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How Can I Take Notes?

Notes — in the form of direct quotations, paraphrases, and summaries — provide you with a collection of important information, ideas, and arguments from your sources, as well as a record of your reactions to your sources. Taking notes early in your work allows you to keep track of the information, ideas, and arguments you encounter in your sources. Later, as you begin to plan and write your document, review your notes to determine whether to reread a source or set it aside for other, more relevant sources.

You should take notes when a source

features an idea that surprises or interests you or that you think you might want to argue for or against
provides a statement that would enhance your understanding of the issue
offers insights into how an authority or expert understands the issue
provides an understanding of someone else’s firsthand experience with an issue or event

As you take notes, remember that they should reflect your purpose for working on a project and should provide direction for quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing information, ideas, and arguments.