PROGRAM ANUGERAH NILAM & KHEMAH MEMBACA KEBANGSAAN 2005

The Graphic Organizer Graphic Organizers, Mind Maps, Concept Maps are a pictorial or graphical way to organize information and thoughts for understanding, remembering, or writing about.

How to do a Mind Map

Look for relationships Use lines, colours, arrows, branches or some other way of showing connections between the ideas generated on your mind map. By personalising the map with your own symbols and designs - you will be constructing visual and meaningful relationships between ideas which will assist in your recall and understanding.

Draw quickly on unlined paper without pausing, judging or editing All of these things promote linear thinking and the idea of mind mapping is to think creatively and in a non-linear manner. Sometimes it is one of those obscure possibilities that may become the key to your knowledge of a topic.

Use capitals The idea of using capitals is to encourage you to get down only the key points. Capitals are also easier to read in a diagram.

Put main idea in the centre Most students find it useful to turn their page on the side and do a mind map in "landscape" style. With the main idea or topic in the middle of the page this gives the maximum space for other ideas to radiate out from the centre.

Leave lots of space Some of the most useful mind maps are those which are added to over a period of time. After the initial drawing of the mind map you may wish to highlight things, add information or add questions for the duration of a subject right up until exam time. For this reason it is a good idea to leave lots of space.

Summarising Readings

1. Skim Firstly, read the abstract, introduction, conclusion, key headings or chapter headings. When skimming through the text observe any diagrams, pictures or graphs. This gives you an overview of what you are about to read, puts it in context and may already give you some clues as to where the most relevant parts are located.

2. Read Read the article in one sitting ( or chunk it into sections/chapters if it is a whole book) and go over any parts you are not quite sure of.

3. Mind Map It is important to do the mind map from memory at this stage so don't consult the article or any other source of information.

4. Study The mind map you have just done is very valuable as it will show both areas you have understood and also areas you are not sure of. Study your mind map to discover the gaps in your knowledge and refer back to the source material to fill in any of these gaps.

5. Personalise Using different colours or symbols, add your own comments and questions to the mind map. Questions relating to relationships, implications, alternative approaches, usefulness, clarity, personal experience could all be considered at this stage. It is in this personalising stage where your mind map really starts to help you with your learning. The trick now is to address all those questions you have raised and to keep returning to your mind map with the answers!

Lectures, Seminars, Workshops and Tutorials Some students find it useful to create mind maps for various sessions where new information is presented

Sample Lecture Mind Map

Reading Efficiently by Reading Intelligently Good reading strategies help you to read in a very efficient way. Using them, you aim to get the maximum benefit from your reading with the minimum effort.

Strategy 1: Knowing what you want to know The first thing to ask yourself is: Why you are reading the text? Are you reading with a purpose or just for pleasure? What do you want to know after reading it?

Strategy 2: Knowing how deeply to study the material Where you only need the shallowest knowledge of the subject, you can skim material. Here you read only chapter headings, introductions and summaries.

Strategy 3: Active Reading When you are reading a document in detail, it often helps if you highlight, underline and annotate it as you go on. This emphasizes information in your mind, and helps you to review important points later.

Strategy 4: How to study different sorts of material Reading Magazines and Newspapers: The most effective way of getting information from magazines is to scan the contents tables or indexes and turn directly to interesting articles. Reading Individual Articles: News articles are designed to explain the key points first, and then flesh them out with detail. Opinion articles present a point of view. Feature Articles: These are written to provide entertainment or background on a subject.

Strategy 5: Reading whole subject Strategy 6: Using glossaries with technical documents

These are: Knowing what you need to know, and reading appropriately Knowing how deeply to read the document: skimming, scanning or studying Using active reading techniques to pick out key points and keep your mind focused on the material Using the table of contents for reading magazines and newspapers, and clipping useful articles Understanding how to extract information from different article types Creating your own table of contents for reviewing material Using indexes, tables of contents, and glossaries to help you assimilate technical information

A mind map about mind maps!

A POEM What can you count on your whole life long? A key, that opens a door, so strong. Behind that door is a store of knowledge. We've got it now, needn't wait for college. What is the answer, what is the key? It's R-E-A-D-I-N-G! When we were tiny, big books we would hold. We couldn't read them, but they were gold. Our parents read to us, and that gave us pleasure. Those words on the page were such a treasure. They taught us some words, they gave the first key. To R-E-A-D-I-N-G!

Then off to school we went with expectation. We learned that reading is the key to education. We read for fun, and we read to explore. Our teachers urged us to read even more. They taught us to research and write what we see From R-E-A-D-I-N-G! When we're older, we'll still read every day. For people who matter; who have shown us the way. Our parents, our teachers all love to read. They've encouraged us and planted a seed. That seed will grow and will form a tree Of R-E-A-D-I-N-G!

So, if you're a teacher, pass along the joy of unlocking reading for a young girl or boy. When those letters form words that a child can read, That spells success, and it fills a need. It opens doors that you may never see To R-E-A-D-I-N-G! What can we count on, once we have the key? An open door; where the mind soars free. Books to read are a child's greatest treasure. They're a gift of love beyond all measure. So pass along the gift and all children will be R-E-A-D-I-N-G!

Word Meanings From Context Use the context to help you choose the best meaning or synonym for each highlighted word. 1.Fortunately, the dizzy spell was transient. He was able to continue playing within seconds and had no trouble winning the match. When you describe an event as “transient,” you are saying that __________. a. it sounds like a train b. it is quite harmful c. it helps you win d. it doesn't last long

2. Brea and Elizabeth are having a dispute over which radio station to play at work. It would be so much simpler if they both liked the same kind of music. A dispute is a __________. a. musical instrument b. choice of music c. discovery d. disagreement