2. Note-Taking When you are taking notes in the library you will be using various sources to answer research questions. You will use a note taking strategy called Caveman Language. You will be writing your notes and citing your sources in a specific format on a folded piece of paper.
3. Research Questions Research questions are based on the topic you are investigating. They are designed to help you report essential facts about a topic, and maybe even guide you to information you never knew about the subject!
4. Research Questions Topic: Paris, France Let’s write a few research questions to help us find information about Paris, France. FIRST Brainstorm a list of words that are relevant. Brainstorming is an important step because it helps you to see what you may already know about the topic! THEN Use the list of words to create questions about Paris, France.
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7. Caveman Language How do cavemen talk? “Me light fire.” “Eat dinosaur.” “Sleep in cave.” What do all of these sentences have in common? They only include the most important words for communicating!
8. Caveman Language Caveman language helps you to avoid plagiarizing. Plagiarism is when you copy another person’s words exactly without giving them credit for what they’ve written! When you are taking notes using the Caveman Language strategy you only record the most important words in your notes.
9. Caveman Language Here’s an example: Source Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France. Caveman Language Notes Where is ParisOn river Seine located in France?Northern France Notice I didn’t include the information that wasn’t relevant to the question?
10. Caveman Language These notes will help you answer the question later using your own words. Caveman Language Notes Where is ParisOn river Seine located in France?Northern France Your notes become the sentence: Paris is located on the river Seine in Northern France.
11. Caveman Language See the difference? Source: Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France. Your sentence: Paris is located on the river Seine in Northern France.
12. Formatting Notes We will us a folded sheet of paper to record our notes when we do research in the library. The paper will be divided into four squares by folding the paper in half long ways and again short ways.
14. Formatting Notes First, write your topic and your name at the top of the page. Topic: Paris, France Ms. Tenaglia
15. Formatting Notes Second, write each question in it’s own box on the right side of the page. (You’ll usually need more than one page. That’s okay, just staple them together… and to be on the safe side you should write your name on each page!) Topic: Paris France Ms. Tenaglia Where is Paris located? What are three landmarks found in Paris?
16. Formatting Notes Third, use various sources to find the answers to you research questions. Answer the questions inside the same box you wrote the question in. Don’t forget to use Caveman Language! Topic: Paris France Ms. Tenaglia Where is Paris located? On river Seine Northern France
17. Formatting Notes Now what about the left side of the note sheet? Good Question! It’s for the citations, of course.
18. Citing Sources Remember when we talked about plagiarism? We used Caveman Language to avoid using someone else’s words but we still need to give them credit because we used their IDEAS!
19. Citing Sources In the left hand column of your note taking sheet you will give information about the source. Book Sources title of the book author page numbers for the pages you used Internet Sources website name web address date you used the site
20. Citing Sources Here’s an example: Topic: Paris France Ms. Tenaglia Where is Paris located? Embassy of the US: Paris, France www.france.usembassy.gov/ August 21st, 2011 On river Seine Northern France What are three landmarks found in Paris? There’s a Place in France By Penelope Dylan Pg. 6-9 Eiffel Tower Notre Dame
