2. 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?
3. 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
4. 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
5. Factors that will affect your approach to
reading & note-taking
Your
aims
Your focus
Time
available
What
you need
to find
out
What
you
already
know
Level of
detail
required
Factors
to
consider
6. 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)
• …?
7. 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
8. Bring a Book Activity 1:
Quick question
• With the book closed on the desk, ask
yourself Why am I looking at this book?
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. Note taking
Keep your
title question
or sub-
question in
mind
Abbreviate
and
paraphrase
Note down
reference &
page number
details
Consider
using a mind-
map
13. 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?
14. 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
15. 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
16. 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?
