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Research Log Guidelines

Due date:

Purpose:

A research log helps writers keep track of what they read and record their own responses to sources as part of their research process This note-taking strategy helps writers become actively involved with the material and clarifies their understanding of the topic while identifying connections (and disconnects) among different sources.  

Task: 

Step 1: Gather at least five sources on your topic. Two of these sources must come from academic journals (peer-reviewed, scholarly, found using GALILEO), but the others may come from credible newspapers and magazines. One of the sources may be chosen from a website, but this site should be from a reliable organization like The Associated Press or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Articles from GALILEO databases are not considered internet sources. Read and reread each source carefully.  

Step 2: Make a separate entry for each source.

Step 3: Record bibliographic information for the source at the top of each entry.

Step 4: Quote and paraphrase important information from the source—we recommend you do both so you can record the original language and interpret it in your own words. This will be immensely valuable to you later as you begin to write your draft, and it will also help you avoid accidentally plagiarizing by in your paper. Note: Although this assignment sheet provides space for four quotations from each source, you should include more as needed.  
 
When quoting, remember to use quotation marks; when paraphrasing, make sure your language and sentence structure are significantly different from the original. Include page numbers, if available.

Step 5: Record your response to or reflection on the quotation or paraphrase. Consider the following:
    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?   

RESEARCH LOG ENTRY 1

Source title: 
Source author(s): 
Source type and location:  
DOI, if applicable:

Quotation 1 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 2 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 3 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 4 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?   
        

RESEARCH LOG ENTRY 2

Source title: 
Source author(s): 
Source type and location: 
DOI, if applicable:

Quotation 1 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?    

Quotation 2 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 3 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 4 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

RESEARCH LOG ENTRY 3

Source title: 
Source author(s): 
Source type and location: 
DOI, if applicable:

Quotation 1 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 2 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 3 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 4 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

RESEARCH LOG ENTRY 4

Source title: 
Source author(s): 
Source type and location: 
DOI, if applicable:

Quotation 1 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 2 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 3 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 4 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

RESEARCH LOG ENTRY 5

Source title: 
Source author(s): 
Source type and location: 
DOI, if applicable:

Quotation 1 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 2 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 3 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?  

Quotation 4 from the source + paraphrase:

Response and/or reflections:

    • What is significant about this information?
    • What does this quotation or paraphrase remind you of?
    • In what way is this aligned with what other source authors have said?
    • In what way is this different from what other source authors have said?   

 

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This material was developed by the KSU Writing Center based on original content (Double-Entry Research Log Guidelines) and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. All materials created by the KSU Writing Center are free to use and can be adopted, adapted, and/or shared at will as long as the materials are attributed. Please keep this information on materials you adapt, adopt, and/or share.
 

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