There are a variety of ways to take notes when you are doing research for a paper. Some researchers choose to use notecards for research notes, while others use online formats for their notes. Regardless of what format you use, it is essential to include an attribution for every resource that is used.
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Not all research needs to be directly quoted. It is best to have a combination of quotes and paraphrased information. Paraphrasing means you have read the research and have written it in your own words. The link below gives good instruction on how to paraphrase.
You may want to take notes electronically. There are a number of free online sources that you can use to collect and store your research.
Electronic notetaking allows you to copy and paste which saves time and helps with accuracy.
If you do not back up your files, you could lose your research if you have a crash.
Diigo - Collect, highlight, store, bookmark sources, share
NoodleTools - Provides information on smart searching and offers online notecards
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