Taking notes from books

1. Organize your paper.

   
   

   	Put the date at the top of the page.
   	Write down the name of the book and the chapter or section you will be taking notes from.
   	Leave space in the left margin or between ideas for your own comments or questions.

    

2. Get a general idea of what the reading is about.
   

   	Read the introduction, headings and subheadings, and any paragraphs that summarize the content.
   	Look at any illustrations or graphs and charts and read the captions.

    
3. Go back and read the chapter or section carefully. Look for the main ideas.
   
4. Try not to copy information directly from the book into your notes. Instead, summarize the information in your own words. This will help you to concentrate and learn.
   
5. If you do copy directly from the book, use quotation marks to indicate that it is a direct quotation. Take care to copy the quotation exactly.

    6.  Summarize the main ideas at the end of your notes and circle them.

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