Guidelines for Writing Your Thesis Paper Part
Two-Note Taking
Mrs. LigoLibrary Media SpecialistBayshore Middle School
Note taking
Note taking is an important skill to develop.
While you are reading take careful notes.
Focus on your thesis statement.
Organize your thoughts by creating several main ideas or topic sentences for each paragraph.
Common knowledge information does not have to be cited.
Note taking
What questions to you have about your subject
Focus on answering the questions-
Note taking
What?Why? When
?How? Where?
Tools to Use
3 x 5 Note Cards
Web Tools (such as EasyBib or NoodleTools)
Idea/mind mapping strategies
Note taking
Organize Your Ideas
Research Topic
Answerques
tion
Gaines; Ace Your Research Paper (p21)
Note taking
Summarizing
Paraphrasing
Quotations
Note taking
Quotations Quotations are original phrases or
passages from a book, article, poem etc.
Use quotes for persuasion or to point out specific facts
Do not overuse quotes- only 10% of your paper should include direct quotes.
Note taking
Example of a quote:
“…so it goes with Agent Orange, a potent herbicide used as a defoliant during the Vietnam War. The U.S. military deployed almost 20 million gallons (76 millions liters) of herbicides from 1962 to 1971 [source: Veterans Administration]. Among these substances, Agent Orange was the most used herbicide, around 11 million gallons (42 million liters) deployed from January 1965 through April 1970.” (Silverman 1-2)
Note taking
A paraphrase is…
Your own rendition of essential information and ideas presented in a new form.
owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/619/01/
Note taking
4 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing1. Reread the original passage until you
understand its full meaning2. Set the original aside and without looking
at it write a paraphrase3. Check your original with the paraphrase
to make sure your information is accurate but do not copy word for word
4. Record the source & page numbers on your notecard
1. owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/619/01/
Note taking
Example of paraphrasing
Between 1962 and 1971, US Forces sprayed nearly 20 million gallons of a toxic herbicide in Vietnam, more than one half was a chemical nicknamed “Agent Orange.” (Silverman 1-2)
Note taking
Summarizing A summary is a short overview written
in your own words.
Includes only the main ideas.
Is shorter than a paraphrase.
Note taking
Example of a Summary
Between 1965 and 1970, 11 million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed in Vietnam.
Note taking
Creating Note Cards
Between 1965 and 1970, 11 million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed in Vietnam.
Agent Orange- History
Silverman,J.; Use of Agent Orange & It’s Effects,5/09
Pgs.1-4
Heading
Page Number
Author,Article or Book Title & Date
One fact
Note taking
Web Tools
Note taking
Creating an Outline Introduction/Thesis Statement I. History of Agent Orange
A. Uses / time period B. Manufacturer
II. Chemical Warfare/Vietnam A. Decision B. Usage
III. Effects A. Human life B. Environment IV. Debate A. Continued contamination B. Generations of birth defectsV. Conclusion
Note taking
First Topic
Supporting ideas
Creating an Outline Introduction/Thesis Statement I. History of Agent Orange
A. Uses / time period1. Herbicide in the US (1955-1960)2. Herbicide in Vietnam War (1962-1970)
B. Manufacturer 1. Monsanto
2. Colorless/ safe
Note taking
First Topic
Supporting ideas
Textual facts to support your ideas
Final Draft Write, Reflect, Revise
Write again, Reflect again, Revise again
Note taking
BibliographyBentley, Nancy. Don't Be a Copycat!: Write a Great Report without Plagiarizing. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Elementary, 2008. Print. Gaines, Ann. Ace Your Research Paper. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2009.
Print. "Purdue OWL: Paraphrase Exercises." Purdue University Online Writing Lab
(OWL). Web. 07 Feb. 2012. <http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/619/01/>. Revisions. Digital image. Click Biology.com. 2 Apr. 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. <http://www.clickbiology.com/advice-year-11s-revise/>.Silverman, Jacob. "How Agent Orange Worked" 04 November 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://www.howstuffworks.com/agent-orange.htm> 11 February 2012.Terban, Marvin. Ready! Set! Research! New York: Scholastic, 2007. Print.
Note Taking