Step #3: Preliminary Outline & first “Note card”
Directions: Write your preliminary outline and one sample notecard below just so that I can check for your understanding (before you make 20 more in Step 4)
EXAMPLE:
Research Topic: Struggles of Haiti
Your outline should look like the following:
I Introduction and thesis statement: “Although Haiti is set in the paradise-like, turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean it struggles with crushing overpopulation, natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes, and a corrupt and often violent political leadership.”
II Political Corruption
III Over-population
IV Lowest quality of life
V Conclusion with summary - You have nothing to conclude so just leave this alone for now
Each card has notes from only 1 source on 1 sub-topic, i.e. write only related info on each card.
Copy and paste the source of information (Citation) above the notecard block
* Write notes in your own words, bullet point facts
* Valuable statistics
* Quote sparingly and with good reason (Is this person an expert in the field? Particularly eloquent? An eyewitness?)
* Avoid writing paragraphs. Paraphrase and summarize the information collected.