IntroductionTaking notes

Summarizing informationParaphrasing informationUsing direct quotations

Talk About ItYour Turn

Tech Tool in this presentation• Webnote

Taking Notes

Derrel has a narrow research topic . . .

How do dolphins communicate with human beings?

and an effective research question.

Introduction

Topic: communication between dolphins and human beings

What’s next?He has located valid sources of information.

Dolphin Tribe: Remembering the Human-Dolphin Connection, by Ashleea Nielsen

He’s even created a source list.

1)Nielsen, Ashleea. Dolphin Tribe: Remembering the Human-Dolphin Connection. 2nd ed. Maui: Dancing Dolphin Press, 1994. Print.

Introduction

• search for information that answers his research question

• write down information he doesn’t want to forget

• take notes in his own words, whenever possible

• organize his work by labeling each note with a source number

Introduction

Derrel is ready to take notes from his sources. This is a very important step in the research process. He will:

Because you can’t remember everything you read, you will take notes on any information you think might be useful.

Taking notes

By this point in the research process, you have already found several good sources of information. Now it’s time to read each source and look for information that answers your research question.

that answer your research question.

What should you write down? You are looking for

Taking notes

• Fact: a statement that can be proven to be true

Bottlenose dolphins live in groups called pods.

• Statistic: information in number form

At least 2,700 bottlenose dolphins are in captivity.

facts

statistics

examples

quotations

• Example: a specific illustration of a general idea

When hunting, dolphins cooperate by herding the fish or taking turns charging through them.

• Quotation: someone else’s exact words

“It is the dolphin’s birthright to swim in a straight line in the ocean as far as its heart desires.” –Ric O’Barry

Taking notes

Does this information help answer my research question?

Would this information help my reader understand my topic?

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, you should take notes on that information.

Taking notes

As you consider the information you find in your sources, keep these questions in mind:

Summarizing means stating just the author’s most important ideas in your own words.

Paraphrasing means stating all of the author’s ideas (both main ideas and details) in your own words.

Using a direct quotation means using an author’s exact words within quotation marks.

Taking notes

There are three basic ways to take notes. Use all three as you get information from your sources.

Summarizing is a very important research skill. Follow these rules to summarize information from a source:

Use only the author’s most important ideas.

Put the ideas in your own words.

Do not use the author’s words.

Make your summary only about one-third as long as the original.

Summarizing information

Below is a section from an article on dolphin behavior.

On the next slide, you will see this information summarized.

Summarizing information

Dolphins are mammals, like you are. They breathe air and they talk to each other. Sometimes they sound like they are having a conversation with each other at a party, answering each other or all talking at once. They use nonverbal communication, too, like jaw claps, bubble blowing, and fin caressing.

unimportant details

author’s words

author’s words

Is this a good summary of the passage?

Why or why not?

Summarizing information

Dolphins are mammals, like you are. They breathe air and they talk to each other. Sometimes they sound like they are having a conversation with each other at a party, answering each other or all talking at once. They use nonverbal communication, too, like jaw claps, bubble blowing, and fin caressing.

Dolphins are mammals, like you are. They breathe air and they talk to each other. Sometimes they sound like they are having a conversation with each other at a party, answering each other or all talking at once. They use nonverbal communication, too, like jaw claps, bubble blowing, and fin caressing.

Dolphins are mammals, like you are. They breathe air and they talk to each other. Sometimes they sound like they are having a conversation with each other at a party, answering each other or all talking at once. They use nonverbal communication, too, like jaw claps, bubble blowing, and fin caressing.

Dolphins are members of the mammal family, just like humans. Dolphins breathe air, communicate verbally and nonverbally, and live in groups, just like people.

What about this summary? In what ways is it different from the first summary?

student’s own words

author’s most important ideas

only about 1/3 as long as original

Summarizing information

Dolphins are members of the mammal family, just like humans. Dolphins breathe air, communicate verbally and nonverbally, and live in groups, just like people.

Dolphins are members of the mammal family, just like humans. Dolphins breathe air, communicate verbally and nonverbally, and live in groups, just like people.

If you use any of the author’s words, put them in quotation marks. “ ”

Include both main ideas and details from the original source.

Put the ideas and details in your own words—give your own explanation of what the author says.

Make your paraphrase about the same length as the original.

Paraphrasing information

Paraphrasing is another skill you will use often in research. Here are the rules for paraphrasing a source:

Here is more information on dolphins. You’ll see this passage paraphrased on the next slide.Thinking Dolphin

Scientists think dolphins “talk” about everything from basic facts like their age to their emotional state. “I speculate that they say things like, ‘there are some good fish over here,’ or ‘watch out for that shark because he’s hunting,’” says Denise Herzing, who studies dolphins in the Bahamas.

