research paper notes template

13.5 Research Process: Making Notes, Synthesizing Information, and Keeping a Research Log

Learning outcomes.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Employ the methods and technologies commonly used for research and communication within various fields.
• Practice and apply strategies such as interpretation, synthesis, response, and critique to compose texts that integrate the writer’s ideas with those from appropriate sources.
• Analyze and make informed decisions about intellectual property based on the concepts that motivate them.
• Apply citation conventions systematically.

As you conduct research, you will work with a range of “texts” in various forms, including sources and documents from online databases as well as images, audio, and video files from the Internet. You may also work with archival materials and with transcribed and analyzed primary data. Additionally, you will be taking notes and recording quotations from secondary sources as you find materials that shape your understanding of your topic and, at the same time, provide you with facts and perspectives. You also may download articles as PDFs that you then annotate. Like many other students, you may find it challenging to keep so much material organized, accessible, and easy to work with while you write a major research paper. As it does for many of those students, a research log for your ideas and sources will help you keep track of the scope, purpose, and possibilities of any research project.

A research log is essentially a journal in which you collect information, ask questions, and monitor the results. Even if you are completing the annotated bibliography for Writing Process: Informing and Analyzing , keeping a research log is an effective organizational tool. Like Lily Tran’s research log entry, most entries have three parts: a part for notes on secondary sources, a part for connections to the thesis or main points, and a part for your own notes or questions. Record source notes by date, and allow room to add cross-references to other entries.

Summary of Assignment: Research Log

Your assignment is to create a research log similar to the student model. You will use it for the argumentative research project assigned in Writing Process: Integrating Research to record all secondary source information: your notes, complete publication data, relation to thesis, and other information as indicated in the right-hand column of the sample entry.

Another Lens. A somewhat different approach to maintaining a research log is to customize it to your needs or preferences. You can apply shading or color coding to headers, rows, and/or columns in the three-column format (for colors and shading). Or you can add columns to accommodate more information, analysis, synthesis, or commentary, formatting them as you wish. Consider adding a column for questions only or one for connections to other sources. Finally, consider a different visual format , such as one without columns. Another possibility is to record some of your comments and questions so that you have an aural rather than a written record of these.

Writing Center

At this point, or at any other point during the research and writing process, you may find that your school’s writing center can provide extensive assistance. If you are unfamiliar with the writing center, now is a good time to pay your first visit. Writing centers provide free peer tutoring for all types and phases of writing. Discussing your research with a trained writing center tutor can help you clarify, analyze, and connect ideas as well as provide feedback on works in progress.

Quick Launch: Beginning Questions

You may begin your research log with some open pages in which you freewrite, exploring answers to the following questions. Although you generally would do this at the beginning, it is a process to which you likely will return as you find more information about your topic and as your focus changes, as it may during the course of your research.

• What information have I found so far?
• What do I still need to find?
• Where am I most likely to find it?

These are beginning questions. Like Lily Tran, however, you will come across general questions or issues that a quick note or freewrite may help you resolve. The key to this section is to revisit it regularly. Written answers to these and other self-generated questions in your log clarify your tasks as you go along, helping you articulate ideas and examine supporting evidence critically. As you move further into the process, consider answering the following questions in your freewrite:

• What evidence looks as though it best supports my thesis?
• What evidence challenges my working thesis?
• How is my thesis changing from where it started?

Creating the Research Log

As you gather source material for your argumentative research paper, keep in mind that the research is intended to support original thinking. That is, you are not writing an informational report in which you simply supply facts to readers. Instead, you are writing to support a thesis that shows original thinking, and you are collecting and incorporating research into your paper to support that thinking. Therefore, a research log, whether digital or handwritten, is a great way to keep track of your thinking as well as your notes and bibliographic information.

In the model below, Lily Tran records the correct MLA bibliographic citation for the source. Then, she records a note and includes the in-text citation here to avoid having to retrieve this information later. Perhaps most important, Tran records why she noted this information—how it supports her thesis: The human race must turn to sustainable food systems that provide healthy diets with minimal environmental impact, starting now . Finally, she makes a note to herself about an additional visual to include in the final paper to reinforce the point regarding the current pressure on food systems. And she connects the information to other information she finds, thus cross-referencing and establishing a possible synthesis. Use a format similar to that in Table 13.4 to begin your own research log.

Types of Research Notes

Taking good notes will make the research process easier by enabling you to locate and remember sources and use them effectively. While some research projects requiring only a few sources may seem easily tracked, research projects requiring more than a few sources are more effectively managed when you take good bibliographic and informational notes. As you gather evidence for your argumentative research paper, follow the descriptions and the electronic model to record your notes. You can combine these with your research log, or you can use the research log for secondary sources and your own note-taking system for primary sources if a division of this kind is helpful. Either way, be sure to include all necessary information.

