How I organize my research notes to write my PhD thesis quicker (& why OneNote is still the best)

How I organize my research notes as an Oxford PhD student to write research papers really quickly and efficiently! I show you how I use Onenote to organise my PhD thesis notes and research notes, ideas, to write really efficiently. I share my system to writing scientific essays and research papers quickly and easily and how to never forget what you've read by organizing your notes with OneNote. I share lots of thesis writing tips and tips for PhD students, so do check it out!
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:20 Write as you read
00:01:18 Note down every paper you've ever read
00:02:50 Don't let any written work go to waste
00:04:14 Create your own knowledge database
00:06:15 Why OneNote is better than Word
Channel Intro:
Hi everyone! I'm Hira, a PhD student at Oxford. I made this channel to share PhD application advice, how to apply to Oxford for a PhD, study tips for students, how to find UK scholarships as an international student, to show you how to teach yourself bioinformatics or learn how to code, and lots more! If any of that sounds interesting to you, do subscribe!
Departmental page: www.oncology.ox.ac.uk/team/hi...
Instagram: / oxford_juggler
Twitter: / oxford_juggler
Juggling KZbin Channel: / @oxfordjuggler1783

[@cesmed]

Thanks for this, you are saving lives

[@vap0rtranz]

And for those of us who still take handwritten notes, OneNote can do OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to convert a picture of the handwritten notes to digital text, which Word cannot do.

[@Sia_searching_her_ram]

She was using one note ?

[@aaronwilson4258]

Don't forget to use a citation manager like Zotero.

[@riddhabose9653]

This video may only appeal to a selective audience, however the content inside it is invaluable!

[@danishquamar7199]

I think your comment is invaluable and super non-constructive.

[@Rajgitaa]

Hira, your short video on how you use OneNote has helped me immensly with writing difficult articles. I have ADHD-like symptoms that makes learning - and eventually, writing - difficult subjects. I've been working on an article on the Vagus nerve, trying to take notes from white papers, medical journals, reports ... and can't focus or organize anything. Your video really helped me. Unfortunately I didn't know what program you were using ... you never mentioned it. I eventually figured it out. Thanks so much for posting this. You ARE saving lives. - Roger

[@oxford_phd]

Hi Roger, I'm so happy to hear this system works for you! Sorry it wasn't in the video, I put it in the title and thumbnail. It's Microsoft OneNote, hope that's what you found too! I also have another video on OneNote on my channel if that is useful and will make more!

[@Rajgitaa]

@@oxford_phd Thanks again.

[@onyinyenkwocha6663]

This is super helpful! Thank you Hira for sharing your hack. I have just finished reading my first article on my PhD programme and realised that if my masters has taught me anything at all, it is that I will need to organise more. About to start my second reading and your video gets suggested! The universe loves me😃

[@oxford_phd]

Aww that's great that the video got recommended to you! Good luck on your PhD! You'll do amazing! :D

[@muhamadnasra1130]

I have watched many videos about onenote, this one is the most valuable for me.

[@shalainetatu3210]

Assalaamu 'alaykum Hira! I'm a new PhD student, and I found your video very reassuring! I have been a researcher, and I use OneNote in preparing my proposals. I tried Notion but it isn't really for me. You're right, OneNote is still the best! May Allāh grant you success in this world and in the Hereafter.

[@oxford_phd]

JazakAllah khair! And to you, ameen ☺️

[@irfanasaeed9131]

Superb! Thanks for your tips Hira

[@tasfiatasneemahmed7580]

Very useful! Many thanks! Really like the way you speak, also how resourceful you are ! 🎉

[@hafsahkhan3523]

Hey Hira!! This is the most beneficial video I have ever come across and you have highlighted each and every detail with so much effort. More power to you !!

[@heymel]

Your tops have helped me sooo much!! Thank you!!

[@cicelyeverson]

Thank you, Hira! This video was super helpful ❤❤❤

[@leonhobro1644]

Love it Hira, thanks for sharing!

[@arwaalshikrian5354]

Love this exactly what I was looking for. Thank you

[@achajee9633]

Brilliant tips Hira, many thanks.

[@ThiagoBrito7]

Nice idea! I was thinking in how to be more productive and I found your video. It helped me to clarify some ideas that I was already planning. Thanks a lot!

[@geekengr]

That's quite nice Hira, thanks for sharing.

[@joepardue5044]

Excellent suggestions. Thank you very much!

[@imanf1700]

thank you!! Just starting the dissertation process for my undergrad and i found this video really helpful

[@ANTONIO-yr9bh]

Thank you so much, I will start my PhD soon and your videos are very illustrative and helpful, they fit like a glove in hand

[@Leon-rf4sw]

watched this months ago and today again. thank you so much!

