GNS 101 NOTE

Notes are essentially a form of summary of important ideas and supporting details
of an oral or written information. It is important to differentiate between note-
taking and note- making.

Note taking is the act of reducing a given discourse to a statement of importance

which can later be reflected upon. It is the act of picking points during either
lecture, seminar, conference or any formal speech. While note making is an act of
forming notes or jotting salient points ,from written materials during ones reading.
Note taking is used for oral discourse while note making is used for written
discourse.

PURPOSE OF NOTE TAKING/MAKING

The two main purpose why we take/make notes are for examination and for
research. For examination, we seek to understand and retain the main points of the
subject we are studying. For research, we are gathering data on the topic under
consideration.

TECHNIQUES FOR TAKING/MAKING NOTES

The techniques for achieving good note making include the following; use of
abbreviation, use of outline, use of symbols and use of charts/diagrams. They are
used by students to make their work easier considering the flow of information
during a lecture, which gives one little time to write much. As such, these
techniques mentioned would be of great help in the process of learning.

USE OF DICTIONARY

The use of dictionary is essential in the life of a student who seeks knowledge. It
is a sure way to success, as it help students with the following;

The meaning of words that are strange, spellings, pronunciation/syllabication,

origin of words (Etymology), parts of speech of words(grammatical
designation),usage of words, synonyms and antonyms and idiomatic phrases.
USE OF LIBRARY

A library is a collection of written, printed or other graphic or visual materials

which are housed, organized and maintained for reading, studying and for
consultation. It is sometimes referred to as the store house of knowledge.

INFORMATION SOURSES IN THE LIBRARY (REFERENCE

MATERIAL)

These are materials in the library that gives information on further sources to
consult on varied subject. They are; dictionary, encyclopaedia, directory,
bibliography, serial, cataloque and call number.

1) Dictionary : is a reference book that list words or terms of general or

particular subject, profession or vocation, usually providing certain basic
information about them. Dictionary provide us with meaning of words,
spellings, pronunciation, abbreviations, part of speech, usage , synonyms and
antonyms.
2) Encyclopaedia: is a reference book provide background information to both
a specialist and the layman. It can be of general nature or restricted to a
particular subject area.
3) Directory : is a reference book that list companies, institutions and
organizations, giving their names and addresses.
4) Biblography : is a reference material that list and provide information about
books and other written materials . It help to inform library users about what
various authors have written or what has been published on a given subject
or topic.
5) Serials : These are materials that are published in successive parts (e.g daily,
weekly, monthly or yearly) and it is intended to be continued indefinitely.
Serials are also called periodicals.
6) Cataloque : is referred to as the key to the library and indeed the interpreter
of the library to its users.It tells the users all that the library has and where to
locate it on the shelves using call number. Call number is the number allotted
to a book to distinguish it from other books. It is written on thelower part of
the spine of the books.
READING

Reading is the interpretation of printed symbols or signs. There are two types of
reading:

A) Intensive reading : This means detailed reading ,usually in the classroom

under the guidance of a teacher for examination purpose.
B) Extensive reading : This involves reading for pleasure or to increase one’s
vocabulary.
METHODS OF READING
There are two methods of reading; they are skimming and scanning.
1) Skimming: is a rapid reading which is often used when we need to get the
gist of the content. It involves reading quickly just to find out what the book
is generally about, to grasp its high lights. Example reading a news paper.
2) Scanning: it means to glance or read speedily to look for a particular piece of
information in a text. Example is looking for answer to a question, data or
names from a text.

THE CONCEPT OF LANGUAGE

Language is defined by different author. Robins(1971) defines language as a
system of arbitrary vocal symbol by means of which a social group cooperates and
interact with one another. Saphir (1981) defines language as purely human and
non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means
of voluntary production of symbols.
From the definitions, it is clear that language has specific reference to man.
Therefore, language is said to be human specific because only man has the ability
to use language.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE

The characteristics are as follows;
1) Human language is both arbitrary and systematic. It uses symbols to
represent both tangible and abstract concept. The names of object and their
physical referent have nor natural connection e.g the word dog and the
animal it refers to. It is only and agreement of the people to call it what it is
called today.
 2) Human language is structured and governed; the structure gives words
certain order to convey desired meaning. This is what made human language
easy to learn.
3) Human language is environmentally control not hereditary; This means that
human language is not transferred by blood from parent to child. Language
is acquired in an environment.
4) Human language is creative, aesthetic and adaptable; it is no rigid as several
words may mean the same thing and so the same concept or idea can be
expressed in several ways.
5) Human language is productive; the human mind can produce a word to stand
for and object or tool that it never had. Human have new experiences or
situation which has to be described. Language users quickly put in use their
linguistic resources to produce new sentences or expressions.
FUNCTION OF LANGUAGE
Language is an important tool in the hands of men to express themselves.
Language to man is indispensable. Language performs the following functions;
1. Language is a vehicle of communication: language helps to transport
information from person to another.
2. It functions as a vehicle of transmitting man’s culture.
3. Language helps us to express our ideas and feelings.
4. It plays an important role in the transmission of knowledge. It is used in
class and book.
5. It unites people together.
6. Language plays an important role in the development of science and
technology.

