Taking Notes

The The Bedford Reader has an excellent section on doing research.  See especially the sections on

• posing questions (521-524)
• mapping out a search strategy (525-527)
• finding specialized reference works (540)
• reading with a critical eye (551-554)

For Tuesday, Dec. 5, you will need

1. to create a list, in alphabetical order, of the sources you have to date (at least three), with complete bibliographic information.  (You don't have to have bibliography cards, as is traditionally done, though you may use them if you wish; see p. 550).
2. to take notes, either using tradition note cards (555) or working with photocopies and printouts (555-557).
3. to summarize and paraphrase without plagiarizing and to use quotation marks to avoid plagiarizing.  You must read and follow very carefully the instructions on pages 558-562.
4. to come up with a tentative thesis and outline of your argument (562-565).
5. to bring in some of your sources