Research Notes & Drafts – How To
1.
Locate resources that address your topic and get an overall understanding of your topic before you
start taking notes.
2.
Locate reliable and authentic resources that provide you with sufficient information that directly
links to the purpose of your report.
3.
Transfer the resource citation to a word doc according to APA formatting. Place at the top of the
page. Pay close attention to formatting. See the example below.
4.
Take notes in your own words below the citation.
5.
At the end of each point taken from source, attach the embedded citation according to APA
formatting. See the example below. Pay close attention to formatting.
Research Note Taking Exemplar
Hepfer, L. (2003). What is Polyethylene Plastic? Retrieved March 9th, 2010, from
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-polyethylene-plastic.htm
 Polyethylene is an inexpensive, strong, and chemically resistant plastic. (Hepfer, L., 2003)
 It is used in many commonly used things such as shopping bags, garbage bags, sandwich bags,
shampoo and soap bottles. (Hepfer, L,. 2003)
 One of the first things it was used for was to make a hula hoop. (Hepfer, L., 2003)
 Although this plastic can be recycled, it is not as good the second time around. (Hepfer, L., 2003)
Burtinshaw, Julie. (May 1, 2007). Say no to Plastic Bags. Retrieved March 9th, 2010, from
http://environmental-activism.suite101.com/article.cfm/say_no_to_plastic_bags
 By producing this product, we add to air pollution and the amount of energy we use. (Burtinshaw, J.,
2007)
 Only 1% of polyethylene is ever recycled. (Burtinshaw, J., 2007)
 As it decomposes, toxins enter the soil, which animals eat from. (Burtinshaw, J., 2007)
 The plastic bags that come from polyethylene fill the landfills needlessly. (Burtinshaw, J., 2007)
 There are alternatives to using the things made from polyethylene, such as reusable grocery bags
(Burtinshaw, J., 2007)
 Recycle any other plastic you cannot reuse, instead of throwing it out. (Burtinshaw, J., 2007)
Sedjo, Roger A., Berry, Kathleen, Charnley, Gail, Eberstadt, Nicholas N., Glantz, Michael H., Loewen,
Eric P., Moore, Thomas G., Opie, John, Shabman, Leonard A., Shugart, Herman H., Jr., Sproull, Robert L.,
Teta, M. Jane, Trivelpiece, Alvin W., Vidaver, Anne K. (April 3rd 2008). Plastics. Retrieved March 10th,
2010, from http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/1188.html
 Plastic has become useful in our everyday lives because it is so lightweight and strong. (Sedjo, R. et al.,
2008)
 Plastics were first produced to replace natural materials that did not work as well as needed. Now they
are being produced to replace things that just weren’t as convenient as plastic. (Sedjo, R. et al., 2008)
 The most significant problem that is caused by plastics in the environment is that they are not being
recycled. (Sedjo, R. et al., 2008)
 Plastics fill 25% of every landfill. (Sedjo, R. et al., 2008)
 There is an island the size of Texas of plastic trash floating in the ocean. (Sedjo, R. et al., 2008)
6.
Establish the topics for the different sections/paragraphs in your report.
7.
Organize notes into these sections by copying and pasting the bulleted notes from your research
notes taken. See the example below.
Research Note Organization Exemplar
Properties of DDT
 Polyethylene is an inexpensive, strong, and chemically resistant plastic. (Hepfer, L., 2003)
 Plastic has become useful in our everyday lives because it is so lightweight and strong. (Sedjo, R. et al.,
2008)
Uses of DDT
 One of the first things it was used to make was a hula hoop. (Hepfer, L., 2003)
 It is used in many commonly used things such as shopping bags, garbage bags, sandwich bags,
shampoo and soap bottles. (Hepfer, L,. 2003)
 There are alternatives to using the things made from polyethylene, such as reusable grocery bags
(Burtinshaw, J., 2007)
 Recycle any other plastic you cannot reuse, instead of throwing it out. (Burtinshaw, J., 2007)
 Plastics were first produced to replace natural materials that did not work as well as needed. Now they
are being produced to replace things that just weren’t as convenient as plastic. (Sedjo, R. et al., 2008)
Environmental Concerns
 Although this plastic can be recycled, it is not as good the second time around. (Hepfer, L., 2003)
 By producing this product, we add to air pollution and the amount of energy we use. (Burtinshaw, J.,
2007)
 Only 1% of polyethylene is ever recycled. (Burtinshaw, J., 2007)
 As it decomposes, toxins enter the soil, which animals eat from. (Burtinshaw, J., 2007)
 The plastic bags that come from polyethylene fill the landfills needlessly. (Burtinshaw, J., 2007)
 The most significant problem that is cause by plastics in the environment is that they are not being
recycled. (Sedjo, R. et al., 2008)
 Plastics fill 25% of every landfill. (Sedjo, R. et al., 2008)
 There is an island the size of Texas of plastic trash floating in the ocean. (Sedjo, R. et al., 2008)
8.
If you have bulleted items that are essentially saying the same thing, transfer the embedded
citations to the one you’ll keep and delete the rest. All citations in this case go between one set of
brackets. e.g. (Hepfer, L., 2003, Burtinshaw, J., 2007)
9.
Organize each section by cutting and pasting bulleted items into the desired sequence
10. Remove all bullets and add in transitions to improve the flow of content.
11. Interpret, analyse and discuss your researched information. This is the part that makes the paper
yours and is crucial to your understanding of the content. This also helps with the flow of the
report and demonstrates good written communication skills and higher level thinking skills.
Research reports are formal and therefore should be free of any personal comments, opinions and/or
emotions. First person references should not be used.
Good Luck!