Taking Notes

The devil is in the details…

Why can’t I just highlight stuff?

You’ll make the librarians very crabby.

You will suffer back injuries from carrying everything around.

The computer will eat your file. You will run out of room on your desk.

Seriously,

Keep everything!!! Good note taking saves a TREMENDOUS

amount of time. Getting the citation info the first time saves

headaches. Resources have a way of coming back to bite

you in the you know what—take your notes seriously.

What is “good note taking”?

You can look back after a week and know what you were talking about. It said that the situation was muddledCoulter clearly states, “The liberal faction…”

Includes facts, statistics, paraphrases and summaries

Quotes, Paraphrases, and Summaries—an overview

Basco (xi-xii) states that these people usually appear to be successful, but inside they feel flawed.

Sum up the main idea in one sentence. Think “essential truth”. More…

For overview of information or in general support of an assertion

Getting the big idea from a source into a sentence 15 words or less.

Summary

This goal is intangible (Stone 41) and must be replaced with realistic goals.

Read the source and put it into your own words. DON’T change meaning!

More…

Most often because it keeps your paper from sounding like a mish-mash of voices.

Re-writing a resource in your own words (2-4 sentences)

Paraphrase

And according to this same author, “only one quarter of fetuses with trisomy 21 survive to term” (Newberger 825-6).

Put it in quotations and write down the source EXACTLY as it’s written. More…

An exceptional insight or definitions that can’t be changed

Exact word-for- word statement from a source.

Quote

What does it look like in-text?

How do I do it?

When do you use it?

What is it?

How to write the note card

Write one fact per note (quote, paraphrase). Cite the source name with all pertinent data

—write down the page number!! Label the note-where does it fit in the

paper? Use complete sentences. If it’s your idea, make sure you indicate that

somewhere on the note card. (MT)

Personal Notes

Record your discoveries (Hmm, that’s interesting)

Reflect on findings (Well, what would happen if)

Make connections (That doesn’t make sense when compared to)

Identify prevailing views and patterns of thought (most of the lit seems to suggest…)

Direct Quotes

Use a good turn of phrase Use the essential statement Use a quote from an expert Offer an opposing thought Use quotation marks and attributions,

According to Tomlinson, “People without scars lead boring lives.”

Quote from Primary Sources

To draw on wisdom of original author

Use the precise words of the author

Copy exact lines of a piece of literature (poem, essay, drama, fiction)

To reproduce graphs, charts and statistical data.

Quote a secondary source

To further discussion or explain complex material

To make your own point especially if furthers the original quote.

To display excellence in ideas and expression by experts on the topicOveruse shows lack of focus, inadequate

evidence-use these sparingly

Notes from field research

Write them as soon as possible so notes are fresh and true.

Write without bias-only what happened May discuss feelings in a separate “note”

If possible, write during the experience Tape and transcribe interviews Keep all paper evidence (surveys,

questionnaires, tests)

MLA Citation Style

Regardless of the way you record your sources, you will use one standard way to identify them—MLA

Countless resources are available Citation depends upon the “type” of source,

i.e. book, on-line article, movie, lecture Look up the type and cite accordingly

Owl Writing Lab at Purdue University