Read & Take Notes
Reading for your writing is different than reading for class. Your goal is to identify how the work relates to your research question or argument as well as how it relates to the other sources you found on the topic.
- Watch a video: How to Read an Article
- Watch a video: How to Take Notes
- Take better notes: Note Taking Worksheets
Synthesizing Sources
Synthesis: combing the ideas of more than one source with your own ideas and analysis in writing.
Quote, Paraphrase & Summarize Sources
When should you quote, paraphrase or summarize? In general, quote sparingly in most assignments.
“While paraphrase and summary are effective ways to introduce your reader to someone’s ideas, quoting directly from a text allows you to introduce your reader to the way those ideas are expressed by showing such details as language, syntax, and cadence.” –Harvard Guide to Using Sources
- 🌟Harvard’s The Nuts & Bolts of Integrating Sources
- Watch a video: When and How to Quote & Paraphrase
Have a Conversation
Your paper should read like a conversation between different experts on a topic (including you).
- Show your respect for other authors by accurately and clearly citing, quoting, and representing their writing.
- Expand on their ideas, don’t just summarize them, like you would in a conversation.
- Consider how each author relates to other experts on the same topic.
Accidental Plagiarism
- At the top of your notes, list your source (the book or article) information clearly.
- Put quotations or paraphrases in a different color, or a separate document.
- Avoid reading or discussing a classmate’s writing, and don’t forget to cite ideas from class discussions or lectures.
- More tips from Harvard University
Watch a video: 4 Ways to Check for Plagiarism