• Be prepared. What are you trying to find out?
• See: Research Quest for information on the process of research.
• Your notes should be in POINT FORM - no sentences. Leave out articles (a, an, the), and any other words not critical to your understanding.
• Use your own words. This ensures that you actually understand the material, and that you will be less likely to inadvertently paraphrase or copy words from the text.
• Use quotations to strenghten your arguments or position. Collect and cite the quotations in your notes.
• Found the same information in more than one source? Good! Cite both / all sources. This adds strength to arguments / evidence.
• Not sure what constitutes plagiarism? See: Plagiarism
• Collect your Works Cited information as you go. See: Works Cited.

1. Basic Note Taking Formats: Hierarchical (Indent)

Main Idea

• Key Point
  • Supporting Notes / Evidence
  • Supporting Notes / Evidence - Supporting Quotation with Citation
  • Supporting Notes / Evidence
  • Supporting Notes / Evidence

Works Cited Information - if print material, include page numbers.

• Key Point
  • Supporting Notes / Evidence
  • Supporting Notes / Evidence - Supporting Quotation with Citation
  • Supporting Notes / Evidence
  • Supporting Notes / Evidence

Works Cited Information - if print material, include page numbers.

2. Basic Note Taking Formats: Two Column

Main Idea Works Cited Information	Supporting Evidence Notes Notes Quotation with citation information.
Main Idea Works Cited Information	Supporting Evidence Notes Notes

Form: Two column (MS WORD Ver. 2003); Two column (PDF)

TREK - landscape, Gore-example, E-notes

3. Basic Note Taking Formats: File Card or Single Sheet

• Start a new card or a new sheet for each main idea.
• This method allows for the quick reorganization of notes.
• You could still use the hierachical (indent) method on your cards.
• Don't forget the Works Cited information.

4. Basic Note Taking Formats: Note Organizers

Once you have taken notes you will need to organize them logically. A note organizer can help you do this.

Topic
Thesis Statement
Main Idea	Main Idea	Main Idea
Key Point	Key Point	Key Point
Key Point	Key Point	Key Point
Key Point	Key Point	Key Point
Key Point	Key Point	Key Point

Form: Three column (MS WORD ver 2003); Three column (PDF)

For More Information:

• Mini-Lesson on Note Taking (Gladstone Secondary Library)
• E-Notetaking (Killarney Secondary Library)
• OWL Writing Lab
• Using One-Note Outlines for Effective Note Taking