Top Tips for Reading and Taking Notes

Reading-to-Write

• Throw out your highlighter or at least hide it. It promotes less critical reading.

• Keep an eye out for keywords or specific terminology in the text. Try to write your own definition for each.

• Abstractions (larger ideas or themes) are usually tied to the reason the author is writing. What is the author’s motivation?

• Differentiating High level Ideas vs. Specific Details is a key task for reading-to-write.

• Select details from the article or relate details from your own background knowledge to explain these higher level ideas.

• Question - How does the author approach the subject matter? What kinds of words are used? (What is the methodology? How are conclusions validated by university research techniques?)

• What is the overall structure of the author’s work? How do the separate parts fit together?

• Look at points in the article that feature repetition or summary; these are moments when authors often focus on their larger argument or thesis.

Giltrow, J. (2002). Academic writing: Writing and reading in the disciplines. Peterborough, On: Broadview Press.

Writing from your research readings