Using Notes During Essay‐writing: is it always helpful?

Abstract

This study examined the conditions under which using notes while essay‐writing is helpful. The study was conducted among 226 high school graduates attending an entrance examination to a nursing school. All participants were provided with an opportunity to write notes about the text in any way they desired. Subjects were randomly assigned either to a group which was to write with notes or to a group that was to write without notes. It was assumed that the effectiveness of using notes while essay‐writing would vary depending on the nature of the task. It appeared that when a task called for text‐based reproduction of information, using notes in essay‐writing helped students to write lengthier, more coherent and cohesive essay‐type answers. In contrast, in a task which required critical review of the text information, there was not much use in having the notes present during writing. The results indicated that the advice to write an essay using spontaneously written notes is not applicable in all situations.