#4: Taking Notes
Here is Teacher Janice's system for taking notes:
1. Take notes on 3" x 5" note cards. Put a heading at the top of each, such as PREPARATION OF TOMBS (or TOMBS -- PREPARATION OF). Write words, phrases, relevant facts. Do NOT write in complete sentences (unless you need to quote an expert). If you use someone else's words, you are plagiarizing, which is a way of saying you're passing off another person's work as your own. That's wrong -- and illegal.
2. Make a source card for each book, article, web site or other source where you find information for your research project. Use the recommended citation format. Now assign a number for that source and put it in the upper right-hand corner of the card.
3. Each time you take notes, make sure you have recorded the source. You simply have to put the assigned number and then put the page number(s) where you found the information.
Example of a note card:
PREPARATION OF TOMB ...............................1, p.138 filled with items for use in afterlife: clothing, wigs, food, cosmetics, jewelry |
Example of a source card:
Bianchi, Robert S. 1989. The gold of the pharaohs. Faces, 6:3, 12-15. (Note: You might put a circle around this source's assigned number, which should go in the top right-hand corner of this card.) |