The document discusses effective research methods such as maintaining good records of sources, engaging with sources critically and creatively, and developing a note-taking system. It provides tips for note-taking including being selective, reading for different reasons, and developing a shorthand. Various note-taking systems are described like the double-entry notebook and using note-taking software. The document also covers summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting sources as well as evaluating sources and interpreting visuals. The difference between an abstract and introduction is explained.

1. Chapter 6
Working with Sources and Taking Notes
• Research requires careful
management of material-
especially with so much
information and powerful
technology.
• Keep good records,
• engage sources critically and
creatively,
• evaluate your sources

2. Maintaining a Working Bibliography
• APA (American Psychological Association) is
most commonly used to cite sources within
the social sciences.
• Your reference list should appear at the end of
your paper.
• It provides the information necessary for a
reader to locate and retrieve any source you
cite in the body of the paper.

3. • Each source you cite in the paper must appear
in your reference list; likewise, each entry in
the reference list must be cited in your text.
• Your references should begin on a new page
separate from the text of the essay; label this
page "References" centered at the top of the
page (do NOT bold, underline, or use
quotation marks for the title).
• All text should be double-spaced just like the
rest of your essay.

4. Developing a Note-Taking System
• Evaluate Your Present Note-Taking System
Ask yourself:
– Did I use complete sentences? They are generally a
waste of time.
– Did I use any form at all? Are my notes clear or
confusing?
– Did I capture main points and all sub-points?
– Did I streamline using abbreviations and shortcuts?
• If you answered no to any of these questions, you
may need to develop some new note-taking
skills!

5. Developing a Note-Taking System
• Flexible- open to
discoveries
• Systematic-ensures good
record-keeping

6. Note-Taking Strategies
1. Be Selective
2. Read different sources for different reasons
3. Read for leads
4. Develop a shorthand of keywords
5. Be smart with your writing technologies
6. Aim for a standard of verifiability
6. Make space for your own thoughts

7. Note-Taking Systems
• The Computer Notebook or Research Log
– Upside-Downside
• The Double-Entry Notebook
– Upside-Downside
• Copy (or Save) and Annotate
– Upside-Downside
• Paper or Electronic Note Cards
– Upside-Downside
• Focus on Multimedia: Using Note-Taking
Software

8. Engaging your sources through Critical Reading
• Testing Each Source for Value
– How closely related to my topic is this source?
– Is this source too basic, overly complex, or just
right?
– What could this source add to my overall balance
of sources?
• Reading Key sources Systematically and Critically
– Survey the Source
– Read to Understand the Source

9. Evaluating Your Sources
• A Rating Scale for Source Reliability and Depth
– Target sources that fit your project’s goals
– Assess the approximate quality of the sources
you’re gathering
– Build strong references that readers will respect

10. Criteria for Assessing Sources
• Credible Author
• Reliable Publication
• Unbiased Discussion
• Current Information
• Accurate Information
• Full, Logical Support
• Quality Writing and Design
• Positive Relationship with Other Sources

11. Focus on Multimedia: Interpreting and
Evaluating Visuals p. 150
• Purpose
• Medium
• Message
• Context
• Quality
• Reliability

12. Interpret and Evaluate this Visual
• Purpose
• Medium
• Message
• Context
• Quality
• Reliability

13. Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting Source Material
• As you work with sources, you must decide what
to put in your notes and how to record it.
– How relevant is the passage to your research question
or working thesis?
– How strong and important is the information offered?
– How unique or memorable is the thinking or
phrasing?
• Relevant, stronger, more memorable material
should be noted.

14. Summarizing Useful Passages
• Condense main points into your own words.
– Re-read passage, jotting down a few key words
– State the main point in your own words
– Check your summary against the original, making
sure that you use quotation marks around any
exact phrases you “borrow”

15. Paraphrasing Key Passages
• Puts a whole passage in your
own words.
– Quickly review the passage
– Go through the passage
– Check your paraphrase

16. Quoting Crucial Phrases, Sentences,
and Passages
• Quoting passages in books, essays, research
papers and other articles depends on two
things:
• (1) the appropriateness of the passage you
want to quote and
• (2) the idea of your paragraph where you want
to include the quotation.

17. Quoting Crucial Phrases, Sentences,
and Passages
• Do not over-quote
• Quote key statements that
– Well phrased
– Express a convincing authority
– Speak directly to your research question
– Help show different views on your topic

18. • As you begin to gather research materials, it is
important that you use both primary and secondary
sources.
– A primary source is a source written during the time being studied.
Examples include original documents like manuscripts, letters, creative
works, and artifacts or relics.
– A secondary source comes later, and seeks to explain, interpret, or
analyze a primary source. Examples include textbooks, magazine
articles, literary criticisms, and critiques.
• You need both kinds of sources when writing
academic papers to inform your research and defend
your arguments or assertions.
Summary

19. Difference Between an Abstract
and an Introduction

20. • Abstract - short summary that is written at the
beginning of a paper that states the purpose
of the paper and its main conclusion.
• Introduction - found at the beginning of any
piece of writing that whet (sharpen) the
reader’s appetite to read further and give a
taste of what will be in the rest of the pages.

21. • every well-written paper gives the reader
advanced notice about what to expect.
• In a novel an introduction is naturally more
creative than in an academic paper.

22. 1.Both abstracts and introductions are found at the
beginning of a piece of written work.
2.Abstracts and introductions want to prepare the reader
for reading further.
3.Abstracts accomplish point 2 by stating the purpose of
the paper, whereas introductions accomplish it by
drawing the reader’s interest.
4.Abstracts are generally at the beginning of scholarly
work, while you will find introductions at the beginning of
any kind of written work.
With this in mind, an abstract is a de facto introduction.