Note-taking and summarizing
Content
Reading for important points
Prediction/anticipation based on the title
Titles are the place your eyes should fall onto when starting reading (that is, scanning) a text. It is thus quite important for you to decide strategically if the text is worth your while, in other words, if it meets the requirements of field of study, specificity of topic and expertise.
Task 1
Compare these three titles and match them with the media you expect them to be published in:
| 1) | Is coffee good for you? | |
| 2) | Consumers’ perceptions of coffee health benefits and motives for coffee consumption and purchasing | |
| 3) | The emerging health benefits of coffee with an emphasis on type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease |
Discourse markers (the ‘signposts’) and their functions
When you have finished scanning, it is time to decide if you are going to read the text in more detail. You might want to use the text for other purposes, such as preparing a class paper, giving a presentation, or writing an essay. In this case, you will need to take notes – this, in turn, requires you to get a clear idea about how the text is logically built. Most well-built texts achieve a high level of concision (cohesion) by using a balanced amount of the so-called discourse markers (the signposts). These tell you how words and sentences are linked together, and what the relation between them is.
Following are some typical expressions used for various types of linking:
| Type of relationship | Discourse markers |
|---|---|
| Sequencing, ordering | First; the first thing; first of all; firstly; the next one; to begin with; moving on to the next reason; secondly; thirdly; subsequently; on top of that; later; after this; finally |
| Cause and effect | Therefore; Consequently; In consequence; As a result; Accordingly; Hence; Thus; For this reason; Because of this. |
| Giving an example | For example; For instance; Specifically; With regards to; To illustrate; Such as |
| Contrast | However; On the other hand; In contrast; Yet. |
| Concession | Although; Even though; Despite the fact that; In spite of the fact that; Regardless of the fact that. |
| Emphasis | Above all; Essentially; Clearly; Most of all; Especially; Primarily; Particularly; In large |
| Addition | Moreover; In addition; Additionally; Further; Further to this; Also; Besides; What is more. |
| Condition | If; In the event of; As long as...; So long as...; Provided that...; Assuming that...; Given that... |
| Summary | Finally; In sum; In summary; In conclusion; To sum up |
Task 2
Choose the correct discourse marker (one of the options can be used twice).
Poverty
Coffee is a complex mixture of chemicals that provides significant amounts of chlorogenic acid and caffeine. Unfiltered coffee is a significant source of cafestol and kahweol, are diterpenes that have been implicated in the cholesterol-raising effects of coffee. The results of epidemiological research suggest that coffee consumption may help prevent several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease and liver disease (cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma). Most prospective cohort studies have not found coffee consumption to be associated with significantly increased cardiovascular disease risk. , coffee consumption is associated with increases in several cardiovascular disease risk factors, including blood pressure and plasma homocysteine. there is little evidence that coffee consumption increases the risk of cancer. For adults consuming moderate amounts of coffee (3–4 cups/d providing 300–400 mg/d of caffeine), there is little evidence of health risks and some evidence of health benefits. some groups, including people with hypertension, children, adolescents, and the elderly, may be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of caffeine. , currently available evidence suggests that it may be prudent for pregnant women to limit coffee consumption to 3 cups/d providing no more than 300 mg/d of caffeine to exclude any increased probability of spontaneous abortion or impaired fetal growth.
Source: Higdon, J. V., & Frei, B. (2006). Coffee and health: a review of recent human research. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 46(2), 101-123.
Task 3
Fill in the correct discourse marker:
Coffee consists of several biological active compounds, caffeine, diterpenes, chlorogenic acids, and melanoidins, may affect human health. The intake of each compound depends on the variety of coffee species, roasting degree, type of brewing method and serving size. The bioavailability and the distribution of each compound and its metabolites contribute to coffee mechanisms of action. The health benefits of coffee consumption regarding cardiovascular system and metabolism mostly depend on its antioxidant compounds. diterpenes and caffeine may produce harmful effects by raising lipid fraction and affecting endothelial function, respectively. Studying the mechanism of action of coffee components may help understanding whether coffee’s impact on health is beneficial or hazardous. In this article, we reviewed the available information about coffee compounds and their mechanism of action. benefits and risks for the cardiovascular system associated with coffee consumption will be discussed.
Source: Godos, J., Pluchinotta, F. R., Marventano, S., Buscemi, S., Li Volti, G., Galvano, F., & Grosso, G. (2014). Coffee components and cardiovascular risk: beneficial and detrimental effects. International journal of food sciences and nutrition, 65(8), 925-936.