Bibliographic Notes

These identify the source you are using. When you locate a useful source, record the information necessary to find that source again. It is important to do this as you find each source, even before taking notes from it. If you create bibliographic notes as you go along, then you can easily arrange them in alphabetical order later to prepare the reference list required at the end of formal academic papers. If your instructor requires you to use MLA formatting for your essay, be sure to record the following information:

• Title of source
• Title of container (larger work in which source is included)
• Other contributors
• Publication date

When using MLA style with online sources, also record the following information:

• Date of original publication
• Date of access
• DOI (A DOI, or digital object identifier, is a series of digits and letters that leads to the location of an online source. Articles in journals are often assigned DOIs to ensure that the source can be located, even if the URL changes. If your source is listed with a DOI, use that instead of a URL.)

It is important to understand which documentation style your instructor will require you to use. Check the Handbook for MLA Documentation and Format and APA Documentation and Format styles . In addition, you can check the style guide information provided by the Purdue Online Writing Lab .

Informational Notes

These notes record the relevant information found in your sources. When writing your essay, you will work from these notes, so be sure they contain all the information you need from every source you intend to use. Also try to focus your notes on your research question so that their relevance is clear when you read them later. To avoid confusion, work with separate entries for each piece of information recorded. At the top of each entry, identify the source through brief bibliographic identification (author and title), and note the page numbers on which the information appears. Also helpful is to add personal notes, including ideas for possible use of the information or cross-references to other information. As noted in Writing Process: Integrating Research , you will be using a variety of formats when borrowing from sources. Below is a quick review of these formats in terms of note-taking processes. By clarifying whether you are quoting directly, paraphrasing, or summarizing during these stages, you can record information accurately and thus take steps to avoid plagiarism.

Direct Quotations, Paraphrases, and Summaries

A direct quotation is an exact duplication of the author’s words as they appear in the original source. In your notes, put quotation marks around direct quotations so that you remember these words are the author’s, not yours. One advantage of copying exact quotations is that it allows you to decide later whether to include a quotation, paraphrase, or summary. ln general, though, use direct quotations only when the author’s words are particularly lively or persuasive.

A paraphrase is a restatement of the author’s words in your own words. Paraphrase to simplify or clarify the original author’s point. In your notes, use paraphrases when you need to record details but not exact words.

A summary is a brief condensation or distillation of the main point and most important details of the original source. Write a summary in your own words, with facts and ideas accurately represented. A summary is useful when specific details in the source are unimportant or irrelevant to your research question. You may find you can summarize several paragraphs or even an entire article or chapter in just a few sentences without losing useful information. It is a good idea to note when your entry contains a summary to remind you later that it omits detailed information. See Writing Process Integrating Research for more detailed information and examples of quotations, paraphrases, and summaries and when to use them.

Other Systems for Organizing Research Logs and Digital Note-Taking

Students often become frustrated and at times overwhelmed by the quantity of materials to be managed in the research process. If this is your first time working with both primary and secondary sources, finding ways to keep all of the information in one place and well organized is essential.

Because gathering primary evidence may be a relatively new practice, this section is designed to help you navigate the process. As mentioned earlier, information gathered in fieldwork is not cataloged, organized, indexed, or shelved for your convenience. Obtaining it requires diligence, energy, and planning. Online resources can assist you with keeping a research log. Your college library may have subscriptions to tools such as Todoist or EndNote. Consult with a librarian to find out whether you have access to any of these. If not, use something like the template shown in Figure 13.8 , or another like it, as a template for creating your own research notes and organizational tool. You will need to have a record of all field research data as well as the research log for all secondary sources.

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/writing-guide/pages/1-unit-introduction

• Authors: Michelle Bachelor Robinson, Maria Jerskey, featuring Toby Fulwiler
• Publisher/website: OpenStax
• Book title: Writing Guide with Handbook
• Publication date: Dec 21, 2021
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/writing-guide/pages/1-unit-introduction
• Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/writing-guide/pages/13-5-research-process-making-notes-synthesizing-information-and-keeping-a-research-log

© Dec 19, 2023 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.

30 Editable Research Paper Templates (MLA Formats)

A research paper template is a document that contains research questions, variable interpolation, thesis, methodology, and results evaluation. To create an effective research paper, make sure that everything you present comes from reliable sources.

• 1 Research Paper Templates
• 2 What is a research paper?
• 3 Career Research Papers
• 4 What are the 5 parts of research paper?
• 5 College Research Papers
• 6 How do you write a research paper?

Research Paper Templates

What is a research paper.

In most cases, a research paper template is a piece of academic writing that contains analysis, argument, and interpretation based on independent comprehensive research. A research MLA format template is a lot like academic essays except that these are typically longer and have more details.

These assess your academic writing skills along with your scholarly research skills. To write this document, you need:

• To show a strong knowledge of the topic.
• The ability to use various resources.
• To make an original contribution through your writing.

