While reading for research, it is crucially important to take notes on your sources. Note-taking has a number of key functions in this process.

Your research notes

• provide a written record of your sources
• help you to read actively by asking questions and emphasizing important points
• help you recall key facts and claims
• prevent inadvertent plagiarism by connecting ideas to their source
• provide the raw material for your writing

Though note-taking can feel tedious, it helps you fully understand the source and recall important facts, data, claims, and details when the writing process begins.

What to Track

When taking notes, you’re trying to distill an immense amount of information into a few sentences or bullet points. How do you know what information needs to be noted and what doesn’t – especially when all of the information may be new to you? Here are some of the most important things to include in your notes:

• Bibliographic Data: The first thing you should do when taking notes is write down the necessary information to find the source again. Many people use this opportunity to create a full bibliographic entry, especially since you’ll probably need it later (see the section on citation for more about bibliographic information). At the very least, you should note the author, title, journal or book, date, and a URL if it’s online.
• Main Points: Whichever note-taking method you choose (see below), you’ll want to make sure you capture the main points of the source you’re working with. What does this author think is important? What are they arguing? You probably don’t need to document all the twists and turns of their argument; the point here is to create a quick record of what was in the source. Make sure to mark down page numbers with all of your notes!
• Data, Statistics, and Quotations: As you read, you may find statistics or data that could be useful for making your argument. These should be added to your notes. If you discover direct quotations that seem like they’ll be useful for your paper, be sure to include them in your notes with quotation marks around them. That way, you’ll know it’s a direct quote rather than a summary or paraphrase. Be sure to mark down the page number!
• Questions: One of the most important things to do when taking notes is to write down questions. This practice both uncovers the aspects of the argument you don’t yet understand and reveals new questions or new directions for your research. For example, you could ask questions like:
  • Why is this claim important?
  • What sources or data are used to support the argument?
  • Which points of view are being left out here?

Note-Taking Methods

There is no universal “best way” to take notes. The best practice overall is to find the way that best suits you and remain consistent with it. Some students find it helpful to write directly on the source (either electronically or on print). Others write their notes on their own paper, while reading the article.

Outlining

Outlining simply means to work in reverse from a normal paper. Instead of creating an outline that will build into a paper, you now take an already existing source and break it down into an outline form. This method is particularly helpful with highly structured or well organized texts. A standard outline will look something like this:

1. Introduction/Thesis (what is the main point and argument of the source?)
2. Point 1
   1. What does the article focus on first?
      1. Does the argument give background information?
      2. How is this part of the argument presented?
      3. What facts or sources are consulted?
3. Point 2
   1. How is the argument developing?
      1. What evidence is given here?
4. Point 3
   1. Etc.
      1. Etc.
         1. Etc.
5. Conclusion
   1. After all points are outlined, what does the source end with? What are the results/findings?

Outlines can serve as a great way to break down a lot of written information into manageable pieces that you can then understand what information you need to focus on. It’s a quick way to see and analyze the structure of a text.

Concept mapping

A concept map of the book Macrowikinomics.

In addition to outlining, concept or mind mapping can also be useful for note-taking, especially when working with less linear texts such as literature. Similar to an outline, this strategy uses visual connections more than a standard string line of numbers and letters. Some concept maps may be complex and colorful visual representations of a text (such as the image here), while others are closer to a visual outline. One common way to create a concept map is to place the main idea in a circle in the middle of the paper, then connect supporting ideas to that main idea with straight lines. Once further ideas are found (supporting evidence or facts for the initial supporting ideas), more lines can be drawn from the supporting ideas bubbles.

Cornell Notes

Cornell notes are often used to keep track of the structure and main points of a speech or lecture, but you can also use it to document your ongoing interaction with a text. You begin by creating two columns on your paper—draw a vertical line about 1/3 of the way across the paper. On the right-hand side, you write down notes as you listen or read. In the left-side column, you add in questions and elaborate on the things you wrote on the other side. It follows this general structure:

• Record: write down notes from the reading or lecture on the right side of the paper.
• Question: write down questions or keywords on the left side of the paper that connect to the notes on the other side.
• Recite: Cover the detailed notes on the right side of the paper and ask yourself the questions from the left side, or use the keywords to see how much you can recite from the reading or notes.
• Reflect: Think deeply about the notes and try to make connections between what you already know and what you learned.
• Review: Review your notes frequently—before class, after class, before an exam, etc.^[1]

You can view the transcript for “How to use the Cornell note-taking method” here (opens in new window).

Any of these processes can help with note taking; the important thing is to find a process that works best for you and to be diligent for full understanding and comprehension.

The following is a chart with a brief explanation of the main note-taking systems.