Prysm Note for research notes
Research notes fail when they are summaries. A summary of a paper does not tell you what you thought about it, and six months later you cannot tell your view from the author's.
What matters here
- One note per source, with a claim
- Your reaction separated from the content
- Tags for themes, not for formats
- An index note that links the argument
- A task per open question
The source note
Record the citation, the main claim, the method and one usable quote with a page number. That is enough to write from, and it takes five minutes.
Your own view
A separate line, marked as yours, saying whether you believe it and why. This is the part that becomes an argument later, and it is the part most note systems lose.
The index
One note per theme that links the sources together. The index is where the writing starts, because it shows which claims you have support for and which you do not.
Frequently asked questions
Keep reading
- Prysm Note for design handoffDesign handoff fails on unstated assumptions. A short spec, a decision note and a checklist of states prevent the fifth round of revisions.
- A desk diary as a plannerA paper desk diary is calm and reliable, and it goes out of date the moment your plans change.
- Tracking habits in a spreadsheetA spreadsheet gives you totals, charts and history, at the cost of opening a file to log a glass of water.
Turn talk into a plan
Capture a thought in plain language and let Prysm Note shape it into tasks and a timeline.
Disclaimer
This page is general information, not professional, legal, financial or medical advice. It describes common ways of working and how Prysm Note approaches them. Software changes over time, so details may differ from what you see in the product. Any product, company or brand names that appear are the property of their respective owners and are used only for identification. We do not claim any endorsement or affiliation. Where we compare approaches, we aim to describe each one honestly, including where a different approach may suit you better. Try the tools that matter to you and judge for yourself.