2. Step 1: Read
• Think: What’s important?
What is the author
writing about?
http://www.youthbeat.com/Portals/33268/images/Teen-at-computer.jpg
• You need to know what
you’ve found in order to
take notes on it. (DUH!)
• Optional: Print out your
articles/make a
photocopy of your
sources and read actively.
– Use a pen/highlighter to
identify important
information.
3. Step 2: Think
ASK YOURSELF THESE
QUESTIONS:
• Is this information relevant
to my paper?
• Can I trust this resource?
• Do I need this information,
or do I already have it?
Then…
• If you can answer “YES” to
these questions, move on.
• If you said “NO” to any of
these questions, consider
moving on and finding
another source.
http://mollymediastudios.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/bubble_thought_l.gif
4. Step 3: Decide How to Proceed
• Use a direct quote?
– If you can’t say it any better yourself
OR
• Paraphrase?
– If you need the details of the text, but
you can put it in your own words and
not lose anything.
OR
• Summarize?
– If you only need the main ideas of what you’ve
read. Condensing the information will be enough.
5. But, how
do I do
these
things?
http://247magazine.co.uk/wp-content/themes/247magazine-images/2010/11/homealone2.jpg
6. How to Quote Directly
• Copy and paste the text you intend to use.
• Put quotation marks around it. (Both sides,
please.)
• Beneath the quote, explain, in your own
words, the significance of this information.
– If you can’t say it any better, you still ought to
have a reason to include it. Explain that here.
7. In-text
citation
Direct Quote (Notes)
• Siegel: “being constantly involved with
Facebook promoted a single-minded focus on
oneself--one's looks, habits, and behaviors.”
• This means that the problem is directly
connected to the amount of time the user
spends on Facebook.
• Being submerged in pictures of others all of
the time encourages one to be self-conscious.
8. In-text
citation
Direct Quote (Written Draft)
It’s hard to pinpoint what about Facebook
inspires users to hurt themselves, but a study
cited by Siegel states that “being constantly
involved with Facebook promoted a singleminded focus on oneself--one's looks, habits,
and behaviors.”This means that the problem is
directly connected to the amount of time the
user spends on Facebook. Being submerged in
pictures of others all of the time encourages
one to be self-conscious.
9. How to Paraphrase
• USE YOUR OWN WORDS!
– None of this “I’ll only copy parts of it”-business.
• The parts you do copy will need quotation marks.
– Sticking in a few synonyms with a thesaurus is NOT
paraphrasing.
– Do not attempt to imitate the author’s style. Be yourself.
– Pretend you’re “teaching” this information to someone
else.
• Be sure to use “all main points and important details”
from the article you’re using (Lundsford 183).
• Explain the significance of your paraphrased material.
10. Paraphrasing (Notes)
• Original Text: “being constantly involved with
Facebook promoted a single-minded focus on
oneself--one's looks, habits, and behaviors.”
• A study cited by Siegel states that users who are
continuously on Facebook are in danger of being
too self-conscious. They’re tempted to be
concerned about their appearance and actions.
• Why does Facebook inspire users to hurt
themselves?
• If users spent less time on Facebook, they might
not be so concerned with how they stack up
against others.
In-text
citation
Notice that
this version
of the
material, my
version, says
the same
thing that
the quote
does, but
using my
words.
11. Paraphrasing (Written Draft)
• Original Text: “being constantly involved with
Facebook promoted a single-minded focus on
oneself--one's looks, habits, and behaviors.”
• It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what about
Facebook inspires users to hurt themselves,
but a study cited by Siegel states that users
who are continuously on Facebook are in
danger of being too self-conscious. They’re
tempted to be concerned about their
appearance and actions. If users spent less
time on Facebook, they might not be so
concerned with how they stack up against
others.
In-text
citation
Notice that
this version
of the
material, my
version, says
the same
thing that
the quote
does, but
using my
words.
12. How to Summarize
• USE YOUR OWN WORDS!
• SHORTEN THINGS UP!
– Summaries are shorter than the original.
• Write down only the main points, what really
matters here (Lunsford 184).
• Explain the significance of your summary.
13. Summary (Notes)
• Original Text: “being constantly involved with
Facebook promoted a single-minded focus on
oneself--one's looks, habits, and behaviors.”
• suggests that the problem is directly connected
to the fact that users are spending too much
time on social networking sites (Siegel).
• If users spent less time on Facebook, they
might not be so concerned with how they stack
up against others.
In-text
citation
Notice that
this summary
only
comments
on the main
points, not
the nittygritty details.
It’s also a
little shorter
than my
summary.
14. Summary (Written Draft)
• Original Text: “being constantly involved with
Facebook promoted a single-minded focus on
oneself--one's looks, habits, and behaviors.”
• It’s hard to pinpoint what about Facebook
inspires users to hurt themselves, but a study
cited suggests that the problem is directly
connected to the fact that users are spending
too much time on social networking sites
(Siegel). If users spent less time on Facebook,
they might not be so concerned with how they
stack up against others.
In-text
citation
Notice that
this summary
only
comments
on the main
points, not
the nittygritty details.
It’s also a
little shorter
than my
summary.
15. Works Cited
• Lunsford, Andrea A. Everyday Writer. New
York: Bedford, 2009. 181-83. Print.
• Siegel, Judy. "Link Found Between Heavy Use
of Facebook and Eating Disorders..." Jerusalem
Post (International). 01 Feb 2011: 6. SIRS
Issues Researcher. Web. 18 Apr 2012.
