Writing as Research: Note Taking and Critical Analysis

University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA

Writing as Research -- Writing research notes is a crucial step in the research process for students in History. Students compile information from primary sources and establish information competency about the topic. As they write their notes, they also synthesize, annotate, question, speculate and otherwise think critically and interpretively about what the sources document. In this inquiry, Greg Rohlf examined how effectively research notes supported critical thinking in the development of a thesis-driven paper; and if hand-written notes were more effective than notes typed in Refworks.