ACADEMIC RESEARCHING 1 Reading and note-taking The

ACADEMIC RESEARCHING 1 Reading and note-taking

The researching process • selecting what to read • reading with a purpose – ‘active’ reading • academic note-taking techniques

Selecting what to read • Key authors – follow-up the references an author makes to other books etc. • Follow leads from indexes and bibliographies • Browse ‘adjacent’ books in library catalogues • Use keyword searches • Scan and skim read possible texts

Reading techniques • Scanning – getting an overview, the focus of each section/chapter. Identify keywords/phrases/chapter and sub-headings. Read introductory and concluding paragraphs. • Skimming –pick up the parts that are most relevant to your essay theme. Skim read for key words relevant to your study. • Focused Reading- Slower process of reading, bit by bit, following argument and taking detailed notes

‘Active’ Reading • identify key ideas • extract the information you want from the text/illustrations • process that information so that it makes sense to you/what you are writing • re-write that information correctly and appropriately for an academic essay, in support of your argument

Identifying key ideas • Understand definitions and meanings • Understand debates • Identify and interpret evidence

Possible techniques • Highlight sections – be selective on the basis of relevance to your subject, not just because the idea is interesting. • Add comments - to note for yourself why highlight, or other section, is relevant to your story. • Make diagrammatic maps of key ideas and linking argument • Write a summary – read a section and then rewrite in your own words • Select key quotations – carefully copy and mark book/author/page of quotations from the text

Expect difficulties with unclear meanings • unfamiliar words – check dictionaries, explore context, return later, consider relevance to your topic • long sentences – divide up into simpler sections, examine context, consider relevance to your topic

Taking notes (reading + thinking) • ‘Direct quotations’ from the text (always use quotation marks and attach reference) • Summary sentences and links; e. g. the author suggests that… • Additional words of explanation • Your comments and questions on the text

Translating notes into an essay • Processing meanings - begin to write IN YOUR OWN WORDS • Re-organising notes – start developing your own questions and key themes. Do rough essay outline/diagram • Discussing key themes and your reading/note-taking with your tutor. Review your conversation afterwards and make notes.

Acknowledging Sources • In note-taking - reference source as you go along (Author, title, date, PAGE NUMBER) • In writing – reference indirectly when you are explaining someone’s ideas; e. g. “Beuys says…”, or “Sparke argues that…. . ” • Reference directly through quotations, in support of your argument (but not as a substitute for your own words) • Make sure all references are properly annotated in bibliography • Make sure the reader can check back to the original reference, to confirm accuracy and context

Remember! • Be accurate; record reference information at all times during your research • Be methodical; make sure all citations are matched by by reference in bibliography • Be consistent – use the same pattern for all references (there are many different variations of the Harvard system)

ESSAY REPORT DEADLINE: 08/12/14