Career Research Papers

What are the 5 parts of research paper.

One thing worth remembering about a student or career research paper is that you should base it on an hourglass structure. To do this, you need to include the important parts of this document:

• Introduction This is the first part where you set the direction of your paper by making an exact outline of what you want to achieve. Although for many, this is the initial step, others save writing the introduction for last because it serves as a quick summary of their document. Either approach is fine and is usually a matter of preference. As long as you plan a logical structure for the parts of the research paper, you can use either method.
• Method Many consider this as the easiest part of the document to write because it is simply a rundown of the methodology and design used to conduct your research. The exact methodology may vary depending on the exact kind of experiment or field of research.
• Results Depending on the results and objectives of your experiment, this is the most variable section of your paper. For quantitative research, you would present numerical data and results. For qualitative research, it involves a broader discussion without giving too many unnecessary details.
• Discussion All information in your discussions should be directly related to your thesis statement. Otherwise, you will risk creating cluttered findings. Just stick with the hourglass principle where you expand on your topic in the next section.
• Conclusion In this section, you build your discussion by trying to relate your findings to other studies and research or to the real world. In a shorter research paper, you may only have a conclusion of just 1 to 2 paragraphs or even just a couple of lines.

In addition, a complete research paper template should always have a reference list where you document all of the sources you used. Format this according to MLA, APA or some other academic format .

College Research Papers

How do you write a research paper.

You can use these steps as a guide when writing a college research paper or a scientific research paper template:

• Familiarize yourself with the assignment Allot ample time to go over your assignment. Consider every bit of information that your instructor has given. Carefully go through the assignment, grading rubric, prompts, and other related materials. To keep track of all the important notes in each of the sources, highlight them or take notes .
• Choose a topic After understanding what you have to write about in your research paper template, the next step is to decide the topic. This could be a challenging undertaking but it shouldn’t discourage you. Choose a topic you’re passionate about or interested in without having to worry about finding the “perfect topic.”
• Research You should always base your research on reliable resources. That way, you won’t run into any issues after you have submitted your completed research paper template for review.
• Organize your research What comes next once you have gathered all the information needed to write your paper? The next step is about getting things organized. Like any other research, various people have various preferences. It may also depend on your assignment. For instance, having some sort of bibliography can be very helpful when it comes to organizing your research.
• Form your thesis This is simply a short statement that you, as the researcher, would put forward for the readers of your paper as to what you’re trying to prove or explain.
• Come up with an outline As in a bibliography, how you will create an outline depending on your assignment. Even if an outline isn’t required, it can still be a very useful tool.
• Write the content After completing all of the previous steps, you are now ready to write your research paper. Some think that they should have begun to write the paper sooner and that all the preliminaries are not that necessary. This is a wrong assumption. Everything you have accomplished up to this point is essential as the preparations will help you come up with a clear, interesting, and strong research paper.
• Edit the content This means examining your paper’s organization, structure, length, and wording. If your paper is either too short or too long, you need to revise it by either building it up or cutting it down to a more acceptable length. Just be very careful when making these edits. If there is a need to add more content, don’t just add words randomly or repeat the information you have stated already. Identify areas where you can expand or what you can include that still fits in with the rest of the content. You can also choose to further the ideas you have presented or add valuable information to concepts you have explained.
• Check the grammar Another important part of the process is to check your grammar. This may seem difficult but there are resources and tools that you can use to perform this task. These tools offer editing for substance, editing for grammar, and so on. If you think you need to take a break before checking, take a break. This could refresh your mind and you might even come back feeling more focused. This is important so that you can catch and fix errors in your document.
• Proofread before submitting After checking your research paper, you can re-read it again just to make sure that your paper delivers everything your assignment asks for. When you have polished and improved it enough, it’s for you to submit.

Related Posts

34 useful study guide templates [word, pdf], 27 best children’s book templates (& layouts), 16 funny & cute cuddle buddy application.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

• Academic Success

Note-Taking Template for Journal Articles

Use this worksheet to help you take notes and learn important content in journal articles.

Title of Article: ______________________________ Publication: __________________

Author(s) __________________________________ Date: __________________

Download Note-Taking Template for Journal Articles Word Document

Download Note-Taking Template for Journal Articles PDF File

Developed and shared by The Learning Center , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

• Class Attendance
• Semester-At-A-Glance Calendar
• Semester Action Plan
• Using Calendars and Planners
• Studying 101

Watch Asking for Help Video

Ask for Help - We Want You to Succeed

View All Student Tips

815-753-6636 [email protected]

Connect with us

Free Download

Research Paper Template

The fastest (and smartest) way to craft a research paper that showcases your project and earns you marks. 

