TAKING NOTESTaking information from your sources and making it your own.

YOUR SOURCE LIST

By now you should have decided on a topic and started collecting sources.

As you collect your sources copy citations or use easybib.com to create citations into a Word document.

When you have collected all 5 sources, arrange them in alphabetical order and assign each one a number.

PREVIEW YOUR SOURCE

Look over your source for length, title, headings, etc.

See where you think the information you need might be.

Mark these sections to go back and read carefully.

SKIM YOUR SOURCE

Pick up your first source and skim it for key words.

Read the first sentence of each paragraph.

Mark the parts you think will contain information you will want to use in your paper.

READ CAREFULLY

Read the portions of your source that you have chosen carefully with an eye for taking notes.

If possible, highlight or mark the passages you want to use in your paper.

PREPARE YOUR NOTE CARD

Source #-Card#

Main Idea (What is this card about?) Body of Notes: In your own words write

one idea per card. Write only on one side of the card. Do not use complete sentences. If you are copying directly from your source, use quotation marks.

Page number if a print source

PARAPHRASING

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because...

it is better than quoting information from an undistinguished passage.

it helps you control the temptation to quote too much.

the mental process required for successful paraphrasing helps you to grasp the full meaning of the original.

PARAPHRASING

A paraphrase is... Information or ideas from a source put into

your own words. one legitimate way (when accompanied by a

citation) to borrow from a source. Use phrases instead of sentences on your

note cards..

4 STEPS TO EFFECTIVE PARAPHRASING

1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.

2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card.

3. Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form.

4. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.