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Source Cards and Note Cards As you proceed through your research project, you will need to keep track of which sources you use and what information you gather from the sources. You might do this with index cards, a notebook, handouts your teacher has given you, or a computer file. To make things simple, this description will refer to the place where you keep track of this information as “cards.” You can adapt this method for any system you want—but you definitely need a secure way to keep track of all your research. Source Cards—Use these to keep track of every book, magazine or newspaper article, web site, interview, e-mail, etc. that you use during your research. You will gather your source cards together at the end of your project to create your works cited page. Putting the information in MLA format is a time-saver. Information required
for source card for book:
Call Number of Book Source
Number or Letter Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title. Publisher: Location of Publisher, Copyright Date. The
actual source card would look something like this
979.4 A RIN Rintoul, William. Oildorado:
Boom Times on the Use the source guide sheets in the library media center to help you decide what information is needed for different kinds of sources (reference books, magazines, newspapers, database articles, websites, etc.). Note Cards Write down everything
you need from your sources on your note cards. If you use the exact wording of the source,
put quotation marks (“ “) around the words. If you paraphrase the source (by putting
ideas into your own words), don’t use quotation marks. If you add your own thoughts to an idea on
a note card, write out “ME” next to the thought. This way you can be certain that you keep
it separate from what you borrowed.
Always be sure to note the source number, letter or name on your note
cards! Note Card suggested contents
Short description of
what card’s about Source
No. or letter Page
no. (If
none, write NP) Quote/paraphrase/note Sample note card with quotation:
Description of well
blowout near Taft Source
A Pg.
197 “The fire raged
uncontrolled, blasting from the gaping mouth of the well, leaping in a wide
column an estimated 600 feet into the air.” The steel derrick was torn to
pieces.” Sample notecard with paraphrase:
Community reaction to
well blowout Source
A Pg.
188 Many people in nearby
Buttonwillow thought that an earthquake had occurred because the ground was
noticeably shaking. Unlike in an
earthquake, however, this shaking didn’t cease. When citizens ran out of
doors, they could hear a loud roaring in the distance. They could also see a huge smoky plume raising into the sky. |