[@MehdiGlz]

Thank you very helpful! I'm working on my bachelor's thesis, so not a lot of experience or guidance on the writing process. Videos like this have helped me a great deal! I never really thought about having a file to note all the papers I've read, it seems very useful and far quicker than going through every file. I'm also gonna try out OneNote, I've been taking notes in Word, but having a side by side note-my own words seems much easier

[@bibhushakarki2928]

This is super helpful! As a phd student struggling to stay organized and a neurodivergent person, your video is god sent.Thank you!

[@Tenno_ge]

I think this was the most informative tips/tricks video about taking notes I've ever came across on KZbin... everyone else kinda avoid to show the exact method and just recommending basic and overall useful tips... But this one was the method I will use because of explanation why this is useful. 1) Was thinking to Copy-paste was a bad idea and my notetaking was super slow. And yes, some notes I spend on them like 20-30 minutes were never used. 2) To save at least some information about every article that u read is brilliant idea. Who remembers read articles around some subject after 2-3 years... but going trough a small list/remarks will refresh the knowledge of that topic for sure. Thank you. U got +1 sub :)

[@julianeumann9071]

This was fun and very helpful. Thank you so much!

[@annaf8143]

Thank you for this amazing video! Helped me so much! ❤🎉

[@Dr_Omar_A_Mo]

let me say something ,,,, this is absolutely the most informative video about writing i have ever came across ,,, you're genius and i loved the way you made that excel\google sheet

[@kubimango]

thank you for this lifesaving video!! Im currently working on my Bachelorthesis and I was already panicking so much. At my College we don't really learn a lot about how to actually write a thesis so this was super useful! Thank you so much!!!

[@KatherineStirling]

LOVE THIS. Exactly what I was looking for - thank you so much for taking the time to share this!

[@oxford_phd]

Thanks so much for your comment, Katherine! Glad you found it helpful 😊

[@radhikaxkaur]

The excel sheet tip is so good! Thank you!

[@kerwinneves5327]

Truly useful in my research process. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@jonathan.vicente]

Thank you so much dear, I am taking all the advice and now I am watching more and more videos how to organize on OneNote :)

[@Gromov-jj8jf]

this is great advice. thanks!

[@rachaelsauerbrunn3897]

Thank you for these tips. I will definitely check out One Note.

[@dangomez1170]

Thanks! I can see you are doing well and you will be going places. I know you’re family is super proud. Thanks again for the study tip.

[@oxford_phd]

That is so kind of you, Dan, thank you! This is my first time receiving a super thanks, you made my day! Wish you all the best, Hira

[@aleynalale5653]

Thank you so much! I was actually looking for a source organising table, just starting my master thesis :)

[@siwaphiwemfana]

Absolutely amazing!!

[@Drugvigil]

Great tutorial. This will be greatly helpful in my research.

[@simonsun02]

great, so practical and helpful.

[@TheCyborgBanana]

Some useful tips, thank you.

[@ellinormadsen3471]

Thank you! Helpful video ❤

[@swimfanatic88]

Excellent video, thank you! 🎉

[@heymel]

So helpful! Thank you!!

[@greeshmadileep8150]

Thank you for such valuable information

[@Seanog1982]

This is wonderful. Thank you :)

[@beatrizsilvestre3859]

Thanks for this video!

[@LateMarch3]

Nicely presented! I use the copy/paste technique and was hoping for a faster way 🙃 I think I try to take notes on everything that even looks slightly possibly useful, and it slows me down

[@sabtadiana3263]

thank you so much.. so helpful..

[@filectory]

Very useful tips for Ph.D. starters and a very underrated video. It should have at least 1 M.

[@eduardoloza6023]

Hi! Thanks you so much for create this video. I'm a physics student and I'm going to begin my thesis but I was scared about how I will remeber all the information that I read. And your video helped me so much.

[@TrendyWebAltar]

I wish I did this when I was starting out. 😭 Instead, I watched this really useful video now that I'm in the final months left in my candidature.

[@mariguanabara1]

this is brilliant! I wish I found this video 5 years ago hahah I'm still struggling to finish writing my phd thesis after all this time. I'm binge watching all your videos now, already a big fan. thank you for sharing your experiences and tips, Hira!

[@oxford_phd]

Thank you for your kind words, good luck with thesis writing!

[@user-we7nc3kz7q]

Thank you so much. May God bless you.

[@elmiathewriter]

I'm by no means a PhD student but as a writer this is an invaluable resource to help with organising research!

[@user-ov9rq7xz9m]

Wonderful job

[@SergeyHudiev]

Thank you!

