Third Grade English: Research & Inquiry - Note-Taking and Paraphrasing
Note-taking and paraphrasing are the twin engines of academic research, allowing you to extract essential facts from informational texts and translate them into your own unique words and sentence structures without plagiarizing. Copying word-for-word from a book is not only dishonest; it also prevents your brain from truly understanding the material. In this chapter, you will master the "Read-Cover-Write" method for paraphrasing, learn how to use structured index cards and graphic organizers for note-taking, and discover how to write bulleted fact fragments that capture big ideas efficiently.
The Danger of Plagiarism: What Is Paraphrasing?
Plagiarism occurs when a writer copies someone else's exact words, phrasing, or ideas and pastes them into their own paper without giving credit, pretending the words are their own. Paraphrasing is the honest, scholarly alternative!
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| PLAGIARISM VS. PARAPHRASING |
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| ORIGINAL TEXT FROM A SCIENCE BOOK: |
| "The polar bear's translucent fur appears white because |
| each hollow hair shaft reflects and scatters sunlight." |
| |
| PLAGIARISM (Word-for-Word Copying): |
| The polar bear's translucent fur appears white because |
| each hollow hair shaft reflects and scatters sunlight. |
| |
| PARAPHRASING (Restated in Your Own Voice): |
| Although polar bear fur looks bright white, their hollow |
| hairs are actually clear and bounce sunlight back into |
| our eyes. |
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Why Paraphrasing Helps You Learn
When you force yourself to explain a scientific or historical fact in your own words, your brain has to digest and comprehend the concept. If you can explain it in your own words, you truly own the knowledge!
The Three-Step "Read, Cover, Write" Paraphrase Routine
The easiest, most foolproof way to avoid copying word-for-word is the "Read, Cover, Write" routine!
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| THE READ, COVER, WRITE ROUTINE |
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| |
| Step 1: READ the source paragraph slowly and carefully. |
| Make sure you understand the main concept. |
| |
| Step 2: COVER the text with your hand or a sheet of |
| paper. Do not look at the author's words! |
| |
| Step 3: WRITE the fact down in your own notebook as if |
| you were explaining it aloud to your best friend. |
| |
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Checking Your Paraphrase
After writing, uncover the book and compare your sentence:
1. Did you copy four or more exact words in a row? (If yes, rearrange and swap!).
2. Does your sentence still communicate the exact true meaning? (Accuracy check!).
The Art of Note-Taking: Fact Fragments vs. Full Sentences
When taking notes during research, you should NOT write full sentences! Writing full sentences takes too long and tempts you to copy the book. Write "Fact Fragments"—short, bulleted phrases that capture only the essential keywords.
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| FULL SENTENCE VS. FACT FRAGMENT |
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| FULL SENTENCE FROM BOOK: |
| "Chameleons change color not primarily for camouflage, |
| but to regulate their body temperature and signal their |
| moods to other chameleons in the trees." |
| |
| NOTE-TAKING FACT FRAGMENTS: |
| - Color change = mood signals + body temp regulation |
| - Camouflage is NOT the main reason |
| - Communicate with other chameleons in canopy |
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Notice the Economy of Notes!
The fact fragments dropped all the extra words (articles, prepositions, fillers) and kept only the gold nuggets of information. When you draft your final paper later, you will turn these fragments into brand-new, original sentences in your own writing voice.
Organizing Notes with Research Index Cards
Professional researchers often organize their notes on three-by-five index cards or structured notebook boxes divided by subtopics.
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| SAMPLE RESEARCH INDEX CARD |
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| TOPIC: Bottlenose Dolphins |
| SUBTOPIC: Echolocation and Hunting |
| --------------------------------------------------------- |
| - Emits high-frequency clicks from forehead (melon organ) |
| - Sound waves bounce off fish and return to lower jaw |
| - Can detect size, speed, and distance of prey in murky sea|
| --------------------------------------------------------- |
| SOURCE: Ocean Giants by Dr. Elena Reed, page 42 |
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Why Track the Source?
Notice the bottom line: "SOURCE: Ocean Giants by Dr. Elena Reed, page 42." Always record where you found each fact! If you need to double-check a number later or create a bibliography at the end of your project, you will know exactly where the information came from.
Direct Quotations: When Exact Words Matter
Occasionally, an author or historical figure says something so eloquent, famous, or unique that you want to include their exact words. In that case, use quotation marks and name the speaker!
- "As astronaut Neil Armstrong famously declared, 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'"
- Notice: The quotation marks tell the reader that these are the speaker's exact words, not your paraphrase.
Practice Exercises and Review
Put your note-taking and paraphrasing skills to work.
Exercise 1: Evaluate the Paraphrase
Read the original text and evaluate Paraphrase A and Paraphrase B. Which one is successful, and which one is plagiarism?
Original Text: "Beavers possess a specialized clear membrane over their eyes that acts like built-in swimming goggles when they dive underwater."
Paraphrase A: Beavers possess a clear membrane over their eyes that acts like swimming goggles when they dive under the water.
Paraphrase B: When swimming beneath the surface, beavers can see clearly thanks to transparent eye coverings that protect their eyes like goggles.
Exercise 2: Create Fact Fragments
Turn this sentence into two short bulleted fact fragments: "Monarch butterflies travel up to three thousand miles south each autumn to spend the winter in the warm oyamel fir forests of central Mexico."
Answer Key and Explanations
- Exercise 1: Paraphrase A is plagiarism. It merely deleted two words ("specialized" and "built-in") but kept the exact sentence structure and vocabulary of the original. Paraphrase B is a successful paraphrase. It restructured the sentence and used original phrasing while preserving the scientific meaning.
- Exercise 2: Sample fact fragments:
- Migrate up to 3,000 miles south in autumn
- Spend winter in central Mexico fir forests