Capture the details early
Record the author, title, date and the page or section you are using. Check what else your required referencing style asks for.
Label the kind of note
Keep exact quotations visibly separate from your own summaries. Record a location for both, so you can verify the passage later.
Add your response
Ask why the source matters for your question. Does it support a claim, complicate it or point towards something you need to investigate?
Verify before you cite
Return to the source when drafting. Confirm the context, spelling of names, publication details and whether your paraphrase is accurate.
Read further
The Open University: referencing and plagiarismA separate university resource; not an affiliation or endorsement.