Academic Writing: Reading and Note Taking

You will not be able, nor will you be expected, to read everything (books and articles) on your reading list.  Whilst you will likely have essential readings outlined in your module handbooks, finding time to read through all of the material may prove challenging.  

To decide whether a book is relevant and useful:

• Find out if it is listed as essential reading in your reading list.  You should also consider the author and publication date.
• If the book is not listed as essential, skim through the introduction or publisher information about the book to see if it seems relevant to the topic you are studying.  This will also help you better understand the author's approach
• Look at the contents pages and think about whether the information you are looking for is likely to be covered.  This will also help you to decide whether the book is at the right level for you, or if there is enough/too much information being covered.
• Find a topic you are familiar with in the index and then read what the author has to say about it to see how they deal with the concept. 
• Look at the bibliography to decide whether the author uses a range of references and sources.
• Consider whether there are enough examples, illustrations, graphs, etc. that allow you to follow along and are helpful for your purpose of a study.

To select useful articles from journals or research papers:

• Read the abstract, or summary, and decide whether it is relevant.
• Skim through the conclusion or discussion to decide whether the article may be useful.
• Read through the introduction and consider whether it provides a useful literature review
• Unless you have plenty of time, you do not need to read the entire article unless one or more of the following apply:
  • it is an essential, seminal piece of work
  • it is highly relevant to your essay
  • you are likely to get ideas from reading it
  • it is highly relevant to your assignment
  • you can't find anything else

If you don't have a reading list or set reading:

• View the Subject Guide for your course area
• Find a general textbook on the subject
• Consider searching the internet for information on your topic- keeping in mind the importance of evaluating the information.
• Browse the relevant shelf areas in the library, including related topics.
• Ask your tutor, Librarian, or Academic Skills Advisor for suggestions about where to start.
• Attend a Learning Services workshop to further develop your research skills

There is no definitive amount of reading recommended for your assignments, as the amount you need to read will vary according to assessment criteria, module design, and course. 

It is a better idea to concentrate more on the quality of the sources you decide to read and whether you are able to effectively interpret the information.

• DO NOT rely heavily on just one or two resources- this shows a lack of engaging with wider reading and prevents you from developing a well-rounded understanding of the topic, as using one or two sources means you will only get a limited view of the concept, rather than one that is varied and dynamic.
• DO NOT try to read everything on your reading list and try to fit it into your assignment.  Doing so will result in losing your demonstration of understanding the topic or getting your ideas across. 
• Try to be strategic about what you read by identifying what you need to find and what the best resources are to do so.
• Take your time reading- it's more important that you fully understand the information you are reading, rather than the amount of information you are reading.

What can you do if the items you need from the library aren't available on the shelves?

Due to high usage rates, you might find it challenging to acquire a copy of certain, key texts throughout the year, but don't panic!  There are a number of things you can do to access the information you need for your course.

• Use Discovery to find other books or resources on the same topic area.  You can do this by clicking on the hyperlinked subject terms that appear with the title you are looking for, or you can make a note of the item's call number and look in the same area on the shelves in the library.
• Make sure you reserve the book you want if it is not available immediately.  Not only does this add you to the queue, it also lets the librarian know when there is a book in high demand (in which ordering additional copies may be necessary).
• Find out if there are any journal articles that deal with the topic area you are researching. Discovery can be used to find these, as well as other types of resources, such as newspaper articles, dissertations, and book reviews. 
• Check to see if the book chapter or reading you need is available within your module on LearnUniversity of Suffolk.  If not, ask your lecturer if certain key readings can be made available on LearnUniversity of Suffolk, or contact your Librarian. 
• Check if there is a reference copy of the book available at the library so that you can photocopy the pages you need.  Just make sure you stay within copyright guidelines.

You can also contact your Librarian to schedule an appointment if you'd like further support with finding relevant information.

Reading Actively

At university, you will need to develop what is called active reading and note taking. This requires you to engage your brain and think about what you are reading and writing down. In-another-words you cannot just sit, read and copy from a text book or lecture slides. You need to think before you start about what you are looking at and expecting to learn.

Writing down questions you need answers for can help as it gives purpose to your reading.

Making predictions on what you may learn can help engage your brain.

Linking what knowledge you already know with new knowledge can aid understanding and develop the new knowledge.

You can re-read notes and tutor slides to aid linking to new knowledge. After reading and note taking review your notes regularly, rework them and reuse them, as this all aids building up your knowledge of the subject.

Note that actively reading and making notes this way is a skill that you learn over time. The effort needed to actively read and note take can be tiring and hard to start with, as you need to build up your reading stamina. An alternative way of accessing information is to use technology.