Notes on Research

Before you start note taking - here is a screencast that models how I like to save and organize articles for research.

The main elements that must be included in notes on research are:

• Proper source identification (parenthetical citation preferred). You may want to color code the citation using blue text.

• identification of the portion of the outline the information will support

• useful content from source . You may want to color code content from an outside source in red text.

• an indication of whether the content is a direct quote, paraphrased, summary (if you are copying and pasting information, that is okay. However, realize that it is, therefore, a direct quote. If you maintain the exact wording, you must remember to format it properly within your paper as a direct quote so that it is not considered plagiarism. It is best to notate it within your notes on research in its correct format (within quotation marks).

The main elements that most notes on research should also include are:

• the researcher's own thinking (writing that analyzes the meaning of the content provided by the outside source). You may want to color code your own thinking/writing in green text.

• a topic sentence that introduces the content from the outside source and a transition sentence that can lead the reader to the next concept. You may want to color code your topic or transition sentences in orange text.

Every topic/subtopic within the main body portion of the outline should be supported by a research note gathered from an outside source.

10th grade classes learn note taking as an isolated skill. This means that students will be graded using the rubric found below. Students who are not in 10th grade may find the rubric as a useful guide.

Below the rubric are examples of note taking methods (choice #1 Google Doc Note Taking Sheet; ; choice #2 Using NoodleTools for Note taking; choice #3 Detailed Outline). You are free to select whichever method you feel works best for you or create your own method, as long as it meets your teacher's content requirements.

Below these choices are graphic organizers that allow you to take effective notes from specific types of sources. These have been developed to guide you in using each source more effectively. Feel free to open any of these in Google Docs, Make a Copy, and modify them to suit your own needs. Be certain to record all of the elements required above to be included within notes on research.

Your teachers are likely to allow any version of notes on research as long as they meet the requirements set above or within the rubric.

Basic Note Taking Sheet Example and Note Taking Rubric

NoodleTools Notecards

Note Taking Using a Detailed Outline

Note Taking Graphic Organizers (for specific resource types)