Student Learning Unit, Victoria University, Melbourne

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What is the first step?

Before you start, note down the full publication details:

• author’s name/s
• title of text/article
• publisher
• place of publication
•  year of publication

Print them clearly to make sure you get them exactly right when you use them later. You will put them in alphabetical order to make your reference list which will be provided at the end of your essay.

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What techniques can I use for notetaking? 

1. Direct quotations

These should be carefully selected and copied exactly from the text/article. It is best not to use abbreviations when taking notes of direct quotations. Use inverted commas “ ” in your notes to show exactly which words are being quoted.

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2. Paraphrasing

This means writing in your own words without changing the original meaning. The paraphrase is usually as long as the original passage. Read the passage several times to understand its meaning, check the dictionary for any words you do not understand, and identify:

• the main idea
• the main supporting points

Write the passage in your own words by:

• keeping any technical terms
• substituting synonyms for general words
• changing the word order of sentences, eg active to passive or vice versa
• where possible, linking your paraphrase to the purpose of what you are writing
•  if you are stuck, saying it aloud to yourself and writing down what you said, then changing it into academic style

In your essay, you must reference all paraphrases; this is just as important as referencing direct quotations. This means you must include the page numbers in your notes – try in the margin or above the line.

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3. Summarising

Read the passage several times to understand its meaning, check the dictionary for any words you do not understand, and identify:  

• the main idea
• the main supporting points
• details about each point
• examples and illustrations

Write the main ideas of the passage in your own words. Use the same techniques as for paraphrasing, but include less detail. Leave out details and examples unless they are necessary for understanding or you think you may use one in your essay. A summary is usually much shorter than the original passage.  

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4. Using outlines

Write the main ideas in point form and use numbers and letters, headings and subheadings to indicate main ideas and subordinate ideas.  

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5. Using abbreviations

This can save you a lot of time. A couple of warnings:  

• Only use abbreviations that you will understand when you read your notes – which may be in 3 months time!
• If you want to start using new abbreviations, choose a maximum of about 5 and use them until they become automatic before you introduce more new ones.  

Otherwise you risk being unable to read your notes!  

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Any other useful websites?

Some of the best websites dealing with this topic have been bookmarked for you on del.icio.us  notetaking.reading

This resource was created by
Amanda Pearce and Wendy Fleet, 2003

If you have any suggestion as to how it could be imnproved, or any other comments, please feel free to leave a comment/ reply below.