USING NOTE CARDS

1. Locate a source of information on your topic.
2. Get a 3" x 5" index card to use for your information.
3. Using the appropriate bibliographic form, write the complete bibliographic entry for the source on one side of the card.
4. In the top right corner of the index card, write the source number (1) and circle it.
5. On the back of the index card, write the first piece of information from that source.
6. Get another index card for the next piece of information from that source. In the upper right corner of the new card, write the source number and letters of the alphabet, beginning with "A" and continuing through the alphabet as more information from that source is obtained.
7. The next source will have a two in the upper right corner, circled, with the bibliographic entry on one side and information from that source on the reverse side.
8. Follow the same procedure for additional information as done for the first source.
9. At the conclusion of the research process, the cards can be put in a logical order by subject and an outline developed.
10. The outline and the note cards can then be used to write the research paper.

Source: Writing Research Reports. Evanston, Illinois: McDougal Littell Inc.

2001.