Step 4: Notice patterns and overlap in the information
- Take notes as you skim and scan the research material
- Jot down the main facts, ideas, and concepts related to your topic
- Note taking LibGuide to learn more about taking notes
- Notice the patterns in your research material
- Are the same ideas, themes, and topics repeated in different sources?
- These are the most important pieces of your topic,
- They represent the main points, secondary points, and boundaries of the subject
- They help you identify the major components of your topic
- They help you identify most common thoughts and beliefs.
NOTE: If you see something mentioned only once or that doesn’t fit the common understanding of your topic, it's probably not worth including.
