Are you someone who likes to write things down so that you don’t forget to do them? Many people do—they create lists, leave themselves recorded messages, or write notes to themselves either on paper or on their phones. Whether it’s an important date, the list of things you want to pack for a weekend trip, or a reminder to call your grandpa, notes and other types of reminders help you keep your life in order.
You can also use note-taking skills to complete a successful research project. Taking notes can keep you organized if you’re careful to list the most important details you learn and to record the correct publication information for each source. Looking back at all these notes, you should be able to see important connections among the ideas in your sources.
Of course, an important first step is to read each of your sources carefully. As you read, use a chart to record notes about that source. Study the tabs below to learn how.
At the top of each chart, record the author or editor’s name, the name of the document, the publisher, any relevant page numbers (if applicable), and the website address of the source. You may have already located and recorded this information for the assignment Ready! Set! Research! If so, copy the publication information for each source into its own chart.
| Source: “Beneficial Fungi Examined for Battle Against Destructive Beetles” by Jan Suszkiw, https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2013/beneficial-fungi-examined-for-battle-against-destructive-beetles/ | |
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In the chart’s first column, record notes from your source. Ideally, you should include one idea or thought per row. Remember to record only the information that helps answer your research question.
Sometimes you will want to quote an author’s or expert’s exact words. Typically, a direct quote is included when a person says something that seems very significant or when a source expresses an idea so perfectly that you want to use his or her words. If you quote someone word for word, be sure to put the person’s words in quotation marks in your notes so you know that it’s a direct quote. However, most of your notes should be paraphrased, or written in your own words.
| Source: “Beneficial Fungi Examined for Battle Against Destructive Beetles” by Jan Suszkiw, https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2013/beneficial-fungi-examined-for-battle-against-destructive-beetles/ | |
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| "Both beetles tunnel into the sapwood of avocado trees, inoculating them with pathogenic fungi in the process." | |
| Originally, this foam was developed to treat Formosan subterranean termites. | |
In the second column, create a specific heading that describes the note in that row. These kinds of headings can help you recall what each note is about, with just a quick glance. They may also help you see patterns, such as similarities and differences, in the information you gather from your sources.
| Source: “Beneficial Fungi Examined for Battle Against Destructive Beetles” by Jan Suszkiw, https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2013/beneficial-fungi-examined-for-battle-against-destructive-beetles/ | |
|---|---|
| "Both beetles tunnel into the sapwood of avocado trees, inoculating them with pathogenic fungi in the process." | Tunneling beetles make avocado trees sick by exposing them to harmful fungi. |
| Originally, this foam was developed to treat Formosan subterranean termites. | Fungal foam was first used to treat termites. |
Question
When should you quote someone’s exact words?
