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Archmere Academy Library: 4. TAKE NOTES

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Taking Notes

"He listens well who takes notes." 

- Dante Alighieri

Make notes

Consult the resources you have chosen and note the information that will be useful in your paper. Be sure to document all the sources you consult, even if you there is a chance you may not use that particular source. The author, title, publisher, URL, and other information will be needed later when creating a bibliography. Don't forget to utilize Noodletools for your project as instructed by your teacher! Take notes on paper or in NoodleTools, whatever is most effective for YOU.

NHD Note Taking

This NHD Note Taking Guide is provided by your history teachers and National History Day to help you keep track of your notes.

Forms of Notetaking

Use one of these notetaking forms to capture information:

  • Summarize: Capture the main ideas of the source succinctly by restating them in your own words.
  • Paraphrase: Restate the author's ideas in your own words.
  • Quote: Copy the quotation exactly as it appears in the original source. Put quotation marks around the text and note the name of the person you are quoting.

Adapted from "Research Process: A Step-by-Step Guide: 4a. Take Notes",  https://libguides.gatech.edu/c.php?g=54271&p=350393, 2020.

Further Tips for Notetaking:

Be Prepared: Keep track of which notes are direct quotes, which are summary, and which are your own thoughts. For example, enclose direct quotes in quotation marks, and enclose your own thoughts in brackets. That way you'll never be confused when you're writing.

Be Clear: Make sure you have noted the source and page number!

Be Organized: Keep your notes organized but in a single place so that you can refer back to notes about other readings at the same time.

Be Consistent: You'll want to find specific notes later, and one way to do that is to be consistent in the way you describe things. If you use consistent terms or tags or keywords, you'll be able to find your way back more easily.

Adapted from "Reading Well and Taking Research Notes", https://gouldguides.carleton.edu/c.php?g=147129&p=963705, 2020.

NoodleTools Help

NoodleTools Quick Guide for Students 

The above guide covers the following topics:

1. How to create a new account

2. How to start a new project and a source list

3. How to create notecards

4. How to share a project with your teacher

5. How to set up a project collaboration with your classmates.

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NoodleTools Help Desk

Support and tutorials!

Taking Notes by Hand

I know, I know! Most students take notes via NoodleTools. But what if you're not near your laptop, but want to take notes on what you're reading in a book? Here are some tips for effective note-taking by hand.

  • Use index cards to keep notes and track sources used in your paper. That being said, if you're sitting somewhere with just a notebook or sheet of paper handy, use that! As long as you're keeping track like below, you'll be fine (but don't lose that sheet of paper!)
  • On each note card:
    • Use only one side to record a single idea, fact or quote from one source. It will be easier to rearrange them later when it comes time to organize your paper.
    • Include a heading or key words at the top of the card. 
    • Include the Work Cited source card number.
    • Include the page number where you found the information.
  • Taking notes:
    • Use abbreviations, acronyms, or incomplete sentences to record information to speed up the note taking process.
    • Write down only the information that answers your research questions.
    • Use symbols, diagrams, charts or drawings to simplify and visualize ideas.

Adapted from "Research Process: A Step-by-Step Guide: 4a. Take Notes",  https://libguides.gatech.edu/c.php?g=54271&p=350393, 2020.