1. Bibliography Cards
Use index cards of a different size or color from your note cards
Use a separate card for each bibliography entry
Write in ink
Be sure to list all necessary information
Separate titles from subtitles
For books, note the call number in the lower left corner of card
Record the library name
Make a note of any outstanding features (good charts, extensive
index, etc.)
Punctuate titles within titles correctly
examples: “Imagery in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby”
“Imagery in Robert Frost’s ‘Birches’”
Imagery in “The White Heron”

2. For a book, the bibliography card needs the following information:
Author(s) or editor(s)
Title of book, underlined
Publication information including:
Place of publication
Publisher
Date of publication (most recent)
Magazine:
Author(s), if given
Title of article, in quotation marks
Title of magazine, underlined
Date of publication
Page(s)

3. Magazine:
Author(s)
Title of article, in quotation marks
Title of newspaper, underlined
Date of publication and edition if more than one
Page(s)
Electronic Sources:
Title of document, in quotation marks
Title of complete work, if applicable, underlined
Date of publication, or last update, if given
The full URL (Web site address), enclosed in angle
brackets
6. Date of your visit, in parentheses

4. Note Cards
Before you take notes, number your bibliography cards.
Take notes on index cards of a distinct size or color.
Put only one idea from one source on a note card.
Use ink.
Write only on one side of the card.
Identify the source.
Identify the page number.
Identify the topic.
Strive for representation from many sources.
Do not number note cards.
Check illustrations.
Take adequate notes.
Double-check every note card (source number, page #s,
slug and note).
Let your outline guide your reading.

5. -How will this information help me support my thesis statement?
THINK BEFORE YOU WRITE!
-How will this information help me support my
thesis statement?
-What is this material really saying?
-How can I use this in my final paper?
Finally, add notes to yourself; for example “may need
more detail here”, or “use for final argument”.
FINALLY: to avoid plagiarism, DO NOT: use exact words
from a source without putting them inside quotation
marks and crediting the source; DO NOT reword a
passage without giving credit to the source; DO NOT
summarize a passage without crediting the source.