How to Take GOOD Notes for a Research Paper

Or

How to Think for Yourself and Eliminate Your Dependence on

the Photocopier

Organize as you go: Put the source (usually the author’s name and

book/source title) at the upper left corner of card.

Put the correct page number where you found the information along the left margin. If you change pages, make sure you note that in the margin.

Take notes only on the front of the card. Quotation marks around anything copied word for

word Best if all notes are in your own words Don’t cram everything on Stick to only one topic per card

Follow card numbering system

First Step: Get Notecards

Source ID Topic of Notes; Card #

Pg. #Notes

(use 4x6 cards -- lined is best)

Example: Your paper is on the physical characteristics of the Big

Bad Wolf

Pig, First Little Teeth #1

p. 32Teeth are long, pointy, sharp

-Strong bite; big mouth

-No cavities

-Can chomp off pig’s head in seconds and go back for morep. 33

Second card from same source:

Pig, First Little Claws #1

p. 57 Claws like teeth -- long, sharp, pointy

-helps him run fast; grip earth

-can climb on roofs

-Can dig huge holes under houses

Third card: different source

Hood, L.R.R. Teeth #1

p. 108Teeth strong enough to eat humans

- ate Grandma

Teeth also dead give-away; no human has teeth like wolf’s

Helpful Hints

1. Be as precise as possible with topics2. Use pen; pencil smears3. If using more than one book by same

author, put book title w/ author’s name at top of card

4. If book is series of essays/articles by different authors, identify each author you use, not just the editor of the book

5. Internet sites have no page numbers6. Make source cards for each source you

use; easier to write works cited page later7. Keep track of EVERY source you use

What IS a Good Internet Site??

Often edu. sites -- but be aware that students also post articles as part of a class requirement. Best to use work of a student in grad school.

Information has been previously published in scholarly magazine

Information is from a recognized educational site Information is written by an authority whose

credentials are listed on the site or in the “about” section

What ISN’T a Good Internet Site?

A blog A site by an unknown author or an author

whose credentials are questionable or absent Any site you have to pay to get information

from (BookRags, SparkNotes, CliffsNotes, PinkMonkey, 123Cheat (duh!), etc. )

An on-line encyclopedia, including Wikipedia Any site that seems to be biased in any way Any site that has bad grammar or misspellings