I found stuff. Now what?
Finding your information is just one step in using it appropriately. You must ensure that you take notes so you can organize your information. Notetaking will also help you avoid plagiarism if done correctly.
Good notes help you identify main ideas and themes in your sources, and you can then group your sources together to use them in your research paper.
Take notes and use organizational methods that work best for you. If you're a visual learner, you might consider creating a mind-map for your notes, or using color-coding to stay organized.
There are many options for notetaking. Two of the most common are outlining and notecards.
As you search, take notes and add citations to your NoodleTools list. This process should take approximate 40% of the time you have earmarked for this project. Traditionally, students have used index or (note) cards to take notes and stay organized. Many students (and teachers) still insist on that method. However, with technology, there are different methods available for taking notes.
No matter what method you choose, the actual process is the same:
1. Skim. Skim through the article first to know whether it will or will not be useful.
2. Read. Read and understand what you've read. Read an entire paragraph or section and state verbally or in writing what you have just read.
3. Select. Be picky. Only write down notes that will be useful later in writing the paper.
4. Record. Jot the source information on the notes somewhere.
“But how do I put what I'm reading into my own words?”
· Don’t copy word-for-word unless you plan on using it later as a quotation.
· Abbreviate and use incomplete sentences, as long as you understand the meaning.
· Make a diagram or mini outline of key points (Main Idea - Sub Idea) for long paragraphs.
· Test yourself! Read a paragraph until you feel you understand it. Without looking, write down what you remember. Go back and read the original work to make sure that the words are different but the meaning is the same. The extra reading will also drill in the content.
· Don't get lazy and just substitute words here and there. If you copy this later in your draft, is considered plagiarism because you are still using the writer's style.
Notecards are one of the simplest ways to organize your research. As you read through your sources, record quotations and paraphrase information that you feel is important for supporting your claim. To use notecards when organizing your information, follow the steps below:
1. Record important quotations and paraphrased passages from your sources.
2. Title your notecards according to the main idea of the quotation.
3. Paraphrase that information using the tips outlined in the "Paraphrasing” page.
4. Copy the in-text citation into your notecard.
5. Color code the cards topically using your research questions.
6. Re-order your notecards according to how you want your essay organized.
7. Copy the outline format of your cards into a word doc, and begin filling in your analysis!
Click HERE for a tutorial on how to use research notecards for your project.
(Notecards adapted from original by Blue Valley North Library)
Using ppt. for Notetaking
Use this blank template to take and organize notes during your research. Put a subject header on top, notes in the middle, and source citation info at the bottom. When you finish, group the slides by heading. Berkowitz, Bob and Mike Eisinberg. "The Big 6." Web. 21 Aug. 2010.