Organizing Research

Keeping Track of Sources

Traditional methods for keeping track of sources were well suited to a pen-and-paper world with print sources. The methods worked well for a number of reasons:

Efficiency was one of those reasons. Because much of the work today is done on the computer, adapting the process to that medium makes use of the efficiency of electronic tools.

Working Bibliography > Works Cited

Traditionally, information for bibliographic citations has been recorded on 3X5 notecards.

• • In short, bibliographic information for a source was recorded on a 3X5 card. In addition, the call number and the library or collection were noted. Annotation could be added to the bottom of the card to identify a source as particularly useful.

  • This stack of cards is the "working bibliography," which provides potential sources of information.

  • During the process of reading and note taking, these bibliography cards are numbered so that the card's number can be used as a shorthand method for identifying the source on the notecard.

  • At the end of the process, the sources that have been used for the paper are separated into a stack, that stack is alphabetized, and the citations are typed for the Works Cited.

Adapting that process

Instead of keeping 3X5 cards, you may choose to maintain a Working Bibliography as a word processing document. Copying and pasting a URL is certainly easier and more accurate. (Of course, you may use some combination of the two methods.)

Note: Maintain a Working Bibliography as a typed document.

From that document, the Works Cited can easily be compiled.

At the end of the process, delete the sources from the Working Bibliography that have not been used in the paper, re-title as Works Cited then copy and paste into the final document.

Note taking

Traditionally, notes have been taken on 5X7 notecards.

• Each note card is numbered to correspond to a working bibliography card

• Author's last name and page number for information is recorded for the note.

• Each note card is limited to one topic

  • These topics come from prewriting

  • These topics provide a focus for research

  • Topics may be added - or deleted - as the research progresses

• Note cards can then be sorted by topic, allowing the researcher to evaluate

  • About which topics is there adequate information

  • About which topics is more information needed

  • If patterns are emerging that point to new topics or spark new interests

Adapting that process

When working with electronic sources, typing notes may be easier. When working with print sources, the traditional method may work best.

• You may copy and paste information to save in word processing documents.

• You may save .pdf files for review.

• You may photocopy or print documents or parts of documents or books so that you can annotate.

• Keep in mind that information that is copied and pasted is quoted because it is taken word-for-word from the original.

However you approach the text, develop a process that replicates the traditional method for the following:

• connect the note to the bibliographic citation

• classify notes by topic

• record the author's name and page number for each note

You goal is to learn enough about the topic so that you can write about it with a great degree of independence from the source material. From that perspective the source material is used to provide specific, detailed support (evidence, authority, statistics) or particularly eloquent language.