Selecting reading material
Once you've done some planning, you'll have an idea of the types of reading you're looking for. Always start with:
- your lecture notes
- the materials provided on your reading list that seem relevant to your topic.
You should always read more widely than this, however. Many students do an internet search or look at the Wikipedia entry for your main topic. This isn't enough. You should also try:
- Subject databases available online from the library. These let you search scholarly journals for relevant articles. If you're not sure which databases to try, check the guide to databases by subject
- Google Scholar. Unlike Google's regular search engine, Google Scholar searches peer-reviewed journals.
- Your tutor. Talk to them if you need help to identify relevant materials.
When looking at these resources, check the title and the abstract. These should give you a reasonable idea of whether the article is relevant.
Reading strategically
Read with your assignment topic or question in mind. Aim to get a better understanding of the ideas you brainstormed during your planning. Ask yourself what you must find out when reading the text.
Unless you're writing for a literature unit, you can skim-read the text to find the relevant parts of the article or to get an understanding of the author's stance. Start with the abstract. Look at the introduction and conclusion. Skim over the sub-headings. Read the relevant sections more closely.
As you're reading, remember that your goal is to write an essay that answers your question. Focus on that, rather than on reproducing what a particular author says about their question.
Taking notes
Many students take notes by highlighting or underlining passages in a text. There are two problems with this approach.
- It is passive, and you might forget why you marked these passages. Instead, try annotating the text in the margins with questions or notes that explain your response to what you've read.
- It requires you keep copies of all the texts you read. Instead, aim to keep notes on what you've read. You'll need to record:
- bibliographic details (such as the article title, author, date, journal/book title, publisher, place of publication, pages numbers for the whole article, or website address)
- paraphrased or summarised points from the text that may be relevant to your assignment topic
- direct quotations you may want to use. Keep these to a minimum. You'll show your understanding of an issue better if you use your own words
- pages numbers relevant to each note
- any comments or questions you have about the text and how it relates to your assignment topic.