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SKETCHNOTING5 MIN READ

Listen For Structure, Not Sentences

Recognize common spoken structures and match them to sketchnote layouts.

A sentence is not always the unit of capture. In sketchnoting, the more useful unit is often the relationship between ideas. The cue-word habit Listen for words that reveal structure. "First, next, finally" is a path. "Pros and cons" is a comparison. "Because" is causality. "The real issue" is hierarchy. "For example" is supporting evidence. The cue word tells you whether to draw a lane, a branch, a scale, a stack, or a container. Why this keeps you fast Trying to write complete sentences forces you to compete with the speaker's pace. Capturing structure lets you summarize without falling behind.…

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