Available in Google Doc, Word & PDF format 4.9 star rating, 5000 + downloads

Step-by-step instructions

Tried & tested academic format

Fill-in-the-blanks simplicity

Pro tips, tricks and resources

What It Covers

This template’s structure is based on the tried and trusted best-practice format for academic research papers. Its structure reflects the overall research process, ensuring your paper has a smooth, logical flow from chapter to chapter. Here’s what’s included:

• The title page/cover page
• Abstract (or executive summary)
• Section 1: Introduction 
• Section 2: Literature review 
• Section 3: Methodology
• Section 4: Findings /results
• Section 5: Discussion
• Section 6: Conclusion
• Reference list

Each section is explained in plain, straightforward language , followed by an overview of the key elements that you need to cover within each section. 

You can download a fully editable MS Word File (DOCX format), copy it to your Google Drive or paste the content to any other word processor.

download your copy

100% Free to use. Instant access.

I agree to receive the free template and other useful resources.

Download Now (Instant Access)

FAQs: Research Paper Template

What format is the template (doc, pdf, ppt, etc.).

The research paper template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

What types of research papers can this template be used for?

The template follows the standard best-practice structure for formal academic research papers, so it is suitable for the vast majority of degrees, particularly those within the sciences.

Some universities may have some additional requirements, but these are typically minor, with the core structure remaining the same. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalise your structure.

Is this template for an undergrad, Masters or PhD-level research paper?

This template can be used for a research paper at any level of study. It may be slight overkill for an undergraduate-level study, but it certainly won’t be missing anything.

How long should my research paper be?

This depends entirely on your university’s specific requirements, so it’s best to check with them. We include generic word count ranges for each section within the template, but these are purely indicative. 

What about the research proposal?

If you’re still working on your research proposal, we’ve got a template for that here .

We’ve also got loads of proposal-related guides and videos over on the Grad Coach blog .

How do I write a literature review?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack how to write a literature review from scratch. You can check out the literature review section of the blog here.

How do I create a research methodology?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack research methodology, both qualitative and quantitative. You can check out the methodology section of the blog here.

Can I share this research paper template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template. If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, all we ask is that you reference this page as your source.

Can Grad Coach help me with my research paper?

Within the template, you’ll find plain-language explanations of each section, which should give you a fair amount of guidance. However, you’re also welcome to consider our private coaching services .

Additional Resources

If you’re working on a research paper or report, be sure to also check these resources out…

1-On-1 Private Coaching

The Grad Coach Resource Center

The Grad Coach YouTube Channel

The Grad Coach Podcast

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Academic writing

Free, Downloadable Educational Templates for Students

Published on June 16, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 23, 2023.

We have designed several free templates to help you get started on a variety of academic topics. These range from formatting your thesis   or   dissertation to writing a table of contents or a list of abbreviations .

We also have templates for various citation styles , including APA (6 and 7), MLA , and Chicago .

The templates are loosely grouped by topic below.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Chicago and chicago turabian, structuring your document, applying to college, formatting your front matter, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about scribbr templates.

• General formatting: Word | Google Docs
• APA 6th: Word
• APA 7th: Word | Google Doc

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

• General formatting: Word | Google Doc
• Citations: Word
• Works Cited: Word | Google Doc
• Header: Word | Google Doc
• Title: Word | Google Doc
• Author-date style
• Notes and bibliography style
• Research proposal outline: Word
• Research schedule template: Word
• Literature review outline: Word | Google Doc
• Evaluating your sources for a literature review: Word | Google Doc
• Dissertation or thesis outline: Word | Google Doc
• Scholarship essay tracker: Google Sheet
• Writing a résumé: Research program option | Professional program option
• College application tracker: Google Sheet
• Figure and table lists: Word
• List of abbreviations: Word | Google Doc
• Acknowledgments: Word | Google Doc
• Glossary: Word | Google Doc

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy
• Deep learning
• Generative AI
• Machine learning
• Reinforcement learning
• Supervised vs. unsupervised learning

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

Yes! We’re happy for educators to use our content, and we’ve even adapted some of our articles into ready-made lecture slides and templates .

You are free to display, distribute, and adapt Scribbr materials in your classes or upload them in private learning environments like Blackboard. This applies to articles, videos, images, and any other content published on the Knowledge Base. Video transcripts and subtitles can be accessed on YouTube. Please credit Scribbr for creating any materials you use in your teaching.

You may not republish, adapt, or translate our materials for public distribution without permission. If you have ideas for adapting Scribbr content, email [email protected] .

The Scribbr Knowledge Base is a collection of free resources to help you succeed in academic research, writing, and citation. Every week, we publish helpful step-by-step guides, clear examples, simple templates, engaging videos, and more.

The Knowledge Base is for students at all levels. Whether you’re writing your first essay , working on your bachelor’s or master’s thesis , or getting to grips with your PhD dissertation , we’ve got you covered.

