As you are reading, you will want to write down pieces of information as you go - ideas, facts, quotations, opinions, diagrams etc. The technique required here is NOTE TAKING. Why take notes?
- To summarise ideas and arguments
- To select relevant points
- To help you to digest the material
- To continually clarify your understanding of the topic
There are three principles which need to be built into your notes:
Identification of the source of your notes. This will be needed for your bibliography.
Flexibility to enable you to re-organise your notes when planning and drafting your essay. Looseleaf sheets or cards have the advantage that they can be reshuffled easily for this purpose.
Space for writing comments and cross-referencing. Leave wide margins and double space notes.
