Keep quotations, paraphrases and your own ideas separate

Give every source a stable identity

Start each reading note with enough information to find the source again: author, title, date and a stable link or identifier where available. Add edition details for books. If you use a reference manager, connect the note to the correct record rather than relying on a temporary browser tab.

Record location details beside the actual point, using page numbers, section headings or another appropriate locator. A page range at the top of a long note may not tell you where one particular claim appeared. Check whether printed page numbers differ from the PDF viewer's count and use the appropriate form in your references.

Mark exact wording unmistakably

Put copied wording in quotation marks or a clearly labelled quotation block immediately. Keep the source and location beside it. Do not rely solely on a highlight colour that may vanish when pasted into another program. Copy accurately and preserve context that affects the meaning.

Keep quotations selective. If you need the author's precise formulation, explain in a separate note why it matters. If you only need the underlying idea, a checked paraphrase may serve the later argument better. The choice depends on the assignment and discipline, not on a rule that one form is always more academic.

Write paraphrases from understanding

Read the passage, look away and explain its meaning in your own structure. Then compare your version with the original for accuracy and accidental closeness. Keep the reference because the idea still comes from the source. Changing a few words while retaining the original sentence pattern is not a reliable note-making method.

Preserve qualifications, scope and uncertainty. A source describing one sample should not become a claim about everyone in your notes. Mark anything you do not understand and return to the surrounding passage. If you cannot explain the point accurately, leave it as an unresolved reading question rather than manufacturing a confident summary.

Label your response as a response

Use a separate field headed 'my comment' or another clear label for questions, objections and connections. Explain what prompted the thought. For example, note that an argument may not address the case you are studying, then identify the evidence needed to evaluate that concern.

When linking two sources, keep each source's position distinct from your comparison. Write the comparison as a provisional interpretation until you have checked both texts. This makes later drafting easier because you can see the material supporting your reasoning without confusing the reasoning with a claim made explicitly by either author.

Audit notes before drafting

Before moving material into the assignment, check the source label, wording status and locator. Open the original passage when a note is ambiguous. If you cannot recover the origin, do not use the claim as though its provenance were certain. Replace it with a verified source or remove it.

During the final reference check, compare quotations against their originals and ensure paraphrased ideas are attributed as required. Keep your working notes after submission according to your course's practices. A clear record makes it easier to explain your process, revisit useful sources and avoid repeating the same attribution uncertainty in the next assignment.

Your next steps

• Attach a source identity and locator to each useful point.
• Label exact wording at the moment you copy it.
• Check paraphrases for accuracy and attribution.
• Keep personal comments separate from source claims.

Keep planning

• Find note-taking support that works for your course
• Keep high-demand library books from derailing preparation
• Proofread an assignment in separate passes
• Keep one shared draft for a group assignment