Taking notes for context

[smile+energy]

Can anyone please tell me how to take notes for the examples of context? I am studying encountering conflicts and my teacher required us to take notes from current events and historical events. Currently I take some notes about what is the conflict about, who is involved and what is the result of it. Do I need to add more? Thanks in advance

[Emie]

Try to make notes under different subheadings of your context i.e. Types of conflict in history, reasons behind such conflict, ways this conflict was resolved etc.
This will help you to start generating ideas relating to your context!

[ShortBlackChick]

It kinda sounds like the notes you have so far only detail what the conflict is? I mean bare details/facts about conflicts that would aid you in giving an example in a response. But you need to be able to go more further than just stating an example- you need to be able to explain the contexts behind it that relates back to your prompt.

I've just gone to Essay Topics Megathread to find topics for this context, and just generally looked at the topics. You need to be able to relate your examples back to the topic/prompt.

• This may mean that you need details about particular conflicts that explain WHY a conflict has arisen- so the historical context behind it.
• The CONSEQUENCES of the conflict, not just after it has been resolved but during it as well- who has been affected, how?
• HOW it was resolved, if it indeed was, may also help in some instances.

Obviously you cant use every example you have to answer each and every prompt, but in essence you need to have the ability to link a relevant example to the prompt and explain how it is relevant and supports your view.

[smile+energy]

Try to make notes under different subheadings of your context i.e. Types of conflict in history, reasons behind such conflict, ways this conflict was resolved etc.
This will help you to start generating ideas relating to your context!

Thanks Emie. Your tips really help

[smile+energy]

It kinda sounds like the notes you have so far only detail what the conflict is? I mean bare details/facts about conflicts that would aid you in giving an example in a response. But you need to be able to go more further than just stating an example- you need to be able to explain the contexts behind it that relates back to your prompt.

I've just gone to Essay Topics Megathread to find topics for this context, and just generally looked at the topics. You need to be able to relate your examples back to the topic/prompt.

• This may mean that you need details about particular conflicts that explain WHY a conflict has arisen- so the historical context behind it.
• The CONSEQUENCES of the conflict, not just after it has been resolved but during it as well- who has been affected, how?
• HOW it was resolved, if it indeed was, may also help in some instances.

Obviously you cant use every example you have to answer each and every prompt, but in essence you need to have the ability to link a relevant example to the prompt and explain how it is relevant and supports your view.

Thanks ShortBlackchick. Yeah, currently I can only understand what does "conflict" means and I don't know how to get the in-depth info. Now I know it. And can you please explain further about "during the conflicts have been resolved" for me? Thanks in advance

[ShortBlackChick]

I'm assuming you mean about the point about the consequences?

• The CONSEQUENCES of the conflict, not just after it has been resolved but during it as well- who has been affected, how?

There's sort of two points there, the first being consequences after the conflict has been resolved- so if it has changed the lives of the people involved in a good way, or not, and if so how. The second is how the conflict affected people in the midst of it, so during the conflict the different consequences it inflicted- the changes to lives.

I guess I'm kind of looking at it in an individual/societal perspective, when you could also look at it political and economic wise.

[smile+energy]

I'm assuming you mean about the point about the consequences?

There's sort of two points there, the first being consequences after the conflict has been resolved- so if it has changed the lives of the people involved in a good way, or not, and if so how. The second is how the conflict affected people in the midst of it, so during the conflict the different consequences it inflicted- the changes to lives.

I guess I'm kind of looking at it in an individual/societal perspective, when you could also look at it political and economic wise.

Thanks so much. That makes sense now.

[Limista]

Something I did last year for context was carrying a bunch of sticky notes around with me, or a small note-pad. Whenever I observed something related to me context, I would pencil it in. What I wrote down or observed was never anything life-changing. In fact, it was just the marginal and minor things. But I found that this habit really kept me on my toes, constantly thinking about the context, and the meaning of the context. It just became less mind-boggling to write essays later that night, because I'd already 'warmed-up' my brain.

[smile+energy]

Something I did last year for context was carrying a bunch of sticky notes around with me, or a small note-pad. Whenever I observed something related to me context, I would pencil it in. What I wrote down or observed was never anything life-changing. In fact, it was just the marginal and minor things. But I found that this habit really kept me on my toes, constantly thinking about the context, and the meaning of the context. It just became less mind-boggling to write essays later that night, because I'd already 'warmed-up' my brain.

That's a really good habit to have, and I think your examples were unique. Did you just note down what happened? Any other things?

[Limista]

That's a really good habit to have, and I think your examples were unique. Did you just note down what happened? Any other things?

My context was Whose Reality?

Example: student puts his hand up to report to teacher/ ask question. Teacher gives him permission to answer.

Question: who is the authority figure? Why is he the authority figure? What if we don't submit to him, how will this affect our reality? Will we be perceived differently if we act rebelliously? Will it affect our marks? 

Bigger picture: if we make a difference to reality, then are we supported by others?

Textual reference: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey. This book demonstrated how an oppressed and mechanistic institution was taking over a mental hospital. In my case, teacher is taking over school; Nurse Ratched taking over Chief Bromden's mind and psychologies of other inmates.

^ so this is like a scaffolding on which I built more ideas. Sometimes when I had more time, I would make it more detailed.

[smile+energy]

My context was Whose Reality?

Example: student puts his hand up to report to teacher/ ask question. Teacher gives him permission to answer.

Question: who is the authority figure? Why is he the authority figure? What if we don't submit to him, how will this affect our reality? Will we be perceived differently if we act rebelliously? Will it affect our marks? 

Bigger picture: if we make a difference to reality, then are we supported by others?

Textual reference: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey. This book demonstrated how an oppressed and mechanistic institution was taking over a mental hospital. In my case, teacher is taking over school; Nurse Ratched taking over Chief Bromden's mind and psychologies of other inmates.

^ so this is like a scaffolding on which I built more ideas. Sometimes when I had more time, I would make it more detailed.

That's a good example. Was the book One Flew Over the Cuskoo's Nest one of your English novels in yr 12?

[Limista]

That's a good example. Was the book One Flew Over the Cuskoo's Nest one of your English novels in yr 12?

No this wasn't part of the texts I studied in year 12. But that's the thing with context - it doesn't have to be. The sources you choose to input in your context essays can be from anywhere (better if it's something that's well-known), provided they aren't texts from a prior yr 12 English study design.

[smile+energy]

No this wasn't part of the texts I studied in year 12. But that's the thing with context - it doesn't have to be. The sources you choose to input in your context essays can be from anywhere (better if it's something that's well-known), provided they aren't texts from a prior yr 12 English study design.

That sounds good. I think I need to find some famous examples for context writing then.
Thanks for your help.