Take Note!

Essentials skills for the Senior Thesis and life after high school.

FYI

Taking notes means taking notes, NOT copying and pasting.

If copying and pasting were the same thing as taking notes, we’d call it copying and pasting.

Big Picture First

If you’re not entirely sure which direction your paper will head, spend some time reading to get the big picture first.

Once you have a sense of both sides of the argument, then begin to take notes.

Don’t waste your time with anything that doesn’t answer your essential question.

Take notes. Don’t plagiarize.

Read, think, write, repeat.

Read

READ a section of your text Don’t take notes yet! ▪ This will be tempting, but if you do so,

you’ll jeopardize your understanding of the material and note too much or too little.

Instead, figure out the main idea.▪ Is there an argument?▪ What’s the main point of the article?

Think

• Ask yourself if the section of text includes information you’ll need later on.

• If the answer is yes:▪ Without looking at the text,

write down the main ideas. ▪ Internalize the information and

avoid plagiarism.

Write

Once you’ve got the gist of the section, then you can jot down specifics that you’re not likely to recall on your own: Names (and titles) of speakers Dates Places Definitions Specific examples

Repeat

After a little practice, you’ll know how much you can read and remember at one time.

The extra time you spend here will result in BIG payoffs later on. You’ll understand the material better. Writing will be easier, because you will

know so much more.

Also noteworthy80/20 Rule, Cite Early and Often

Direct Quotes

Only when necessary You can’t say it better yourself The quote is part of the point (e.g.

“Read my lips, no new taxes.”) 80/20 rule:▪ 80% of your paper should be written in your

own words.▪ No more than 20% should be in the form of

direct quotes.

Cite This!

Record your citation information at the same time that you are taking notes.

This will save you hours of work later on!

Works Cited

Landsberger, Joseph F. "Study Guides and Strategies." Reading Texts: Note Taking, Marking and Underlining. Study Guides and Strategies. Web. 02 Apr. 2012. <http://www.studygs.net/marking.htm>.

Wax, Dustin. "Advice for Students: Taking Notes That Work." Your Daily Digest on Productivity and Life Improvements. Stepcase. Web. 02 Apr. 2012. <http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/advice-for-students-taking-notes-that-work.html>.