5. Take Notes

⭐NEW: Print to Digital Skills⭐

Teachers: Note Taking 

Student Hyperdoc 

Library (Print) tasks and skills:

Refer to the "Note taking" section of your research checklist.

• Note setup: 

  • Title every note card, note sheet, or note section with a subtopic for effective information management.

  • Titled notes are pre-sorted from the beginning of research.

• Strategies and systems for GOOD notes include:

  • Plagiarism:

    • • Outright copying of information into your notes and then into writing without either processing the information or citing sources. 

      • Also avoid "accidental plagiarism." 

  • Types of notes (construction): 

• • • Write notes by hand on: cards, Cornell note sheets, notebook paper, mind maps, graphic organizer such as the Frayer note sheet, or notes designed for a particular unit or subject such as a cladogram for science evolution or a journal for history.

    • Innovative new note taking forms can include a program called Smart Wisdom, similar to diagramming sentences. 

• • Forms of notes (content):

• • • Remember: "When information changes form, learning occurs." (Stanley)

    • Focus on keyword/fact notes when confronted with subtopic-related information: 

      • INCLUDE words and phrases that are important, such as parts of sentences (5 word rule).

      • EXCLUDE nonessential small words as a, and, the, etc., unless they are needed for meaning.

      • Always refer every note to a valid cited source.

    • Paraphrasing and/or summarizing   

    • Quoting is useful and sometimes required to support a position, but does not promote learning through information ownership.

      • Quotations should be used when precise supporting information is needed.

      • Require quotation marks for all copied text.

      • Require endnotes/ footnotes to validate quotations and borrowed ideas, information, and images. 

• • Rule of three: Triangulate means:

• • • Information for a good note should be verified in at least three different sources of information. 

    • Good notes must come from at least three different types of sources such as print book, reference, and Web site.

    • There must be a minimum of three subtopics, each with at least ten notes.

• Manage notes:

  • Information (content) must be supported by historical time period (context) verification. This is called "sourcing."

  • A balanced number of notes among subtopics is the key to a balanced paper or project.

  • All notes must be labelled in such a way as to refer back to the source to confirm their accuracy, and the source must be validated with evaluation criteria.

  • Don't forget about fact-checking tools such as FactCheck.org.   

⭐Connection with Digital Citizenship: 

          1) (Unit 2.2.a) Debate: handwritten vs digital notes: "Should You Take Notes on Paper or on a Computer?"   

          2) (Unit 3.2.e) While a distinct advantage of digital note-taking is sharing and collaborating, here are some cautions:

                        -"Sharing Information: A Day in Your Life"   

                        -"Once Posted You Lose It"  

Digital (Non-Print) tasks and skills:

Refer to the "Note taking" section of your research eChecklist.

• Note setup: 

  • Choose a note system you can learn or you love, as simple as Google docs or more complex such as Evernote. Google even offers an online note card template. 

  • Chose a note tool you can learn or love such as a computer or laptop,  stylus and tablet, smartpen, camera or screen snaps.

  • Title all electronic note pages or sections with a subtopic for instant organization.

• Strategies to locate and gather information

  • • Remember: Plagiarism is outright cutting and pasting of information into your notes and then into writing. Also avoid "accidental plagiarism." 

  • First, Mouseover and highlight key facts (kindle demo video), sentences, paragraphs.

  • Second, type notes into Google doc, note app on computer or smart phone, or into an interactive graphic organizer, always processing found information with selection criteria, evaluation criteria, paraphrasing or summarizing, and prior knowledge. Engaging information promotes learning.

  • Third, gather citation information as you go using an online site such as Citation Machine. Transfer citations directly into a Google doc or your online note-taking tool. For example, use Google sheet note sheet to paste digitally created citations to support notes and quotes.   

  • View this YouTube video (below) for sample Google doc note taking: "Notetaking and Citing Sources in Google Drive."  

• Manage notes

  • Research is NOT just re-arranging puzzle pieces of information. Devise a system to pre-sort your notes, at least into subtopics, as information is located.

  • Validate as you go: Use free online plagiarism tools such as Quetext. 

  • Idea! Embed source links into notes to assist in giving credit and to provide easier access to citation information.

  • Debate:  Which is better, handwritten notes vs device-typed notes. (See the video below.) 

• Share or collaborate

  • The distinct advantage of electronic notes is being able to share them with yourself between devices, and to share with partner(s) through Google docs or another tool of your choosing.

