my memory’s
vulnerability is also to be
appreciated. As and when I recall
anything worthy I will surely update.
Its also to be repeated time and
again that there is NO ONE BEST
WAY to get it done, this is just an
experiment by me, its subjective and
explanations vary considerably. I
think it’s good enough to start with
towards our cherished dream ie IAS.
Go and get it!
NB- its an humble request to all those
handful of readers who have reached till
the last line to SHARE THIS STATUS so
as to benefit the maximum as I have
invested a lot of time to conceptualize
and type this write-up. Thanks.
With best wishes,
Swarochish Somavanshi,
AIR-49, CSE-2011
AIR- 575, CSE- 2009