1. Works Cited Cards/Note Cards Difference between MLA/APA
Research Papers
Works Cited Cards/Note Cards
Difference between MLA/APA

2. Recording Information
You will use an index card
Can use computer to write cards
You will record:
Author, title, and publishing information, and comment about the source
You will use this to make up your “Works Cited” page, which lists all the sources used in the paper
You will also assign each card a number on the top right corner of the card. This will help you keep track of where your notes are coming from.

3. MLA/APA MLA APA Modern Language Association
The style most frequently used by high school and college teachers
APA
American Psychological Association
Used in psychology journal articles and is required for college psychology papers

4. MLA/APA MLA Optional Title pg. Never has headings
Writer’s last name followed by page number at top right corner of page
Works cited list
APA
Always has a title page
Usually has headings
Key phrase from title and page number at top right of page
References page – may have foot notes
(gives credit for the paraphrase or quote)

5. Note Cards Note cards are used to write down helpful information
You slow down your reading, but you will not take notes on everything you find
Take notes on information you think will be helpful for your paper
You must not copy the words or ideas of another writer without giving that writer credit

6. Plagiarism
Using someone else’s ideas or phrasing and claiming them as your own
It can be written or spoken material
It includes:
Whole papers
Paragraphs
Sentences
Phrases
Statistics
Lab results
Artwork
web

7. Penalty for Plagiarism
Some schools could fail you for the entire course
Expulsion from school
At AWS you may get a zero on your paper

8. Note Cards Use index cards
Write the source number in the upper-right-hand corner of the card.
On each card take notes from only one source
Write only on one side, and write about only one main idea (it will make it easier to arrange your cards)
Write a heading – a key word or phrase- at the top of the note card (The heading tells the main idea discussed on the note card)
Use your own words if your not using a quote
It may help to close the book and explain to yourself what the author has written, then transfer that “explanation”

9. Note Cards If you are quoting make sure you have quoted word for word
If you leave out any part you must use ellipses
Remember to put the source number and the page numbers on the note card

10. Evaluate Your Note Cards
Be selective
Too much information – use the best, the most pertinent, the most persuasive
Sort them out – place them on the bottom of the pile
Fill in the gaps
Not enough information – go back to the library

11. Coherence A paper is coherent when it is orderly and makes sense
Arrange and rearrange the stack of note cards until the information flows in a logical way