Sample lessons

1. Try out this Note taking exercise to promote comprehension, critical analysis, and selection. Ask students if they agree with this KEY.  

   1. Try this online article lesson with two sample note sheets: a) Online article notes, b) Informational text notes, c) online article citation, d) Tips for Locating Online Articles        

Student handouts

• Sample student packet made by Rosa: Checklist, citations, body notes, habitat notes, Works Cited--handwritten, Works Cited--typed in Google doc.  

• Cornell style note sheet adapted for research

• Cornell note sheet: title each page of notes with a subtopic  

• Adapted note sheet: self-contained with 3 subtopics and 4 notes  

• Adapted note sheet for ELA: 3 strategic questions with notes      

• Informational text (close reading) Notes: copy back-to-back as many times as needed      

• Online Articles (Close Reading) Note Taking   

• Frayer Model graphic organizer note sheet, CCSS adapted   

• Specially designed note sheet examples: Science cladogram , Evolution chart, Compare feudalism chart, Lewis & Clark Journey Log, 

Videos and PowerPoints

Mrs. Stanley's PPT on taking notes, grades 3-7

Mrs. Stanley's PPT on taking notes, grades 8-12

Different kinds of notes: 

Class notes are different from research notes, but there are some good ideas here.

Note card notes

Handwritten notes

Google Drive electronic notes

Note taking for younger researchers

Cutting and pasting information is plagiarism!

Taking good notes

AVID note skills

Debate: Handwritten vs. digital notes

Historical Context

Other note taking resources: Links 

• Learn the difficult task of paraphrasing     

• Examples of Paraphrasing   

• Note taking apps from LibGuides.MIT: Taking Notes   

Other resources: Articles

• 5 Tips for Effective Digital Note Taking   

• The Best Way to Take Notes   

• How do you take notes in the digital age?   

• Handwritten vs. electronic notes, courtesy of ScholarSpace by EasyBib     

• Data Triangulation: How the Triangulation of Data Strengthens Your Research   

• The Art of Note Taking in the Digital Age     

Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

• ELA.W.6.2.b.  Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic.

• ELA.W.7.8.  Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation. 

Works Cited

• Bainbridge State College. "Plagiarism: How to Avoid It." YouTube. YouTube, 2010. Web. 05 Oct. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q0NlWcTq1Y 

• Creek, Mary. "Notetaking and Citing Sources in Google Drive." YouTube. YouTube, 2014. Web. 06 Oct. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-1HlQs6hUU  

• DeLaPlante, Kevin. "Plagiarism: Cutting and Pasting from Several Sources."YouTube. YouTube, 2013. Web. 05 Oct. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVEeYyp9qJM  

• Federal Trade Commission. "Sharing Information: A Day in Your Life." YouTube. YouTube, 2012. Web. 05 Oct. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5OsQsB7Hg4  

• Frank, Thomas. “How to Take Notes in Class: The 5 Best Methods - College Info Geek.” YouTube, YouTube, 9 Oct. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=AffuwyJZTQQ. I used this YouTube video to show that validity of different kinds of notes for different kinds of learners.

• Frank, Thomas. "Should You Take Notes on Paper or on a Computer? - College Info Geek." YouTube. YouTube, 2014. Web. 06 Oct. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsb-U8bZpig

• Library Centers. "Trash and Treasure Note Taking." YouTube. YouTube, 2 Jan. 2012. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78YIrYqEmnQ>.

• LRMS Library. "Notetaking 101.wmv." YouTube. YouTube, 27 Jan. 2012. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V25F5Jtm4c>.

• Rothwell, Steve. "Peace of Mind." : Real Time Note Taking. 8 Dec. 2007. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. <http://vismap.blogspot.com/2007/12/real-time-note-taking.html>.

• Skrezec, Emily. "How to Write a Note Card for a Research Paper." YouTube. YouTube, 26 Nov. 2013. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCO9GWvq_Kc>.

• Stanford History Education Group. "Beyond the Bubble: Historical Context." YouTube. YouTube, 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpBcYBDHSdM>.

• They call me NB. "Once Posted You Lose It." YouTube. YouTube, 2008. Web. 05 Oct. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE2Ru-jqyrY 

• Toste, James. "Cornell Notes for Students." YouTube. YouTube, 21 Feb. 2012. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Nh4bSFvrI>.

Created by Deborah B. Stanley. Copyright 2017, with credit to the YouTube creators and Web article authors included. Contact: debstanley550@mac.com.

"Real learning occurs when information changes form. Good notes create information ownership."