Read for Research

When you need to read for information, not for language learning.

Is it online? Download it!

• Things online change a lot.
• Download the PDF, or “Print as PDF”
• Rename it so you can find it easily later
• Put it in your folder for this project

Before you read, get your brain ready:

• What do you already know about the topic?
• What do you think you will learn?

Skim it

• the first sentence
• the thesis statement (if there is one - look at the end of the introduction)
• the section headings (if there are any)
• the words under any charts or photos
• the conclusion

  Read it and highlight

• Highlight important phrases
• Highlight important quotes.
• Optional - name your highlight
  • write in margin/comment keywords on highlight
  • to help you find/remember it later.

Read it again and take notes

• Choose - are you going to write or type?
• Choose - are you doing to use Japanese or English?
  • (Up to you, unless I ask you to use English)
  • (if you use English, don’t copy paste!)
• Keep your notes short
  • Choose only the IMPORTANT highlights you need for your summary
  • Don’t copy-paste the whole phrase!
  • Use the keywords you wrote. Add more if those are not clear
  • If you do copy a quote, use quote marks so you remember it’s not your words
• Give page numbers if the original is very long
• Use Note English
  • Notes should be FAST to write and FAST to read:
  • No sentences!
  • Remove unnecessary words (a, he, on, in, the, is, are)
  • Make it quicker to write and to read:
    • “Two thirds of growth at Pepsi came from better foods”
    • “two thirds growth Pepsi frm better foods”
    • “2/3 growth @ Pepsi = better foods”

Stop and think - add your own ideas

• Anything you disagree with?
• Any connections to other things you have read?
• Should you use this article? Is it a good source
• What did the article NOT tell you? (What should you look at next?)
• Now take notes on language (e.g. useful words and phrases for later)
• Do the APA reference now - it will save time later.
• Write a summary now - it will save time later.