Taking Secondary Source Notes: A Research Method English 112 Fall 2012

Source Notes: What Are They? A research method akin to primary research methods (surveys, interviews, observation), except that this method is used to collect data from secondary sources. This data collection results in a list of notation entries, each of which record a useful piece of information. Steps: Read a source, looking for a piece of information that will help you answer your research question. Choose a discourse technique by which to rewrite that piece of information Add source information (attributive tag & in-text citation) Add add’l labels to help you use the information later. Return to source for more information.

4 Components to a Notation Entry Useful labels A notation using a discourse technique An Attributive Tag An In-Text Citation

Source Notes: Why are they useful? Taking source notes… clarifies your data and evidence saves time during the writing process begins the writing process helps with organization

Notation Styles: What is… Summary? Brief description of main idea Much shorter than original text Your own words & writing style Paraphrase? Restatement of exact ideas and information in new words. About the same length as the original, or longer, than original text. In your own words and writing style. Quotation? Direct representation of the words w/ quotation marks Exact words even w/spelling or grammatical errors Same length as original unless you use an ellipses (…) or brackets [ ] Always represent original text’s meaning fairly and accurately Only represent ideas & info important to answering your research question & providing context

Summary, Paraphrase, & Quotation: Rhetorical Uses Saves space while representing important points & information. Briefly conveys ideas, concepts, or views of others before analysis, comment, or refutation. Paraphrase Conveys difficult to understand or technical information in a way readers can understand. Maintains authority of your writing voice while conveying information from elsewhere. Allows you to interpret information in a way that is useful for your topic. Quotation Takes advantage of especially memorable language. You need to comment on, refute, or analyze the exact words of the author. Takes advantage of the authority of an especially well-known expert or leader in a field or an especially well-known source.

Source Notes: How to… Read each source, looking for information (i.e. fact, definition, interpretation, value, consequence, policy) that you think might help you answer your research question. Once you find a piece of useful information determine whether it should be written as a quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Write it down in a notebook, on an index card, or in a word processing document as a quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Include an appropriate in-text citation at the end and persuasive attributive tag at the beginning. Also note any noticeable data patterns and stasis category Go back and look for more information to add to your notes as quotations, paraphrases, or summary.

Source Notes: Examples Source Note of a Summary… Source Note of a Paraphrase… Source Note of a Quotation…