Researching Thesis Statement & Writing Note Cards Compiled and Written by Anita J. Ghajar-Selim

Research your Thesis (Using Note cards) 1. Write the subtopic heading of the note at the top of each note card. 2. Write only one main point on a note card 3. Only write information directly related to your Statement of Purpose. 4. Write only essential words, abbreviate when possible. 5. Be accurate: double check direct quotes and statistics. 6. Identify direct quotes with quotation marks and the person's name. 7. Bracket your own words [ ] when you add them into a quote. 8. Use ellipsis points (...) where you leave out non-essential words from a quote. 9. Distinguish between 'fact' and 'opinion'. 10. Include the source's number on the card 11. Write the page number of the source after the note. 12. Use the word 'over' to indicate information on the back of the card. See Examples

How to Use a Note Card Even when classroom teachers meet with their students in conferences, teachers cannot normally provide opportunities for the extended, on-going collaborative discussion, questioning, and practice which are the tutors mainstays. (original text that you read) You need to paraphrase it. So, your note card will probably read like this: 2 nd advantage of using a writing center 2 In teacher-student writing conferences, the teacher will not have enough time to maintain an extended one-on-one session with the student, and thats where the tutors come in to rescue. 2 nd advantage of using a writing center 2 In teacher-student writing conferences, the teacher will not have enough time to maintain an extended one-on-one session with the student, and thats where the tutors come in to rescue. Source number Subheading Your Paraphrased Note Page number (if taken from a book)

How to Record Sources on a Note Card For an online (magazine) article: Harris, Mauriel The Concept of a Writing Center International Writing Centers Association Online (30 March 2010) Harris, Mauriel The Concept of a Writing Center International Writing Centers Association Online (30 March 2010) Source Number (This article number as a source) 3 Authors Name (Last name, first name) Title of article Name of magazine if applicable Name of Website Mention this if you used an internet article URL (Address of the website) Date you accessed the website

How to Record Sources on a Note Card For a book: Nhat Hahn, Thich Peace is Every Step New York: N.Y, Bantam Books, 1991 Nhat Hahn, Thich Peace is Every Step New York: N.Y, Bantam Books, 1991 Source Number (This book number as a source) 3 Authors Name (Last name, first name) Title of the Book Place of publication, Publishing company, copy right year