Reminders: Research Paper Notes

I wanted to make a few reminders about the note card check in for Tuesday. Remember that you will likely need to leave your note cards with me overnight so if you aren't going to be in school on Wednesday, it might be best to drop them off on Monday or you may end up waiting for me to check yours off after school to get them back. Please don't forget to pick them up before the long weekend! 

Also, please bring your Gatsby book with you to class on Tuesday. 

 

A few expectations and reminders about notes in particular: 

• You should have 20-25  note cards (depending on how “information rich” they are) or their equivalent (if you are taking notes electronically) by Tuesday. You won't be done taking notes entirely, this is just a check in point (an important and valuable one!) to make sure you're on track and give you credit for work done to date. 
  
• Plan to use at least 3 different sources. You do not need to finish taking notes on one great source before moving on to the next, if it’s longer than an article, and probably shouldn’t. Students who are still stuck on one source by the note card check-in usually wind up writing weaker papers: it becomes harder to diversify your sources and the result often winds up being more of a book report than true synthesis.
  
• Be ready to indicate to me which sources are print and which are electronic; I'll also have your annotated works cited pages to pass back, which should help. 
  
• If you are using any online sources that are not from unquestionably trustworthy sources (organizations that your teacher will have heard of, for example), please check them with me. I am highly skeptical of any website that does not have the oversight of an editor, even if the individual is or claims to be highly qualified. As always, don’t hesitate to drop me an email if you have any questions or concerns! You are also welcome to pick up your works cited page on Monday if you like. 
  
• If you want to use a source quoted within a source make sure you know the speaker's name and identity (e.g., John McWhorter, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute) so that you can site them in your actual paper. 

As promised, the grading criteria for Wednesday:

• Required number of note cards (or equivalent) is met. 
  
• Every scrap of information can be clearly tied back to a source (use a code to save yourself work!) and a page number (if applicable). 
  
• Clear and systematic topic headings are used, and notes contain sufficient context that you (and I) can make some sense of them. 
  
• Notes cover appropriate breadth and depth of information: at least 3-4 sources.
  
• Notes are legible and can be reordered ("manipulated"). 

Remember what a "finished" note card might look like:

And electronic notes can be taken in PowerPoint or Word:

Don't worry, folks, the long weekend is just around the bend …