On the Reading Process

Everyone reads in different ways. Whether cuddled up on a couch, sitting at a table, or relaxing in a hammock, each reader has a process. Now, if I’m reading a novel, I love nothing better than sitting in my hammock chair. (Yes, I really have a hammock chair! It’s in my office at home.) 

But for reading research, I have an entirely different process. I sit with the paper in front of me (I am, unfortunately, old enough to not be able to read on the computer, I have to have a hard copy), highlighter and pencil nearby, and my computer above the paper. And while I read, I highlight and sometimes write notes in the margins. Then when I get to something that I think is important for my paper, I take notes on the computer. Sometimes I quote the work directly, sometimes I paraphrase my notes as I go along. I make endless bullet points with the citation after each one. After a few articles I take a step back and look at what I’ve been noting. Then I start to organize the research in sections, and copy and paste my heart out. And then I keep on reading! By the end I have sectioned notes that are in almost an outline format. Then, I’m ready to write!

So, now, on with the reading!

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