Notetaking

1. Notepages will be collected and graded.
2. At least 5 full pages of different information from approved sources are required
3. Write the bibliographic information at the top of the page for the source in proper MLA format. See works cited for format.
4. Only one source per notepage. Include page numbers for books.
5. Write in note form; avoid complete sentences. Use your own words, except for direct quotes. Include specific information and details from your sources that answer your research question. Notes should be mostly summary, some paraphrase, and occasional direct quotes. When you quote a source, use the precise words, spelling and punctuation and use quotation marks. For print sources, indicate page number.
6. Unless you are using an entire book, print out or photocopy each source and place copies in the back pocket of your research folder.

To learn more about note taking, use these links:

• Taking Notes from Research Reading
• Writing a Research Paper
• The Research Paper: Take Note
• Step 4: Research and Note Taking

Learning Journals

You must write at least four entries, a minimum of one page each.

Overlapping the research and note taking phase, you will be writing learning journals. You will write the first learning journal after you pick your topic but before you begin your research. You will write your last entry when you are finished or almost finished with all of your research.

In these entries, you will comment on what you are learning in your own words, pose questions, make your own comments and observations, connect the information to what you found from various sources, describe the progress and roadblocks in your search, and note what genres seem to be appropriate to your topic. These journals will help you understand your topic and then help you to write your introduction and reflective afterword. These entries will be collected and graded.

You should do any or all of the following in your entries:

• Comment on a particular source.
• Connect various sources.
• Focus your research question.
• Pose questions about your research.
• Note inconsistencies.
• Describe progress and roadblocks in your research-problems finding sources or with the sources you have?
• Refine your research question.
• Write about where you will go next with your research.
• Describe you want to get across through the genres.
• Plan what genres might be appropriate.

Journal 1: Before you begin: What do you already know & What is your plan.

Why did you pick your topic? What do you already know about your topic? What do you want to know-what is your specific research question? What sub-questions will you need to research in order to answer your research question? Which sources or what kinds of sources and information will be most useful to you?

3 More Learning Journals during research process (#'s 2-4 or more)

• If the entry is about one source, note the source at the top using the first word, or several words if the first is the same as another entry, of the works cited entry (at the top of your notepage).
• Use complete sentences.
• Do not repeat notes on your notepages. These are not notes; they are your reflections on what you're learning and how the researching is going.
• Minimum of one page each.
• Use your own words only.