We’re always striving to improve the Knowledge Base. If you have an idea for a topic we should cover, or you notice a mistake in any of our articles, let us know by emailing [email protected] .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

George, T. (2023, July 23). Free, Downloadable Educational Templates for Students. Scribbr. Retrieved August 21, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-writing/free-educational-templates/

Is this article helpful?

Tegan George

Other students also liked, free, downloadable lecture slides for educators and students, academic writing checklists | free & interactive, proofreading rates | a guide for freelance editors, what is your plagiarism score.

• Cambridge Libraries

Study Skills

Research skills.

• Searching the literature
• Note making for dissertations
• Research Data Management
• Copyright and licenses
• Publishing in journals
• Publishing academic books
• Depositing your thesis
• Research metrics
• Build your online profile
• Finding support

Note making for dissertations: First steps into writing

Note making (as opposed to note taking) is an active practice of recording relevant parts of reading for your research as well as your reflections and critiques of those studies. Note making, therefore, is a pre-writing exercise that helps you to organise your thoughts prior to writing. In this module, we will cover:

• The difference between note taking and note making
• Seven tips for good note making
• Strategies for structuring your notes and asking critical questions
• Different styles of note making

To complete this section, you will need:

• Approximately 20-30 minutes.
• Access to the internet. All the resources used here are available freely.
• Some equipment for jotting down your thoughts, a pen and paper will do, or your phone or another electronic device.

Note taking v note making

When you think about note taking, what comes to mind? Perhaps trying to record everything said in a lecture? Perhaps trying to write down everything included in readings required for a course?

• Note taking is a passive process. When you take notes, you are often trying to record everything that you are reading or listening to. However, you may have noticed that this takes a lot of effort and often results in too many notes to be useful.  
• Note making , on the other hand, is an active practice, based on the needs and priorities of your project. Note making is an opportunity for you to ask critical questions of your readings and to synthesise ideas as they pertain to your research questions. Making notes is a pre-writing exercise that develops your academic voice and makes writing significantly easier.

Seven tips for effective note making

Note making is an active process based on the needs of your research. This video contains seven tips to help you make brilliant notes from articles and books to make the most of the time you spend reading and writing.

• Transcript of Seven Tips for Effective Notemaking

Question prompts for strategic note making

You might consider structuring your notes to answer the following questions. Remember that note making is based on your needs, so not all of these questions will apply in all cases. You might try answering these questions using the note making styles discussed in the next section.

• Question prompts for strategic note making
• Background question prompts
• Critical question prompts
• Synthesis question prompts

Answer these six questions to frame your reading and provide context.

• What is the context in which the text was written? What came before it? Are there competing ideas?
• Who is the intended audience?
• What is the author’s purpose?
• How is the writing organised?
• What are the author’s methods?
• What is the author’s key argument and conclusions?

Answer these six questions to determine your critical perspectivess and develop your academic voice.

• What are the most interesting/compelling ideas (to you) in this study?
• Why do you find them interesting? How do they relate to your study?
• What questions do you have about the study?
• What could it cover better? How could it have defended its research better?
• What are the implications of the study? (Look not just to the conclusions but also to definitions and models)
• Are there any gaps in the study? (Look not just at conclusions but definitions, literature review, methodology)

Answer these five questions to compare aspects of various studies (such as for a literature review. 

• What are the similarities and differences in the literature?
• Critically analyse the strengths, limitations, debates and themes that emerg from the literature.
• What would you suggest for future research or practice?
• Where are the gaps in the literature? What is missing? Why?
• What new questions should be asked in this area of study?

Styles of note making

• Linear notes . Great for recording thoughts about your readings. [video]
• Mind mapping : Great for thinking through complex topics. [video]

Further sites that discuss techniques for note making:

• Note-taking techniques
• Common note-taking methods
• Strategies for effective note making  

Did you know?

How did you find this Research Skills module

Image Credits: Image #1: David Travis on Unsplash ; Image #2: Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

• << Previous: Searching the literature
• Next: Research Data Management >>
• Last Updated: Apr 11, 2024 9:35 AM
• URL: https://libguides.cam.ac.uk/research-skills

© Cambridge University Libraries | Accessibility | Privacy policy | Log into LibApps

Library Learning Commons

Innovating tomorrow by educating today

• Staff Resources
• Research Process
• Note-Taking
• Note-Taking Templates
• Note-Taking Checklist

Use these templates to take notes from different kinds of sources. These templates will help you to understand:

• what kind of information to gather from each kind of source
• how to keep track of what data you got from each source
• what further information you need to gather

Each template is available in Google Doc format, for your convenience. Some WRDSB high schools have versions of these templates which have been customized to suit that school’s specific requirements. Check your school library website for further information.

Reference Source Templates

• Use for finding facts and figures
• Note information that needs to be verified by checking other sources
• Jot down potential sub-topics suggested by information from each source
• Record source information (title, date, etc.)

