9.1: The Reading Notetaking and Managing a Research Project

To learn more about note taking and managing the research project read the following articles from Excelsior OWL (CC-BY) and Quillbot (CC-BY-NC-SA).

SLOs-Engage in a recursive process of prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading  -Engage in a reflective process of evaluating their own drafts and those of others  

Note-Taking

Taking notes well is a highly underrated skill. If you take notes well, your writing process will flow much more smoothly than if you take notes with an erratic and incomplete system. In addition, a good note-taking system makes it much less likely that you’ll have to backtrack to find missing information or clarify unclear information on your cards.

You want to avoid the following scenario:

After several weeks of painstaking research, you’re finally ready to start drafting parts of your paper. You pull out your reams of electronic or handwritten notes or notecards and start arranging the materials you’re most likely to use first. You start drafting a section; suddenly, you remember running across a really perfect set of data that clearly supports the point you’re arguing. Excited, you draft the paragraph making the point, find the card with the data you need, and write the following: “An experiment that clearly documents this trend was conducted at….” You look all over the card or paper and discover that you forgot to write down the specifics of whose experiment this was. You also forgot to write down in which journal and article the experiment was reported.

Now you have some choices to make:

• Retrace your research steps and try to find the article again.
• Replace the perfect data with information from another experiment you read about that doesn’t support your point quite as well and leaves you with a weaker argument.
• Abandon that part of your argument altogether.

Obviously, choices two and three are highly imperfect, but choice number one may take you several hours. What do you do?

The following pages in this section on note-taking will provide you with some guidelines to help you avoid this kind of situation altogether.

Labeling Notes

Label Your Notes: Summary, Paraphrase, or Quotation

When you are taking notes, you might jot down the general parameters of an experiment you read about, you might summarize an author’s argument, or you might copy a section of text. Three, four, or five weeks later, when you sit down to write, you probably won’t remember which card contained the quote, which contained the paraphrase, and which contained the summary in your own words.

Whether you are reporting someone else’s experimental process, idea, or comment, you must always clearly distinguish when your use of that other person’s material is a summary of a main idea (someone else’s key idea, but in your own words), a paraphrase (someone else’s supporting materials rewritten in your own words), or a quotation (someone else’s exact words).

You can help protect yourself from errors by creating a system that labels the material. One easy system is to mark quotations with a clear Q, paraphrases with a P, and summaries with an S. With guidelines such as these, or with another clear system that you devise, you won’t find yourself unintentionally using someone else’s words by confusing a quote with your own summary. Using another author’s words without proper quotation marks is considered plagiarism, even if you have a footnote or a citation!

Read the original by clicking the link below.

https://owl.excelsior.edu/research/note-taking/

 

Planning Your Project

Each step of a research project requires time and attention. Careful planning helps ensure that you will keep your project running smoothly and produce your best work. Set up a project schedule that shows when you will complete each step. Think about how you will complete each step and what project resources you will use. Resources may include anything from library databases and word-processing software to interview subjects and writing tutors.

To develop your schedule, use a calendar and work backward from the date your final draft is due. Generally, it is wise to divide half of the available time on the research phase of the project and half on the writing phase. For example, if you have a month to work, plan for two weeks for each phase. If you have a full semester, plan to begin research early and to start writing by the middle of the term. You might think that no one really works that far ahead, but try it. You will probably be pleased with the quality of your work and with the reduction in your stress level.

As you plan, break down major steps into smaller tasks if necessary. For example, step 3, conducting research, involves locating potential sources, evaluating their usefulness and reliability, reading, and taking notes. Defining these smaller tasks makes the project more manageable by giving you concrete goals to achieve.

Jorge had six weeks to complete his research project. Working backward from a due date of May 2, he mapped out a schedule for completing his research by early April so that he would have ample time to write. Jorge chose to write his schedule in his weekly planner to help keep himself on track.

