Note Taking Methods
For all three methods, you must
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Identify the source of the information on note card |
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Identify the source using a citation in your paper |
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Represent the material from the source fairly and accurately |
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Avoid plagiarism: either implying or presenting words or ideas from a source as your own |
Quoting
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Used to record the precise wording of the original |
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Length exactly the same as the original |
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Requires quotation marks |
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Copy exact wording from source |
Paraphrasing
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Used to record most of detail, specific ideas of the original |
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Length about the same as the original |
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Does not require quotation marks |
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Completely in your own words |
Summarizing
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Used to record the main ideas and essential message of the original |
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Length much shorter than the original |
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Does not require quotation marks |
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Completely in your own words |
Selective Note Taking
Prepare a source card after finding a source you want to use.
Look for the information you need.
Decide what subject heading fits the information.
Prepare the note card: subject heading, author/title OR source #, page number, initials
Decide whether to quote, paraphrase, or summarize.
Write the note
Not too much or too little
Only information from one source per card
Only information on one subject heading per card
Don’t write on backs of cards
Don’t continue a note from one card to another
Use quotation marks when copying word-for-word from the source
Don’t quote on every card; use paraphrasing or summarizing at least half the time