Online Doc/Printable Downloads

• MLA Reference Encyclopedia G-Doc
• APA Reference Encyclopedia G-Doc
• MLA Specialized Print Encyclopedia G-Doc

Book Source Templates

• Record main ideas in point form
• Take note of your own responses to these ideas, or questions that you have about them
• Record any great quotes that you find that support your main ideas: be sure to copy the quote exactly and note the page number for your citation
• Record source information
• MLA Book G-Doc
• APA Book G-Doc
• CMS Book G-Doc
• APA Book Chapter G-Doc
• MLA Anthology G-Doc
• CMS Anthology G-Doc

Journal Source Templates

• Use for print or online journals, and for journal articles accessed through an online database from the Virtual Library
• Take note of your own responses and ideas
• Record quotes that support your ideas: be sure to copy the quote exactly
• MLA Journal Magazine G-Doc
• CMS Journal Magazine G-Doc
• APA Academic Journal with DOI G-Doc
• APA Periodicals without DOI (magazines, popular journals, news articles) G-Doc

Website Source Templates

• Note main ideas in point form
• Record your own responses to these ideas
• Note information that needs to be verified from another source
• Identify the steps you took to validate this source: when researching from the web, you are particularly responsible for making sure that your source is reliable
• APA Website G-Doc
• MLA Page from Website G-Doc
• APA Page from Website G-Doc
• CMS Page from Website G-Doc
• CMS Online Image G-Doc
• APA Online Multimedia G-Doc
• MLA Online Multimedia G-Doc
• CMS Online Multimedia G-Doc

This information expires once printed. Please always refer to the online version for the most current information.

Waterloo Region District School Board

51 Ardelt Avenue [ map ] Kitchener, ON N2C 2R5

Switchboard: 519-570-0003 Contact the WRDSB

Website Feedback Form

Stay connected

Get news from this website.

Your email address

Each WRDSB website requires a separate subscription.

Other ways to get news

See all subscription options .

Quick Links

• Library Staff Support

Log into Library Learning Commons · Go to Staff Intranet

Office of Undergraduate Research

• Office of Undergraduate Research FAQ's
• URSA Engage
• Resources for Students
• Resources for Faculty
• Engaging in Research
• Presenting Your Research
• Earn Money by Participating in Research Studies
• Funding and Awards
• Transcript Notation
• Student Publications

How to take Research Notes

How to take research notes.

Your research notebook is an important piece of information useful for future projects and presentations. Maintaining organized and legible notes allows your research notebook to be a valuable resource to you and your research group. It allows others and yourself to replicate experiments, and it also serves as a useful troubleshooting tool. Besides it being an important part of the research process, taking detailed notes of your research will help you stay organized and allow you to easily review your work.

Here are some common reasons to maintain organized notes:

• Keeps a record of your goals and thoughts during your research experiments.
• Keeps a record of what worked and what didn't in your research experiments.
• Enables others to use your notes as a guide for similar procedures and techniques.
• A helpful tool to reference when writing a paper, submitting a proposal, or giving a presentation.
• Assists you in answering experimental questions.
• Useful to efficiently share experimental approaches, data, and results with others.

Before taking notes:

• Ask your research professor what note-taking method they recommend or prefer.
• Consider what type of media you'll be using to take notes.
• Once you have decided on how you'll be taking notes, be sure to keep all of your notes in one place to remain organized.
• Plan on taking notes regularly (meetings, important dates, procedures, journal/manuscript revisions, etc.).
• This is useful when applying to programs or internships that ask about your research experience.

Note Taking Tips:

Taking notes by hand:.

• Research notebooks don’t belong to you so make sure your notes are legible for others.
• Use post-it notes or tabs to flag important sections.
• Start sorting your notes early so that you don't become backed up and disorganized.
• Only write with a pen as pencils aren’t permanent & sharpies can bleed through.
• Make it a habit to write in your notebook and not directly on sticky notes or paper towels. Rewriting notes can waste time and sometimes lead to inaccurate data or results.

Taking Notes Electronically

• Make sure your device is charged and backed up to store data.
• Invest in note-taking apps or E-Ink tablets
• Create shortcuts to your folders so you have easier access
• Create outlines.
• Keep your notes short and legible.

Note Taking Tips Continued:

Things to avoid.

• Avoid using pencils or markers that may bleed through.
• Avoid erasing entries. Instead, draw a straight line through any mistakes and write the date next to the crossed-out information.
• Avoid writing in cursive.
• Avoid delaying your entries so you don’t fall behind and forget information.

Formatting Tips

• Use bullet points to condense your notes to make them simpler to access or color-code them.
• Tracking your failures and mistakes can improve your work in the future.
• If possible, take notes as you’re experimenting or make time at the end of each workday to get it done.
• Record the date at the start of every day, including all dates spent on research.

Types of media to use when taking notes:

Traditional paper notebook.

