Background. Cycle of a meeting : the participants -- Arranging a meeting. Who will attend : administration -- Sections of a meeting -- Agenda. Agenda styles -- Personal preparation -- Creating the right environment -- Attending the meeting -- Taking notes. The message, not the words -- Structuring notes -- Writing up the minutes -- The minutes. Styles of minutes : common questions about minutes : useful words for minutes -- Recording decisions and actions -- Layout and numbering. Layout : numbering : look at the picture -- Impact of the freedom of information act on minutes. Exempt information : impact on meeting papers : referencing meeting papers : writing minutes -- Business English for minutes. Sentences : paragraphs : plain English : problem punctuation -- Building confidence.