When the going gets tough, for instance, some dolphins call for backup. After being bullied by a duo of bottlenose dolphins, one spotted dolphin returned to the scene the next day with a few pals to chase and harass one of the bully bottlenose dolphins. “It’s as if the spotted dolphin communicated to his buddies that he needed their help, then led them in search of this guy, says Herzing, who watched the scuffle.

Paraphrasing information

Scientists aren’t sure what dolphins talk about. They think that sometimes they may be calling for backup when they chatter with other dolphins.

Scientists aren’t sure what dolphins talk about.

they may be calling for backup when they chatter with other dolphins.

Is this a good paraphrase of the passage? Why?

gives main idea, but leaves out supporting details

uses the author’s exact words without quotation marks

not nearly as long as the original

Paraphrasing information

Dolphins could be communicating about their feelings, planning their fishing strategy, or warning each other about possible dangers. Scientists aren’t quite sure. One scientist who works in the Bahamas, Denise Herzing, described an incident in which a dolphin who was being bullied returned with some friends the next day. She believes that dolphins may “call for backup” to others in the pod. “It’s as if the spotted dolphin communicated to his buddies that he needed their help,” she says.

includes the main ideas and details from the passage

uses student’s own words

uses the author’s exact words in quotation marks

Here is another paraphrase. Is this one good? Why or why not?

Paraphrasing information

may “call for backup” to others in the pod. “It’s as if the spotted dolphin communicated to his buddies that he needed their help,” she says.

Dolphins could be communicating about their feelings, planning their fishing strategy, or warning each other about possible dangers. Scientists aren’t

Quote the author directly only when his or her words communicate a powerful point.

Put quotation marks around each direct quotation.

Don’t overuse direct quotations. Less than ten percent of your research project should be direct quotations from your sources.

Using direct quotations

When you use an author’s exact words in your own work, you are making a direct quotation. Here are some guidelines for using direct quotations:

Here is an example of a source a student is planning to use:

Next you’ll see some examples of quotations from this passage.

Social Behavior

Dolphins in a pod appear to establish strong social bonds. Behavioral studies suggest that certain animals prefer association with each other and recognize each other after periods of separation. Mother-calf bonds are long-lasting; a calf typically stays with its mother three to six years or more. Adult male pair bonds are strong and long-lasting.

Using direct quotations

Is this an effective way to quote a portion of the source?

“Dolphins in a pod appear to establish strong social bonds.” Scientists have found that certain animals prefer to be together and recognize each other after they have been separated. “Mother-calf bonds are long lasting; a calf typically stays with its mother three to six years or more.”

the quotation is not a powerful point

author’s words, not student’s own words

quotations are overused

Using direct quotations

“Dolphins in a pod appear to establish strong social bonds.”

certain animals prefer to be together and recognize each other after they have been separated. “Mother-calf bonds are long lasting; a calf typically stays with its mother three to six years or more.”

separated. “Mother-calf bonds are long lasting; a calf typically stays with its mother three to six years or more.”

Is this an effective direct quotation?

When studying how dolphins bond, scientists have found that some dolphins “prefer association with each other and recognize each other after periods of separation.” Mothers and their calves may stay together for up to six years.

quotation communicates a powerful point

student didn’t overuse quotations

Using direct quotations

dolphins “prefer association with each other and recognize each other after periods of separation.” Mothers and their calves may stay together for up to six years.

Tech Tool: Webnote

Webnote is an online tool that you can use for taking notes.

To use Webnote, you first create a workspace with an original name. Each time you enter the name of your workspace at the Webnote homepage, it will take you back to your work.

When you use Webnote to record research sources, remember to add your source numbers!

Tech Tool: Webnote

Create a new note by clicking the small, yellow square in the upper left corner.

On each note, type in the information you want to capture.

Tech Tool: Webnote

With Webnote, you can change the background color of each note. You might use a different color for every source.

You can also put the notecards in any order.

These two features will help you group cards as you think about how to organize your notes.

1. What makes note taking such an important part of the research process?

Talk About It

Discuss these questions with your classmates.

2. How do you determine whether you should include a piece of information in your notes? What should you do if you’re not sure?

3. How do you know if you have found the right kind of information for your research?

4. How do you know when you have enough information to write your draft?

Your Turn

Read the article below and use the information to complete the activities on the next slide.

1. Create a note by summarizing information from the source.

2. Create a note by paraphrasing information from the source.

3. Create a note with a direct quotation from the source.

Use the news article on the previous slide to complete the following tasks:

Your Turn

1. Note with summarized information:

2. Note with paraphrased information:

3. Note with direct quotation:

Your Turn

The End