[@benjaminschneider7300]

Amazing Video!

[@Ceqatre]

About to start my Bachelor thesis, this will be very helpful. Thank you Hira !

[@oxford_phd]

Glad it was helpful! Best of luck!

[@jacobisaacs]

Holy moly, you're my freaking hero! I'm going to try to put this to use in my work. Thank you for your easy, down-to-earth, and understandable explanation. I'm going to be smiling at "recycle your writing like it's a climate crisis" for days! :D

[@oxford_phd]

Hehe thank you! Glad you found it helpful!

[@lh1881]

this is literally the best thing i ve ever seen

[@oxford_phd]

Haha your comment my day! 😅

[@AlejandroZavaletaM]

I just watched this video, its amazing!!!. I also love working with OneNote for taking notes, although it took me a while to discover and manage that work flow.... And the excel file "References", it has to be a canonical event😂... I have the same file name, different format but quite similar purpose, still need some adjustments.

[@aofu5370]

super helpful

[@TheKarthhh]

Thanks for sharing

[@sherryleelee8756]

love it thanku😁

[@amousawie]

You in fact, need a reference manager and Word Doc has one already, you can highlight the document and refer to it from the reference manager. Moreover, you need to construct metrics based on data alaysis, so to derive research direction. Once you've done that, then reading articles will be evaluated in terms of deviation of each application. This is where your metrics match a real world application. Writing as you discover is called data collection by literature review. This only serves as initial research to check of gap in the serearch.

[@maryamk2398]

Thanks, for sharing these tips Hira. Could you please also teach us how to use all the facilities/ options of Word for writing our dissertation from scratch? That would be very helpful for many people. Thanks, again!

[@oxford_phd]

Yes will do it's on the task list :)

[@katniss181]

Thank you so so so frickin much

[@abidakhan4470]

so useful

[@yousafzaifrnd]

MashaAllah sister it is very informative.

[@xSunnyDaysx]

From everything i’ve seen so far the Excel document is the best!! That’s what going to work for me. Because i like to scroll through it instead of searching for a key word.

[@oxford_phd]

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best! Who would have thought Excel, eh? :)

[@dankschang]

It's also helpful for book authors

[@Rodrigo-ty3go]

although I am not in any phd and I will not be. You have a simple and practical solution for my studies in accounting practices. I have little time because I have a small consulting business, family and taking care of my mother with dementia. Excel, word and OneNote are my main tools for years, I've tried others but no, I don't like them and I go back to Microsoft. Could you please explain a little more how you make references to your notes? I have watched this video 4 times and will watch it 100 more if necessary. Thank you very much x 1000.

[@israrahmad1649]

Thank you

[@ydherdn]

Thank You

[@a-ghandi4293]

Hi Hira! This is really useful. What software are you using in @0:42

[@TheChildren26]

Really interesting Hira. I'm a PhD student too and I have a problem XD because all the time I'm changing my system for writing. I use notion but when I'm writing I need something that can I use to reorganize my notes.

[@oxford_phd]

This is why I could never really get into Notion, found it too complicated and restrictive. OneNote does it all (and more)!

[@thesid7274]

Great ...

[@bestlife4894]

really very smart girl, excellent work very bright

[@user-uk3ig5eq8i]

Thanks a lot ❤ from Bangladesh

[@essam4389]

Thanks!

[@oxford_phd]

So kind of you, many thanks! 😊

[@abuyousefali]

This was helpful because I just started using OneNote as my main note taking platform for my thesis. I didn't even know that I could write on both sides in OneNote. Your tip about copy/paste/reference is extremely helpful. I assume that you use split screen to copy/paste text from a PDF to OneNote, correct?

[@oxford_phd]

No I don't use split screen, just the alt+tab keyboard shortcut to quickly switch between windows.

[@lesliedaniels5043]

OMG, you are God-sent. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am not writing a PhD thesis, but your tips are just as transferrable to how I organize my documentary research. Wait, did I already thank you? Sis, thank you. As @cesmed stated in your comments, you saved my life, or at the very least, my sanity.

[@oxford_phd]

Thanks girl!! So happy it helped you and best of luck in your research! God bless you 😘

[@asadullahmoqaddam7295]

Hi. the video was good and thanks for making and sharing it with us. but I tried so much to get how you organized and made those notes. but I couldn't. I just saw some shots from the screen though I was searching for how you made it. but I couldn't find it. We all would be so happy if you will be able to show us how to organize those notes and the resources which every one of us is going to use.

