1. Index card method of note- taking for research reports

2. Two types of note cards are used: Resource cards Data Cards

3. Resource cards These cards collect all the information that you need to create your Works Cited page. You need one for each resource that you use. Label each card with a #, letter, or color.

4. #1 Label each resource with a #, letter, or color Include the following information: Title Author Publisher Place of Publication Date of publication URL address for web-pages and other electronic resources.

5. Resource cards: special instructions for title information magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias and web- pages require two titles; the title of the publication and the title of the article.

6. Resource cards: special instructions for author information Some magazine and encyclopedia articles do not have a specific author listed. It is your responsibility to check for this information. Some sources have editors instead of authors. Web page authors are often listed on the “contact us” or “home page”.

7. Resource cards: special instructions for publisher information Printed materials require a publisher. electronic or digital sources will have a publisher if they were originally published in a printed format. Web-pages will not list a publisher, but they should list the organization responsible for putting the information on the web.

8. Resource cards: special instructions for place of publication information If more than one location is listed always choose the location closest to you. Web-pages do not require a place of publication.

9. Resource cards: special instructions for date of publication information For books and encyclopedias look for the copyright date on the back of the title page. ( © ) Magazines and newspapers may include the month, date, and year. Web-pages require two dates; the date the information was last updated and the date that you viewed the web-site.

10. Other special instructions: All web-pages require the URL address ( www.) Always identify if it is a print or electronic resource.

11. Using Citation Machines When you have all your resource cards complete you can use a citation machine to create your works cited page. Use one of the following: –Noodlebib MLA StarterNoodlebib MLA Starter –EasybibEasybib –BibmeBibme

12. Data Cards These cards are used to collect the information you need write the body of your report.

13. #1 Topic or research question p. 23 Always identify the resource that you used to get this fact. identify the topic or question that this fact answers. For your own benefit write down the page # where the fact can be found. Write only one fact or idea per index card.

14. Special instruction for fact cards: Only write one fact or idea per card. Be sure to paraphrase or list information to help prevent plagiarism. Be sure that any direct quote that you are planning to use in your report has quotation marks and tells who are what you are quoting.

15. Time to write your report. First sort your cards based on the topic or question that it answers. Eliminate cards that do not help to answer one of your research questions. Use your cards to create an outline. Then combine information from the facts cards to begin writing the body of your report.