Research 101: Take Notes

First, use index cards to keep notes and
   track sources used in your paper.

Then, create
   Work Cited cards for each source.

• Include citations in MLA format
       (author, title, publisher, date,
       page number, etc.)
• Organize sources alphabetically.
• Number your source cards.

Next, for each note card:
     On one side:

• Record single idea, fact, or quote,
       which helps with organization

     On other side:

• Write key words at top, 
• List Work Cited source number.
• Include page number from source.

Finally, while taking notes, remember to:

• Use abbreviations, acronyms, or
       incomplete sentences to speed
       up the note taking process.
• Only record information that
       answer research questions.
• Use symbols, diagrams, charts or
       drawings to simplify & visualize
       ideas.

Use one of these notetaking forms to capture information:

• Summarize:
       Capture the main ideas of the source succinctly by restating them in your own words.
• Paraphrase:
       Restate the author's ideas in your own words.
• Quote:
       Copy the quotation exactly as it appears in the original source. Put quotation marks
       around the text and note the name of the person you are quoting.

First, create a Work Cited document
   for the sources you use.

• Add your sources in MLA format.
• Group sources by publication type
       (i.e., book, article, website).
• Number your sources.
• For websites, include the URL.

Then, in your notes, place source
   numbers from your Work Cited list
   & the source's page number next to
   your ideas. See examples below.
       (Note #A5 and #B2 refer to article
       source 5 and book source 2 from the
       Work Cited file.)

• #A5 p.35: "first idea"
• #B2 p.76: "second idea"

After taking notes,
   assign keywords or sub-topic headings
   to each idea, quote, or summary.

Finally copy and paste to group 
   keywords or sub-topic ideas together.

Remember to back up your master list and note files frequently!