USE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN NIGERIA

The use of English language in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized because it has
help to bring together the different ethnic nationality that made up Nigeria.
English is used in the following sectors; mass media, government and
administration, the law courts, banking and commerce and also in the educational
sector of the country.

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Teaching and learning of English language requires the following skills ;there are
four basic areas namely; listening, speaking, reading and writing. Listening and
speaking are often referred to as the skill of oracy while reading and writing are
referred to as the skills of literacy.

1) Listening skill; is one of the most important of the four skills language
learning situation. This is because it is the first skill acquired or learned.
Listening is not hearing because we can hear without listening. Listening is
recognition, selection and interpretation. It demands attention, reception,
response, retention and critical judgment.
2) Speaking skill; involves training in the productive skill of speech.
Communicative competence is the main aim of speaking skill but includes
also the ability to select an appropriate language for situations not just the
linguistic competence.
3) Reading skill; it is a process of obtaining information from print. In other
words reading is meaning searching and meaning getting activity.
4) Writing skill; it is one of the four language skills. It is the act of making
graphic symbols from oral symbol. By writing here, we mean creating
meaningful text such as stories or informative pieces.

GRAMMAR
Grammar refers to a set of rules that allow us to combine words in a language into
larger units. These rules help us to know if a sentence is correct or not. Grammar
has a hierarchical organization, consisting of the sentence as the highest rank of
utterance followed by clause, the phrase or group, word and lastly the morpheme
which is the smallest unit of grammar.

PARAGRAPH
A paragraph is a group of sentence that deals with single idea. It should content
five to ten sentences. Each paragraph should have a central idea expressed in a
sentence or phrase within the paragraph and such a sentence is known as the topic
sentence, while the other sentence in the paragraph are called supporting
sentences. The topic sentence can be found in the initial position or beginning of a
paragraph and such is called a loose sentence. It can be found at the end of a
paragraph which is called a periodic paragraph.
THEMATIC QUALITIES OF A PARAGRAPH
1. Unity; here refers to the fact that all sentences should relate to the idea
contained in the topic sentence.
2. Coherence; here it is expected that one sentence should naturally lead to
another not haphazardly, to have a smooth flow of information.
3. Completeness; here mean that all points should be fully developed not
leavind ideas hanging and round up logically.
4. Emphasis ; there is need to lay emphasis on certain ideas in a paragraph but
should avoid monotony caused by over repetition.

METHODS OF PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT

We can expand the ideas in our writing using the following methods such
as ;definition of terms, comparison and contrast, cause and effect, use of analogy
and use of examples or illustrations. The choice of which method to use depends
on the topic one is writing about.

LITERATURE
Literature as ‘’a subject or writing that mirrors life in order to reach some salient
moral lessons which we see every day but refuse to recognize, accept and
practice’’ as put by William Wordsworth. Fafunwa(1967) maintains that
‘’Literature after all is life, for it deals with man in every conceivable relation with
others, his joy…his fears and hopes’’. Okonkwo (1980) defines Literature as’’
mirrors life’’.

FUNCTIONS OF LITERATURE
Literature has many functions such as;
1. Literature exposed us to life and its realities within the society and the
world.
2. Literature broadens our knowledge of human affairs from social racial and
international spheres.
3. Literature provides pleasure and entertainment.
4. It teaches us morals, societal norms and values.
5. It teaches us the culture of others which enhance tolerance in our society.
6. It sharpen people’s critical mind.
7. Guide people away from bad practices.
TYPES/ GENRE OF LITERATURE
Literature is divided into three major types as follows; poetry, prose and drama.

1) Poetry; is as old as mankind. It is a piece of writing arranged in patterns of

lines and of sounds which often rhyme, expressing thoughts, emotions and
experiences in words that excites the imagination. Poetry is written in stanza
and the language is not everyday language as it is highly imaginative,
creative and thought provoking.
2) Drama ; Drama is a literary composition, which is meant to be acted on
stage, aim at teaching or to correct. It is written in everyday language and
expressed through human action in scenes and acts to form the complete
story.
3) Prose ; It is a form of writing that uses normal spoken word to reflect
human stories or experience on paper, aimed at entertaining or teaching
people. It can be a fiction or non-fiction. Non-fiction has to do with stories
that are based on facts rather than imagination. Prose is written in chapters.
4) Plot: Description of the events that make up a story, or the main parts of a
story in which the events relate to each other in a pattern or sequence. The
structure of a novel depends on the organization of events in the plot of the
story.
5) Theme: the subject matter of a talk, piece of writing, etc. It is the message
of an author or writer to the listener or reader of a message. For example,
human trafficking and prostitution is the theme of the home video ‘Lady
Bianca’.
6) Characters: Imagined or real human beings, animals or other beings, who
participate through oral, physical or other activities in the unfolding of the
plot of a story in a novel, play or poem e.g. Okonkwo and Unoka in
Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’.
7) Characterization: this has to do with the role played by characters in a play
or drama, highlighting all aspects of the roles played by the characters in a
literary work.
8) Setting: Background on which a novel, play or poem is based. For example
Yoruba land is the setting for Soyinka’s ‘The Lion and the Jewel’.