• Pros: Able to take quick notes, convenient access to notes, cheaper option
• Cons: Requires a table of contents or tabs as it is not easily searchable, can get damaged easily, needs to be scanned if making a digital copy

Electronic notebook  

• Apple Notes  
• Pros: Easily searchable, note-taking apps available, easy to edit & customize
• Cons: Can be difficult to find notes if they are unorganized, not as easy to take quick notes, can be a more expensive option

Combination of both

Contact info.

618 Kerr Administration Building Corvallis, OR 97331

541-737-5105

• Peterborough

Notetaking Templates

How to take useful notes.

• Taking Lecture Notes 
• Taking Notes on Readings

Taking Notes for Research

Template for lecture notes.

Download accessible version (Word doc) or this notetaking template to support your notetaking for lectures.

Video: Effective Lecture Notes

Template for Taking Notes on Readings

Guided reading chart.

This notetaking template is a helpful active reading tool to help identify questions you can ask of the reading as you move through it. Adapt the questions as needed. Download the Guided Reading Chart template (Word doc) .

Taking Notes on Articles/Books in the Humanities and Social Sciences

This notetaking template encourages organized notetaking and uses questions to elicit analytical responses to a text. Available to download accessible version (Word doc) .

Taking Notes on Scientific Papers

This notetaking template encourages organized notetaking and uses questions to elicit analytical responses to a scientific article. Available to download accessible version (Word doc) .

Excel is another useful platform for notetaking; this template allows you to capture key ideas from a source and encourages you to think about how you will use the source. 

Get the Reddit app

This subreddit is for discussing academic life, and for asking questions directed towards people involved in academia, (both science and humanities).

How to take and organize notes from research paper?

I'm writing my first literature review and I feel overwhelmed for the amount of information. Something useful from one paper, a citation from another... how I can manage successfully all this information? Now I'm using Mendeley + pdf reader for note taking + Evernote/notion for note taking but I realized that isn't effective... How do you take and manage information from research paper?

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

• -3 more templates
• No results for

Top 10 Free Academic Research Templates

10 templates

Streamline your academic research, save time and get organized with structured pages for note-taking, task management, and research planning. With features like tags and databases, you'll be able to easily track your progress and collaborate with others on your research journey.

What Should Academic Research Templates Include?

Choosing the right Academic Research Template in Notion can streamline your study process and enhance your productivity. Here are some key components to look for:

Comprehensive Literature Review Section: This part should offer a structured way to organize all your literature findings, with space for summaries and source evaluations.

Research Question and Hypothesis: A clear section to articulate your main research question and hypothesis, helping to guide your research focus.

Data Collection and Analysis Tools: Look for templates that include integrated tools or methods for data collection and analysis, ensuring that all your research data is easy to manage and access.

References and Citation Management: A good template should have a system to manage your citations and references efficiently to maintain the integrity of your academic work.

Selecting a template with these components will not only organize your research effectively but also save you time and effort, allowing you to focus more on the content of your research.

What Should Academic Research Templates Avoid?

Choosing the right Academic Research template in Notion can streamline your study process, but it's equally important to know what to avoid. Here are three key elements to steer clear of:

Overly Complex Structures: Templates with too many nested pages or intricate tagging systems can complicate your research rather than simplifying it. Opt for clarity and ease of use.

Generic Content Fields: Avoid templates that do not cater to specific academic needs. Templates should offer specialized fields for citations, research questions, and hypothesis tracking.

Fixed Layouts: Flexibility in a template is vital. Steer clear of templates that don't allow you to customize sections as your research evolves and expands.

Remember, the best template is one that serves as a helpful tool rather than a hindrance, allowing you to focus more on your research and less on managing the template itself.

1 Research Paper Planner

Make this your homepage for planning and writing a research paper or dissertation. It can help you brainstorm and evaluate potential topics. Keep a full list of sources bundled neatly with your notes on each one (all quickly searchable). And stay on track with a timeline of due dates, where you can also draft all your content — all in the same space.

2 Workspace Template for Ph.D. Students

A Ph.D. student's life is usually broken down into four blocks: Research, Coursework, Teaching, and Personal/Service. This template helps separate these blocks, so the tasks related to them seem less daunting. Also included in this template is a research page, where users can organize their ideas and the stage at which their research and manuscripts are.

3 Thesis Writing Companion

Complete your thesis with this guide: - Resources: A place to keep all resources needed for the thesis - A guide through ideation to final presentation - Task overview to manage the tasks you have ahead and finally - A Feedback section to gather important notes from lecturers or friends

4 Research Paper Tracker

It's a simple tool to help early researchers, and students keep track of the research papers they're reading and take notes from them. The template includes basic information about each paper, such as the title, DOI, reading status, notes, and remarks. This focus on the reading allows users to track their papers efficiently and effectively.

