Efficient Skimming Techniques for Research: Maximizing Your Note-Taking Strategy

1. Appendix A Skimming Your Sources and Taking Notes

2. Save time: don’t read • You don’t have time to read every article/book/document that relates to your topic • Before you begin reading any source, you should skim it first to see if it’s applicable Appendix A: Skimming Your Sources and Taking Notes

3. Skimming Guidelines: Book • Preface & introduction: look for approach and methods • Acknowledgments: who gave the author help • Table of Contents: scope and organization • Pay particular attention to subsection headings and number of pages in each section for depth • Notes at the end of chapters • Random paragraphs Appendix A: Skimming Your Sources and Taking Notes

4. Skimming Guidelines: Article • Abstract: duh! • Introduction: to understand the purpose, main ideas, and organization (particularly at the end of the introduction) • Headings • Conclusion • References: to understand the extent of the author’s research Appendix A: Skimming Your Sources and Taking Notes

5. Take Notes • Take notes electronically • Even if it’s not something you plan on using for now • Include bibliographic information • Books: • Author • Title • Publisher • Place of Publication • Year of Publication • ISBN number (optional) • Articles: • Author(s) • Title • Periodical Name • Volume • Number • Date of Publication • Pages of Article Appendix A: Skimming Your Sources and Taking Notes

6. Paraphrasing • Paraphrasing is restating the original author’s words in your own way to make the text easier to understand or to make it your own • Leaving even 2 or 3 words the same can be considered a direct quote • Even paraphrased work should be cited (but not quoted) • If you’re using your notes from the original document, don’t forget to paraphrase them • Paraphrasing is necessary to show that you understand what the original author meant Appendix A: Skimming Your Sources and Taking Notes