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

2. 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.

3. 4 Components to a Notation Entry
Useful labels
A notation using a discourse technique
An Attributive Tag
An In-Text Citation

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

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