For the researched essay component of your multigenre research paper, you will need to compile a minimum of thirty notes taken from at least four different sources.
Note Taking
The bulk of the work on a research paper is the note taking. Taking notes from your sources as a separate step helps you to process the information. It will also make it easier to integrate multiple sources into your paper and avoid plagiarism.
As you read your sources, you may write down word-for-word what a source says (Direct Quote), put the ideas into your own words (Paraphrase) or , also using your own words, put the general idea of a larger piece in a shorter version (Summary).
A direct quote— is the simplest. You quote verbatim (word for word) from a source into your notes using quotation marks to indicate it is word for word. Use a direct quotation for particularly significant or relevant ideas. Direct quotations can be a few words, a phrase, or a sentence in length. If you want to include more than two or more sentences of information, consider paraphrasing or summarizing the information. It is usually best to use a “tag line” (signal phrase) when incorporating direct quotations into your writing.
e.g., According to John Smith, director of housing, "The completion of these new units will offer mid-priced housing for our
residents " (6).
A paraphrase is putting someone else’s ideas into your own words. Even though you haven’t used the author’s exact words, you still have to document that the author’s ideas are being referenced in your paper.
Don’t confuse your own ideas with the summary of an author's ideas. Summary and paraphrase aren’t all that different; they differ only in the amount of detail retained. Summary, like paraphrase, takes a source’s ideas and puts them into the writer’s own words, but with less detail. Don’t really worry about distinguishing between summary and paraphrase ; they are both cited the same way, usually with a tag line or with a parenthetical citation.
As you read your sources, you may write down word-for-word what a source says (Direct Quote), put the ideas into your own words (Paraphrase) or , also using your own words, put the general idea of a larger piece in a shorter version (Summary).
A direct quote— is the simplest. You quote verbatim (word for word) from a source into your notes using quotation marks to indicate it is word for word. Use a direct quotation for particularly significant or relevant ideas. Direct quotations can be a few words, a phrase, or a sentence in length. If you want to include more than two or more sentences of information, consider paraphrasing or summarizing the information. It is usually best to use a “tag line” (signal phrase) when incorporating direct quotations into your writing.
e.g., According to John Smith, director of housing, "The completion of these new units will offer mid-priced housing for our
residents " (6).
A paraphrase is putting someone else’s ideas into your own words. Even though you haven’t used the author’s exact words, you still have to document that the author’s ideas are being referenced in your paper.
Don’t confuse your own ideas with the summary of an author's ideas. Summary and paraphrase aren’t all that different; they differ only in the amount of detail retained. Summary, like paraphrase, takes a source’s ideas and puts them into the writer’s own words, but with less detail. Don’t really worry about distinguishing between summary and paraphrase ; they are both cited the same way, usually with a tag line or with a parenthetical citation.
How to Store Notes - One Note at a Time
- You need to plan how you will store notes; there are three effective ways to choose:
- 1) Use index cards (3 X 5 or 4 X 6) to write out A SINGLE NOTE PER CARD.
- 2) Use a spiral notebook: divide a page in two with a pen or marker top and bottom. Put A SINGLE NOTE PER SECTION, that’s 2 notes per page. Do not use the back of the page.
- 3) Use a computer to keep notes. Text boxes allow each note to be separated.
- It is essential to see these notes as separate and not to take notes as you normally would for a class.
- By making each direct quote, paraphrase, or summary a single note, you are able to manipulate them easily when it comes time to organize and write the outline and paper.
- Gather your index cards, print out your notes from the computer and cut them apart, or cut the torn pages of the notebook in two; you are then able to put notes in categories or piles from which you can build paragraphs or sections of your paper.
- A big, empty table can help you visually “see” your paper.
- You can even color code your paper and think of sections of the paper as “green” or “yellow” and then use stickers, highlighters, or markers to code the notes.
Be Careful to Cite as You Go
- It is essential that each note be clearly identified with the corresponding source for citation. ALL DIRECT QUOTES SHOULD HAVE CLEAR QUOTATION MARKS AROUND THEM AS WELL AS “DQ” AT THE TOP OF THE NOTE.
- Each note should have the appropriate parenthetical reference so that you can find the source easily for reference and double checking.
- Be sure to be revising your annotated bibliography so that you have the full citation that corresponds with each reference.
- Each note should clarify if it is a direct quote, paraphrase, or summary.
Examples of a Note in MLA Format
DQ (Abrams et al. 3)
“The Anglo-Saxon occupation was no sudden conquest but extended over decades of fighting against the native Britons.”
Paraphrase (Abrams et al. 6)
The language and speech of Old English poetry is more formal than the everyday language the Angle
Saxons used; the language in poetry stayed rather consistent even as everyday language changed.
“The Anglo-Saxon occupation was no sudden conquest but extended over decades of fighting against the native Britons.”
Paraphrase (Abrams et al. 6)
The language and speech of Old English poetry is more formal than the everyday language the Angle
Saxons used; the language in poetry stayed rather consistent even as everyday language changed.
Avoiding Plagiarism
- Plagiarism is presenting another person’s ideas or words as your own work.
- Policies vary from course to course, but most consequences are quite serious and can result in failure for the course or even expulsion from a school.
- You need to understand how to keep from plagiarizing in order to receive a passing grade on a research paper.
- Taking careful notes can help you avoid plagiarism in your paper.
Two Kinds of Plagiarism
- Accidental plagiarism: this occurs when a student doesn’t really understand the way in which a research paper is cited. The student doesn’t intend to cheat.
- Intentional Plagiarism: is a form of academic dishonesty where a student passes off another’s work as his or her own. The work can be that of a published writer OR the work of another student.
- Neither is acceptable; college students are expected to learn how to properly cite a research paper.
Sloppiness Can Lead to Plagiarism
- The note taking process has to be done consistently and well in order for students to know whether what they’ve written are their own words or those of the author.
- The information has to refer to the correct source.
- Student writers must be able to attribute every piece of information to a specific source(s). "I read it somewhere" is not responsible research.
Procrastination Can Lead to Plagiarism
Students who put off working on a paper and try to write it in too short a time are often careless and make mistakes or have no time for paraphrasing properly.