Note-taking methods vary greatly from one researcher to another, so you may decide to use a digital file, a notebook, or index cards. Regardless of the method, however, you should (1) record enough information to help you recall the major points of the source; (2) put the information in the form in which you are most likely to incorporate it into your research essay, whether a summary, a paraphrase, or a quotation; and (3) note all the information you will need to find the source again and to cite it accurately, including the author’s name, the title, and, for print sources, the page number(s) on which the quotation appears. Make sure you have a corresponding entry in your working bibliography.

Complete and accurate notes

Taking complete notes will help you digest the source information as you read and incorporate the material into your text without inadvertently plagiarizing the source. Be sure to reread each note carefully, and recheck it against the source to make sure quotations, statistics, and specific facts are accurate.

Use a subject heading. Label or title each note with a brief, descriptive heading so that you can group similar subtopics together.

Identify the source. List the author’s name and a shortened title of the source, and a page number, if available. Your working-bibliography entry for the source will contain the full bibliographic information, so you don’t need to repeat it in each note.

Indicate whether the note is a direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Make sure quotations are copied accurately. Put square brackets around any change you make, and use ellipses if you omit material.

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Annotations of source material

Sometimes you may print out or photocopy a print source you intend to use. In such cases, you can annotate the photocopies or printouts with your thoughts and questions and highlight interesting quotations and key terms. If you are using online sources, you may be able to copy them, paste them into a digital file, and annotate them there. You can also use video or audio annotation tools to take notes on media sources.

Try not to rely too heavily on copying or printing out whole pieces, however; you still need to read the material very carefully. Also resist the temptation to treat copied material as notes, an action that could lead to inadvertent plagiarizing. (In a computer file, using a different color for text pasted from a source will help prevent this problem.)

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Other kinds of notes

Some researchers take key-term notes, which might include the topic addressed in the source along with names or short statements to jog their memories when they begin drafting. Others record personal or critical notes—questions, criticisms, or other ideas that come to mind as they read. In fact, an exciting part of research occurs when the materials you are reading spark new ideas in your mind, ideas that may become part of your thesis or argument. Don’t let them get away. Although you may later decide not to use these ideas, you need to make notes about them just in case.

Whatever form your notes take, be sure to list the source’s title, author, and a way to find the information again, such as page number(s), links, or time codes. In addition, check that you have carefully distinguished your own thoughts and comments from those of the source itself.

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