Note-Taking from Multiple Sources

Learn how to gather important information from books, articles, and videos and organize it into your own words.

Reading is good — doing is better. Practice Note-Taking from Multiple Sources as an interactive lesson.

Definition

Note-taking from multiple sources means reading or listening to more than one book, article, website, or video about a topic, then writing down only the most important facts and ideas in your own words so you can use them later for a report or project.

Remember the rule

STOP, SELECT, SWITCH: Stop reading. Select only the key facts. Switch to your own words before you write them down.

Key words

source: Any place you get information from, like a book, article, website, or video.
notes: Short pieces of information you write down to help you remember what you learned.
paraphrase: To rewrite something in your own words instead of copying it word for word.
plagiarism: Copying someone else's words exactly without giving them credit — this is not allowed in school or anywhere.
main idea: The most important point an author is making about a topic.
key detail: A fact or piece of information that supports or explains the main idea.
topic: The subject you are researching and writing about.
organize: To sort your notes into groups so they make sense and are easy to use.

Worked examples

You are researching dolphins. Source 1 (a book) says: 'Dolphins are marine mammals that breathe air through a blowhole on top of their heads.' What do you write in your notes?

→ Dolphins are mammals that live in the ocean and breathe through a blowhole on their heads. · You kept the important facts but changed the wording — that is paraphrasing, not copying.

Source 2 (a website) says: 'Dolphins can swim up to 25 miles per hour and use clicking sounds to find food, a skill called echolocation.' What do you write?

→ Dolphins swim fast (up to 25 mph) and use clicking sounds called echolocation to find food. · Numbers and special vocabulary words like 'echolocation' are okay to keep exactly as written.

You now have notes from both sources. How do you put them together so they do not repeat the same information?

→ Group facts by idea: write all 'body' facts together (blowhole, mammal) and all 'behavior' facts together (speed, echolocation). Cross out any fact that appears in both sources so you only write it once. · Organizing by idea — not by source — helps you write a smoother report.

Source 3 is a video. The narrator says a lot of things quickly about dolphin communication. How do you take notes from a video?

→ Watch once all the way through. Watch again and pause to write one or two key facts at a time. Write only what seems most important, in your own words. · You do not need to write every word — just the facts your report will actually use.

Two sources disagree. Source 1 says dolphins live up to 40 years. Source 2 says they live up to 50 years. What should you write in your notes?

→ Write both facts and note which source said which: 'Source 1 says up to 40 years; Source 2 says up to 50 years.' Then look for a third source to help decide which is more likely correct. · When sources disagree, do not just pick the one you like — look for more evidence.

You copied this sentence straight from the book into your notes: 'Dolphins are remarkably intelligent creatures that exhibit complex social behaviors.' Is that okay?

→ No. You should paraphrase it instead: 'Dolphins are very smart and live in social groups.' If you want to use the exact words in your report, you must put them in quotation marks and name the book. · Copying into your notes without marking it leads to accidental plagiarism in your final report.

Common mistakes

Copying sentences word for word from the source instead of paraphrasing them into their own words.
Writing down too much — almost every sentence — instead of selecting only key facts and main ideas.
Forgetting to write down which source each fact came from, making it impossible to check later.
Mixing up facts from different sources without labeling them, so the notes become confusing.
Treating all sources as equally trustworthy without checking whether the source is reliable.

FAQs

How many sources do I need to use?

For a 4th grade report, aim for at least two or three different sources. Using more than one helps you get a fuller picture of your topic and lets you check that facts are correct.

Do I have to use complete sentences in my notes?

No! Short phrases and bullet points are great for notes. You just need enough words that you will understand what you wrote when you read it later.

What if two sources say different things about the same fact?

Write down both versions and note which source said which. Then try to find a third source to help figure out which fact is correct. A fact found in two or more reliable sources is usually trustworthy.

How do I know what is important enough to write down?

Ask yourself: 'Does this fact help answer my research question or explain my topic?' If yes, write it down. If it is an interesting extra detail that does not connect to your main topic, you can skip it.

Can I use the internet as a source?

Yes, but check that the website is trustworthy — look for sites from schools, museums, libraries, or well-known organizations. Anyone can post anything online, so not every website is accurate.

What does it mean to organize my notes?

After you finish taking notes from all your sources, read through them and group similar facts together under headings like 'What dolphins look like' or 'How dolphins behave.' This makes writing your report much easier.

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