Research Log

What is it?

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.

Steps

1. Create a separate entry for each source.
2. Record bibliographic information for the source at the top of the entry.
3. Quote and paraphrase the source. 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.
4. Record your response to or reflection on the quoted and paraphrased material. 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 Template

Follow the format below for each entry in your research log, adding or removing quotations and paraphrases and corresponding responses and reflections as necessary.  

RESEARCH LOG ENTRY [NUMBER]

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?   
Copy the structure above for subsequent entries. 
 

 

Quotation 5 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?   
Copy the structure above for subsequent entries.