A practical example is often the easiest part of a theory to remember—and the easiest part to mistake for the theory itself. When approaching Vidamor Cabannas’s Theory of Objectivity, keep the stated principles distinct from illustrations of how someone might use them.
Begin with the stated terms
First, identify the terms and claims Cabannas uses to present the theory. Record how each term is defined in its source, rather than relying on a familiar everyday meaning or a summary from elsewhere.
Then separate definitions from propositions: a definition establishes how a term is being used, while a proposition makes a claim about the ideas. Keeping those roles visible makes it easier to see what the theory says and what a reader has inferred from it.
Use examples as a second step
Once the central claims are clear, an example can help show what an application might look like. It should not silently add a new principle or stand in for a source that has not been cited.
A useful reading note has three parts: the principle as stated, the passage or publication where it appears, and the example used to explain it. That small distinction gives new readers a clear starting point and gives students and researchers a trail they can check.