[@oxford_phd]

Hi there sorry for the late reply! Did you mean how I made the spreadsheet? That was just in excel. And how I made notes from papers? For that I used a free software called Microsoft Onenote :)

[@alankilpatrick2788]

Thanks for your video. Maybe I am a bit slow at this, but I cannot get Onenote to work in the way that you have set it up. For example, how do you upload a PDF and then have the other side of the screen for pasting or typing as you read the pdf on the other half of the screen?

[@ibrar2kt]

THANKS

[@oxford_phd]

You're welcome!

[@CarlA-wo9un]

Very useful tips. Thank you for sharing. Can you clarify the difference advice from Tip 1 vs Tip 4. In Tip 1 you say that you write in your own words as your read. However, on Tip 4 you say that you copy and paste the content without writing in your own words. Can you clarify when your work process focuses more on Tip 1 (eg, write as you read) vs Tip 4 where you emphasize cutting and pasting (without writing in your own words). Thanks again.

[@oxford_phd]

Hi Carl! Glad you found them helpful. When I'm reading in order to write part of a paper or essay, I write as I read (tip 1). However, when I am reading for my own learning, understanding a concept, browsing the literature to see what's new, or just taking notes in general, then I cut and paste rather than take notes in my own words or rephrasing as it's much slower (tip 4). Then if I want to incorporate this stuff and later write about it, I have a wealth of notes directly from the papers (along with their references and article links) and can write in my own words from my own notes. Hope that clarifies!

[@CarlA-wo9un]

@@oxford_phd thank you for taking the time to clarify. The distinction is clear. You have one new subscriber.

[@oxford_phd]

@@CarlA-wo9un welcome on board, happy to have you here! :)

[@am8821p]

Hi Hira.. Great resource for someone who is starting his PhD. Can you tell me, how are you talking notes in two pages side by side in OneNote? Thanks

[@robertlevy1940]

Did you ever figure out how to split the page?

[@gmckbekanayake59]

Hi dear Hira, its very interesting & informative. Pl let me know ur field of study.

[@csml4519]

Can do a video on how to take notes in onenote for phd

[@shahzaibwaqar5674]

You copy paste the thing on the original paper you are writing or on a separate documents?

[@Yaseera26]

Thank you so much..could kindly tell what is the laptop you are using?

[@oxford_phd]

It's a Huawei Matebook X Pro from a few years ago. Looks and feels like a Macbook but is a Windows! :D

[@sorcererstone3303]

A lot of videos promote using Notions and similar apps for note taking. Is that approach good or time wasting? Also, I like the idea of using Excel to write down the name & url of the referencing source, but is there a way to group related reference sources together to make this achieving process more efficient?

[@oxford_phd]

You could probably add keywords as a separate column and then sort by keyword to group them together when you want.

[@projectguru]

Hi Hira. This lesson is insightful. We are in the process of creating such sessions about Mendeley, Zotero and MS Word citations, organising chapters of a thesis and proofreading, editing & formatting. We would like to collaborate with you for making these videos as well as live tutorial sessions. Where can we connect?

[@oxford_phd]

Hi, thanks for reaching out! Happy to discuss more details, please dm on twitter @oxford_juggler

[@projectguru]

@@oxford_phd Thank you. We have DMed you on Twitter.

[@andrealandaverde4581]

Thanks Hira! How do you have One note side by side though?

[@oxford_phd]

Hi! Not sure I understand the question but in one note you can write anywhere and so you can write side by side :)

[@noahyousefy8152]

Hello Hira, thank you for the video. I do not quite get the differenc ebetween point 1 and 3 in your video. First you say that you rewrite the useful paragraphs straight away. In the third section you say that you just copy paste and rewrite it later only if it is useful your the thesis. Can you please clarify on that?

[@oxford_phd]

It depends on the purpose. If you're reading to write e.g. an essay or your thesis intro, then I write as I read. But if you're reading to understand a topic, browse the literature, or make notes I just copy paste. And if I need to write from it later then I can use that info and paraphrase without having to reread articles. Hope that makes sense!

[@oGoldeNOnE]

Useful video - thank you. But why ddid you say in the first part to write as you read then in the end say to copy paste notes and dont waste time rewriting? did i get something confused?

[@oxford_phd]

Different purpose! First is for when you're writing your essay it's easier to write as you read. Second is if you're just reading, e.g. for the purpose of understanding a concept or taking notes or writing from your notes later, then easier and more efficient to copy paste than writing in your own words!

[@noorarjmand9493]

what program did you use that allowed you to write side by side next to the article?

[@oxford_phd]

It's Microsoft Onenote :)

[@lami7727]

Could you please tell us how do you create whose section in word ?

[@oxford_phd]

This feature is not on Word. I'm using Microsoft OneNote. :)

[@mortalmonkey.]

"I don't have anger" :)