Smart Reading:
Be an Active Researcher
If there’s just one question you ask
yourself before opening a book, listening
to a podcast, reading a journal article, (or
looking at any other resources for your
research)…
…make sure
it’s…
…why am
I doing
this?
Why am I doing this?
• Asking this question is not meant to provoke
profound philosophical reflection on the
ultimate purpose of your actions!
• But you should aim to be conscious of a
number of factors that can guide you in your
research. This awareness will help you to
gain the most from the time and energy you
put into your research
Some possible
responses…
Explore topic; collect
ideas/ inspiration
Identify research
questions
Understand main ideas
and arguments
Critique key ideas
and arguments
Reread for writing up
Factors that will affect your
approach to reading & note-taking
Your
aims
Level of
detail
required
Your focus
Factors
to
consider
What
you
already
know
Time
available
What
you need
to find
out
Why ask why?
Your response might influence:
• the level of detail you look for in the text
• whether you decide to skip certain sections
• the quantity and type of notes you take
• the depth or level of detail of notes you take
• whether you decide to follow up references
used by the writer (pointers to further
resources could, in fact, be the main thing you
are looking for)
• …?
Bring a book!
What you need
• A book that relates to your project – such as a
textbook or academic book with several
distinct chapters or sections
Bring a Book Activity 1:
Quick question
• With the book closed on the desk,
ask yourself Why am I looking at
this book?
• Tell the person next to you what you
thought
Bring a Book Activity 2: Flick!
• Have a quick flick through every page
of the book, including the contents and
index (you may want to do both of
these before flicking through the body
text)
Your aim is to gain a structural overview
of the book and what it’s about
Activity 3: Bookmark
• Go back through your text, mark pages
or sections that you’d like to revisit with
post-it notes or small pieces of paper
Reading & Note-taking
• Active reading will often go hand in hand with
taking notes
• Appropriate note-taking can help you to
understand and retain information
• But it isn’t a matter of writing down
everything… be…
> selective
> relevant
> organised
• Think: easy to make & easy to use
Note taking
Abbreviate
and
paraphrase
Keep your
title question
or subquestion in
mind
Consider
using a mindmap
Note down
reference &
page number
details
Find your inner critic
Criticism can be positive as well as negative!
• Do you agree with the writer?
• Do you feel that certain points merit more
research on your part?
• Do you want to ask questions of the text (e.g.
you want more evidence, other points of view)
• Are there other problems with the text?
Activity 4: Practice note taking
• Turn to one of the sections or passages you
have just bookmarked
• Read it through once
• Now read it again, pausing to take notes as
appropriate – use your worksheet for
suggestions as to what it might be good to
write down
• You probably won’t want to cover all the
points suggested
• Remember that the note-taking process is
really valuable as it helps you to reflect on
what you read
What the book says
Your thoughts
•Main points
•Key arguments
•Interesting / new / unusual
/ controversial ideas
•Themes or major concepts
discussed
•Questions asked or left
unanswered
•Other people referred to
•Why you (don’t) agree
with the author
•Points you don’t
understand
•Points you want to find out
more about
•References you want to
follow up
•Questions or ideas the
text provokes for you
•Anything that is wrong or
missing
A final reminder
• Never open a book, or indeed engage with any
resource for your research, without first asking
yourself...
…why am I doing
this?