Note-taking Strategies

1
Note-taking Strategies

• Two Strategies Recommended for Senior Project
  Research

2
Recommended Formats

• Note Cards uses Index Cards for notes
• Notebook Style record notes on separate pages
  in a notebook

3
Note Cards/Index Cards

• In this method, you record each piece of
  information from a source on a separate card.
• After you have finished reviewing and recording
  all sources, you can organize all cards according
  to topic.

4
Note Cards/Index Cards contd.

• For each source copy the complete bibliographic
  information in MLA style (author, title,
  publisher, date/place of publication, etc.) on
  one card
• This becomes your Bibliography Card
• Value helps you prepare your Working
  Bibliography for your actual paper.

5
Note Cards/Index Cards contd.

• For multiple notes from the same source in the
  upper right-hand corner of each card, record a
  short form of the tile and the authors last
  name.
• In the lower right-hand corner, record the page
  numbers from where your notes are taken.

6
Note Cards/Index Cards contd.

• Include a topic/slug as a header on each card
  so you can quickly sort through your cards when
  preparing to write your paper.
• Identify your notes as summary, idea, paraphrase,
  or direct quote.

7
Sample Note Cards

• Bibliography card

8
Sample Note Cards

• Summary of authors main focus in chapter

9
Sample - Note Cards

• Paraphrase of a passage

10
Sample Note Cards

• Shows a direct quotation

11
Notebook Style Note-taking

• Method - record all information on a single page
  or a series of pages in a notebook of lined
  paper.
• Guides Write the author, title, place of
  publication, publisher, date of publication, etc.
  (whatever info is required by MLA format for your
  specific type of source).

12
Notebook Style Note-taking contd.

• Make notes in the middle of the page LEAVE WIDE
  MARGINS
• In the right-hand margin record the page
  numbers from the source for locating the info.
• In the left-hand margin note the specific topic
  to which each piece of info relates.

13
Notebook Style Note-taking contd.

• Begin a new page for each source you consult, or
  if you have lots of information for each
  chapter/section from a source, list the chapter.
• List your notes according to topic as well, to
  help you quickly sort your notes when you begin
  to write your paper.

14
Notebook Style Note-taking contd.

• Include page numbers for where you found the info
  in each specific source.
• Be sure to indicate in your notebook pages
  whether your notes are summary, paraphrase, or
  direct quotation (to help compose the correct
  in-text citation format).

15
Summary

• Common Errors to Avoid
• Plagiarism copying down word-for-word work that
  is not your own.
• Including too much detail in notes slows you
  down, doesnt distinguish between significant and
  insignificant info.

16
Summary contd.

• Use direct quotes sparingly only when you have
  a specific purpose or point to support.
• Include page numbers in all notes eliminates
  spending extra time later to re-locate where the
  info came from in your source.

17
Summary contd.

• Record CORRECT, COMPLETE info in MLA style for
  all bibliography information.
• Refer to MLA web site
• http//www.mla.org/
• OR
• the OWL at Purdue (MLA style guide)
• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/