Step 6: Note Cards

Once you have a good working outline, you should begin taking notes.

Using index cards, write down any fact, statement or statistic that you feel might be useful for writing the paper and which helps support one of the major points in your working outline.

NOTE: As of 2017, some teachers may ask you to create digital note cards. The process noted below can still be followed digitally.

Process:

Step 1:

In the upper right-hand corner, write the number of the corresponding source card for the source that you are taking notes from. This way, you will have easy access to all of the source information later on and you don’t have to re-write it over and over.

Step 2:

Put the page number from which you found the quotation/ information, if there is one, in the bottom right hand corner. You will need to know the page number later on if you want to access the information again. Also, you will need to know the page number of the information when you cite it in your paper.

Step 3:

Place on top (on the red line if you have standard index cards) the subject about which you are taking notes. TIP: A good way to organize is to take these right from the main points of your working outline! Then, when you are writing your paper, you can organize your notes in order!

Step 4:

Limit yourself to one fact, statistic, or quotation per card.

Step 5:

Make sure any statements made by people other than the author are identified properly; this will be clearer and help you avoid plagiarism later.

Step 6:

Avoid taking excessive notes from one source. If you rely too heavily on one source then you will not create original work. Be sure to get information from a wide variety of sources.

Note: The sample below is a sample of digital note cards. The first two are filled out, and the rest are just a template of what should be on a note card.