5 Writing Tracker focus Thesis

Your Writing Tracker is an organized and comprehensive document that assists you in the process of writing an academic thesis. It includes a detailed overview of your thesis, including sections for objectives or hypothesis, literature review, methodology, data collection, implementation, results and findings, discussion and conclusion, references, and appendices. Each section has a dedicated space for you to fill in relevant information and details. There are also callout boxes for you to insert important notes or additional details. In addition to the main thesis sections, your Writing Tracker also includes a section for references, a guide on writing a hypothesis, a task section, a space for random ideas, ongoing chapters, and collected information. There's also a unique feature for recording each statement you make in your thesis to help keep track of your points throughout the document. Overall, this Writing Tracker serves as a comprehensive tool to keep your thesis writing organized, focused, and consistent.

6 Dissertation/Research Planner

Plan and organize your dissertation/research activities at one place. - Literature review - Research documents - Tasks and progress - Notes - References - and much more

7 Research resource list

It helps me to gather everything I read or watch for my research. There are several categories which are easy to navigate, update and expand if needed. It's easy to categorise and keep track of the neverending stream of knowledge.

8 Thesis Dashboard

Writing a thesis can be a daunting task, and it can be difficult to stay on track and organised throughout the process. However, with the Thesis Dashboard, you can easily keep all of your tasks, documents, and meetings in one place, allowing you to focus on the important work of writing your thesis. ### Features - **Brain Dump**: A separate database in kanban style to organise and keep track of articles that you can use as inspiration for certain parts of your thesis. You can sort articles according to sections where you want to use them. - **Master To-Do List:** This feature allows you to manage tasks related to your thesis. You can set due dates, add notes, and relate a task for specific chapters with Notion’s relations property. - **Meeting Notes:** This feature allows you to document important discussions and decisions made during meetings with your thesis supervisor, manage files such as slides and reading, track meetings for future reference if something comes to your mind. - **Literature Review:** This feature helps you keep track of relevant literature on your topic. With pre-build template you can analyse each article and organise articles according to their themes, authors, publication year, journal, methodology and sample. - **Data Analysis:** The data analysis feature enables you to keep track of and organize your data analysis process. You can analyze your findings according to the properties required for your data analysis and later compile a table that shows your approach to analyzing data. ### Benefits - **Stay Organised:** The template helps you stay organised and keep track of your progress. With its comprehensive set of features, you can easily manage your tasks, documents, and meetings in one place. - **Save Time:** The template streamlines the thesis writing process, saving you time and effort. You can easily locate and access all relevant documents, and keep track of important deadlines and meetings. Notion Thesis Dashboard is an essential tool for any student working on a thesis. This template can help you stay organised, save time, and improve the quality of your work.

9 Literature review template

A literature review can be used to explore best practices, answer questions without conducting studies, validate an assumption or product decision, and cover gaps in research.

10 dissertation organisation

Get started getting organised to write your dissertation. You can make yourself a long term calendar and set weekly tasks to stay on track. Source organisation allows you keep your notes and citations in one convenient place while also keeping track of topics associated with specific papers. Happy writing!

Closing Thoughts

Utilizing these templates streamlines the research process, allowing you to organize and access information swiftly. This efficiency saves valuable time, especially during tight deadlines.

Adopting these tools not only enhances productivity but also improves the quality of your work. Start integrating them into your studies today to experience these benefits firsthand.

Related Terms

What is a literature review.

A literature review is a comprehensive survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic, providing a summary, synthesis, and critical evaluation to inform readers about what is known and not known.

What is a Methodology?

Methodology refers to the systematic, theoretical analysis of the methods applied to a field of study. It comprises the theoretical analysis of the body of methods and principles associated with a branch of knowledge.

What is an Empirical Study?

An empirical study involves original research in which data is collected from experiments or observations, as opposed to theories or opinions, to answer specific research questions.

Keep reading

Github student developer pack, 7 templates.

YouTuber Essentials

9 templates.

Visualize it: community-built chart templates

In-Text Citations

In scholarly writing, it is essential to acknowledge how others contributed to your work. By following the principles of proper citation, writers ensure that readers understand their contribution in the context of the existing literature—how they are building on, critically examining, or otherwise engaging the work that has come before.

APA Style provides guidelines to help writers determine the appropriate level of citation and how to avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism.

We also provide specific guidance for in-text citation, including formats for interviews, classroom and intranet sources, and personal communications; in-text citations in general; and paraphrases and direct quotations.

Academic Writer ®

Master academic writing with APA’s essential teaching and learning resource

Course Adoption

Teaching APA Style? Become a course adopter of the 7th edition Publication Manual

Instructional Aids

Guides, checklists, webinars, tutorials, and sample papers for anyone looking to improve their knowledge of APA Style

GEO 793 (31) - RESEARCH PAPER REQUIREMENTS - WINTER 2024