Review Jorge’s schedule. Key target dates are shaded. Note that Jorge planned times to use available resources by visiting the library and writing center and by meeting with his instructor.

 

TIP

Plan your schedule realistically, and consider other commitments that may sometimes take precedence. A business trip or family visit may mean that you are unable to work on the research project for a few days. Make the most of the time you have available. Plan for unexpected interruptions, but keep in mind that a short time away from the project may help you come back to it with renewed enthusiasm. Another strategy many writers find helpful is to finish each day’s work at a point when the next task is an easy one. That makes it easier to start again.

Writing at Work

When you create a project schedule at work, you set target dates for completing certain tasks and identify the resources you plan to use on the project. It is important to build in some flexibility. Materials may not be received on time because of a shipping delay. An employee on your team may be called away to work on a higher-priority project. Essential equipment may malfunction. You should always plan for the unexpected.

Staying Organized

Although setting up a schedule is easy, sticking to one is challenging. Even if you are the rare person who never procrastinates, unforeseen events may interfere with your ability to complete tasks on time. A self-imposed deadline may slip your mind despite your best intentions. Organizational tools—calendars, checklists, note cards, software, and so forth—can help you stay on track.

Throughout your project, organize both your time and your resources systematically. Review your schedule frequently and check your progress. It helps to post your schedule in a place where you will see it every day. Both personal and workplace e-mail systems usually include a calendar feature where you can record tasks, arrange to receive daily reminders, and check off completed tasks. Electronic devices such as smartphones have similar features.

Organize project documents in a binder or electronic folder, and label project documents and folders clearly. Use note cards or an electronic document to record bibliographical information for each source you plan to use in your paper. Tracking this information throughout the research process can save you hours of time when you create your references page.

TIP

Some people enjoy using the most up-to-date technology to help them stay organized. Other people prefer simple methods, such as crossing off items on a checklist. The key to staying organized is finding a system you like enough to use daily. The particulars of the method are not important as long as you are consistent.

Anticipating Challenges

Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? You have identified a book that would be a great resource for your project, but it is currently checked out of the library. You planned to interview a subject matter expert on your topic, but she calls to reschedule your meeting. You have begun writing your draft, but now you realize that you will need to modify your thesis and conduct additional research. Or you have finally completed your draft when your computer crashes, and days of hard work disappear in an instant.

These troubling situations are all too common. No matter how carefully you plan your schedule, you may encounter a glitch or setback. Managing your project effectively means anticipating potential problems, taking steps to minimize them where possible, and allowing time in your schedule to handle any setbacks.

Many times a situation becomes a problem due only to lack of planning. For example, if a book is checked out of your local library, it might be available through interlibrary loan, which usually takes a few days for the library staff to process. Alternatively, you might locate another, equally useful source. If you have allowed enough time for research, a brief delay will not become a major setback.

You can manage other potential problems by staying organized and maintaining a take-charge attitude. Take a minute each day to save a backup copy of your work on a portable hard drive. Maintain detailed note cards and source cards as you conduct research—doing so will make citing sources in your draft infinitely easier. If you run into difficulties with your research or your writing, ask your instructor for help, or make an appointment with a writing tutor.

Writing at Work

In the workplace, documents prepared at the beginning of a project often include a detailed plan for risk management. When you manage a project, it makes sense to anticipate and prepare for potential setbacks. For example, to roll out a new product line, a software development company must strive to complete tasks on a schedule in order to meet the new product release date. The project manager may need to adjust the project plan if one or more tasks fall behind schedule.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• To complete a research project successfully, a writer must carefully manage each phase of the process and break major steps into smaller tasks.
• Writers can plan a research project by setting up a schedule based on the deadline and by identifying useful project resources.
• Writers stay focused by using organizational tools that suit their needs.
• Anticipating and planning for potential setbacks can help writers avoid those setbacks or minimize their effect on the project schedule.

 

Read the original text by clicking the link below.

https://quillbot.com/courses/research-based-writing/chapter/managing-your-research-project/