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How to manage your reading lists

How to manage your reading lists. Dr Emma Coonan Research Skills Librarian, Cambridge University Library. Course overview. What is a reading list anyway? Tracking references down: where to look for what Fast reading strategies: why and how to read Notemaking and futureproofing.

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How to manage your reading lists

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  1. How to manage your reading lists Dr Emma Coonan Research Skills Librarian, Cambridge University Library

  2. Course overview • What is a reading list anyway? • Tracking references down: where to look for what • Fast reading strategies: why and how to read • Notemaking and futureproofing

  3. 1. What is a reading list anyway?

  4. Is it … • A list of everything you must read for your course or supervision? • Something you approach in order by starting at the beginning and working straight through?

  5. How will YOU choose what to read?

  6. Beware of white rabbits Ideas and arguments that lead away from your topic Maintain a critical distance

  7. 5 minutes: prioritize your reading

  8. 2. Where to look for what

  9. 2. Where to look for what Books Book chapters Articles

  10. 2. Where to look for what Books Book chapters Articles Incomplete references

  11. Decoding academic references (citations) Dixon, Thomas (2004) How to get a first. Routledge: London.

  12. Decoding references Davidson, D., ‘Locating literary language,’ in Literary Theory after Davidson, ed. Reed Way Dasenbrock (University Park: Pennsylvania State UP, 1993)

  13. Decoding references Tip: if you’re asked to read a chapter, don’t read the whole book! Davidson, D., ‘Locating literary language,’ in Literary Theory after Davidson, ed. Reed Way Dasenbrock (University Park: Pennsylvania State UP, 1993)

  14. Decoding references Kieling, C. et al. Child and adolescent mental health worldwide: evidence for action. The Lancet, 378(9801): 1515-1525.

  15. Decoding references Kieling, C. et al. Child and adolescent mental health worldwide: evidence for action. The Lancet, 378(9801): 1515-1525. Tip: journal article references tend to have a string of numbers at the end

  16. Decoding references Davidson, D., ‘Locating literary language,’ in Literary Theory after Davidson, ed. Reed Way Dasenbrock (University Park: Pennsylvania State UP, 1993) Dixon, Thomas (2004) How to get a first. Routledge: London. Kieling, C. et al. Child and adolescent mental health worldwide: evidence for action. The Lancet, 378(9801): 1515-1525. 

  17. What’s the difference?

  18. 5 minutes: find your material

  19. Incomplete references

  20. Your supervisor: There’s a great article comparing Ingres and Delacroix, by a guy called Shelton. I can’t remember which journal it’s from … “ ”

  21. Your supervisor: There’s a great article comparing Ingres and Delacroix, by a guy called Shelton. I can’t remember which journal it’s from … “ ”

  22. 3. Why and how to read

  23. Step 1: Why am I reading this? • To understand a concept? • To gather specific facts? • To identify the structure of an author’s argument? • To find alternative views so as to challenge an argument? http://sfl.emu.edu.tr/dept/alo/active4.htm

  24. Step 2: Quick reading strategies • Skimming • Scanning • Answering back

  25. Skimming • Getting a feel for the main ideas and arguments of the text • Selectively reading key elements of the organisational structure • What can you already tell from the key criteria you used to select the item? www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/academic/exams/speedreading.html

  26. Skimming books Scope, approach and coverage Contents page Introduction – first and last paragraphs, headings Conclusion – first and last paragraphs, headings Individual chapter(s) – first and last paragraphs, headings, figures First sentence of each paragraph Hypothesis, argument, method, findings Development of argument – omissions and biases

  27. Skimming journals Hypothesis, argument, method, findings Abstract Keywords (author-generated) Introductory paragraph Concluding paragraph Headings Figures First sentence of each paragraph Useful subject context; quick way to find related material Context, scope and coverage Often the main matter Development of argument – omissions and biases

  28. Scanning • Picking out specific facts or key words/phrases • Running your eyes down the page • Can alert you to useful new terms and concepts www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/academic/exams/speedreading.html

  29. Answering back: maintaining a critical distance • Always ask: “what’s in it for me?” • What’s relevant/useful for my own argument? • What other work does this piece mesh with? • Does it spark any lightbulb moments? • What might be a white rabbit?

  30. 5 minutes: read!

  31. 4. Notemaking and futureproofing

  32. Tagging

  33. Tagging • Subject-based keywords – e.g. “entropy”, “Derrida” • Logistical – e.g. “chapter2” • Evaluative – e.g. “low priority” • Pragmatic – e.g. “read”/”unread”

  34. Futureproof your notes Make sure you can identify: • Which parts of your notes are quotations (including single significant words) • Which parts are paraphrases of the author’s points • Which parts of your own writing are a response to the argument or inspiredby ideas in the text • Will you be able to tell the difference in a month’s time?

  35. Futureproof your notes Use colour coding, marginal notes or a system of symbols - be consistent! “This is a quotation” >> This is a paraphrase ! This is me! • Remember to keep the full reference and the page number for quotations and paraphrases

  36. Questions?

  37. Emma Coonan Research Skills Librarian research-skills@lib.cam.ac.uk http://training.cam.ac.uk/cul

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