Research and Note Taking

NoteTaking

When taking notes from difference sources, remember to:

• use your own words i.e. paraphrase
• write keywords or phrases ie. summarise
• use bullet points
• use drawings, diagrams, symbols, and abbreviations

Remember to include enough information in your notes so that you understand what they mean and can use them in your final project. Keep a note of all your sources as you go along otherwise you will forget them at the end!

 You may wish to make use of online tools  such as www.evernote.com or www.onenote.com

NoteTaking

https://www.edutopia.org/article/6-strategies-taking-high-quality-notes?utm_source=Edutopia%20News&utm_campaign=d21cc6e85d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_110817_enews_6strategiesfor_mc&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29295b4c8b-d21cc6e85d-48174947

When taking notes from difference sources, remember to:

• use your own words i.e. paraphrase
• write keywords or phrases ie. summarise
• use bullet points
• use drawings, diagrams, symbols, and abbreviations

You may wish to make use of online tools  such as www.evernote.com or www.onenote.com

Paraphrasing

• Involves putting a passage from a source into your own words
• Does NOT match the source word for word
• Changes the words or phrasing of a passage but retains and communicates the original meaning
• Must be attributed to the original source 

Summarising

• Involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, but including only the main point(s)
• Presents a broad overview so is usually much shorter than the original source
• Does NOT match the source word for word
• Must be attributed to the original source.

How to effectively paraphrase and summarise

• Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
• Rely only on your memory and without looking at the original text, write your summary/paraphrase.
• Check your version with the original for content, and accuracy and to make sure you have not mistakenly borrowed phrases
• Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phrase you have borrowed exactly from the source
• Record the source (including the page) so that you can credit it easily

Quotations

• Quotations match the source word for word
• Are usually a brief segment of the text
• Appear between quotation marks
• Must be attributed to the original source

How to use quotations?

• Mention the person’s name either at the beginning of the quote,or at the end.
• Select those direct quotes that make the most impact in your paper – too many direct quotes may lessen your credibility and interfere with your style.
• Put quotation marks around the text that you are quoting.
• Indicate added phrases in square brackets ([ ]) and omitted text with ellipses (…)
• If the quote is more than 3 lines, indent it on a new line.

Using a Research Grid

A research grid can also help organise your research and note-taking. Comparing sources is a great way of checking that your information is valid. For each question, choose at least 4 sources (books, websites, encyclopaedia and online database etc.) and take notes in your own words to answer your question.

 Below is a pre-research planner you may find helpful in formulating your questions.

You can download some helpful advice and information here also:-

Being an Active Reader

How to write a Research Paper

And there is some helpful advice here:-