Managing what you gather.
WHAT ACCUMULATES
Papers Notes Quotations Data Drafts
WHAT GOES WRONG
Being unable to find something you know you read Losing the source of a note Duplicating work already done
WHAT TO SET UP
A reference manager, holding every source A consistent note structure A file naming convention One location for everything
WHAT TO RECORD WITH EVERY NOTE
The source and the page.
WHY
A note without its source cannot be cited, and is therefore useless.
WHAT TO DISTINGUISH IN YOUR NOTES
Direct quotation Paraphrase Your own thought
WHY THAT MATTERS ENORMOUSLY
Confusing them later produces accidental plagiarism.
HOW TO DISTINGUISH THEM
A consistent marking, applied always.
WHAT TO BACK UP
All of it, in more than one place.
WHY
Losing months of research is a well-known and entirely avoidable disaster.
WHAT TO REVIEW
Your material, periodically, so you know what you have.
