index cards for research papers

Understanding and solving intractable resource governance problems.

Conferences and Talks
Exploring models of electronic wastes governance in the United States and Mexico: Recycling, risk and environmental justice
The Collaborative Resource Governance Lab (CoReGovLab)
Water Conflicts in Mexico: A Multi-Method Approach
Past projects
Publications and scholarly output
Research Interests
Higher education and academia
Public administration, public policy and public management research
Research-oriented blog posts
Stuff about research methods
Research trajectory
Publications
Developing a Writing Practice
Outlining Papers
Publishing strategies
Writing a book manuscript
Writing a research paper, book chapter or dissertation/thesis chapter
Everything Notebook
Literature Reviews
Note-Taking Techniques
Organization and Time Management
Planning Methods and Approaches
Qualitative Methods, Qualitative Research, Qualitative Analysis
Reading Notes of Books
Reading Strategies
Teaching Public Policy, Public Administration and Public Management
My Reading Notes of Books on How to Write a Doctoral Dissertation/How to Conduct PhD Research
Writing a Thesis (Undergraduate or Masters) or a Dissertation (PhD)
Reading strategies for undergraduates
Social Media in Academia
Resources for Job Seekers in the Academic Market
Writing Groups and Retreats
Regional Development (Fall 2015)
State and Local Government (Fall 2015)
Public Policy Analysis (Fall 2016)
Regional Development (Fall 2016)
Public Policy Analysis (Fall 2018)
Public Policy Analysis (Fall 2019)
Public Policy Analysis (Spring 2016)
POLI 351 Environmental Policy and Politics (Summer Session 2011)
POLI 352 Comparative Politics of Public Policy (Term 2)
POLI 375A Global Environmental Politics (Term 2)
POLI 350A Public Policy (Term 2)
POLI 351 Environmental Policy and Politics (Term 1)
POLI 332 Latin American Environmental Politics (Term 2, Spring 2012)
POLI 350A Public Policy (Term 1, Sep-Dec 2011)
POLI 375A Global Environmental Politics (Term 1, Sep-Dec 2011)

Note-taking techniques I: The index card method

I graduated with my PhD years ago and I’ve been a professor for a pretty long time, so I thought that maybe I needed to settle down and clarify my ideas of the process I follow to take notes. In this series, I will share my processes to take notes using different methods. The very first method I use is the Index Cards Method. Other authors have referred to the process Niklas Luhman followed ( Zettelkasten ). Hawk Sugano has shared his Pile of Index Cards (PoIC) method as well. Mine isn’t all that sophisticated, and since I combine my very analog Everything Notebook and notes in index cards with digital synthetic notes , memorandums , Conceptual Synthesis Excel Dumps , and Evernote , I don’t know that my system would be extraordinarily systematic. But here goes more or less how it works.

People have asked me if you could digitize (or make analogous) all my processes. Of course. What I call synthetic notes (summaries of articles, books) can be done in traditional index cards. And the reverse, you can digitally store these in Evernote. Make sure to note page number pic.twitter.com/6MyK9MWtyU — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 26, 2018

I produce at least 5 different types of index cards, which are more or less the same categories other folks have all agreed upon. Here are some resources on taking notes in index cards that I found useful as I was trying to make sense of my own system.

1. The Direct Quotations Index Card I use index cards to write direct quotations (with page number and full bibliographic reference) from articles, books and book chapters I find useful. This card is the analog equivalent of my Synthetic Note method .

I am more used to writing index cards of books than of articles. I usually write important quotations but other times I summarize chapters or the entire book. pic.twitter.com/tMUdmyabR3 — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 27, 2018

2. The Bibliographic Reference Index Card It’s rare that I do this one anymore because I have been using Mendeley and EndNote as reference managers for more than 15 years, but this was my study method and strategy to conduct research before: I would write the full bibliographic reference in a 3″x5″ index card. Then I would write a small paragraph on the back summarizing the entire book, or at least, the main idea behind it.

This is an example of “bibliographic index card” – it’s basically the full citation plus keywords. It is VERY rare that I use an index card purely for bibliographic data as I use Mendeley, but it’s still worth discussing. pic.twitter.com/w5MZ6fTfMZ — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 29, 2018

3. The One Idea Index Card I find that these are useful for when you’re studying for an exam, testing your ability to recall, or when you’re giving a talk without reading a set of Power Point slides (e.g. when you’re leading a seminar, using each card as a theme for the seminar). I also use them to remind me of key authors who discuss particular themes and topics.

Some people use the 3"x5" index cards to write one major idea (theme) and a couple of sentences about it, like I do: pic.twitter.com/kDiDFgBjDZ — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 28, 2018

As I said on Twitter, this is very rare for me to do, and I usually combine my own types.

Some people recommend writing JUST ONE IDEA/quotation per index card. I don’t do this. I use 1 index card per article, and per book chapter. If a book has 9 chapters I write one for each chapter (more of chapter is very dense). Note this paper by @rioconpiedras on nonhuman agency pic.twitter.com/IFbCMpNB28 — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 27, 2018

4. The Summary Index Card This type of index card is a summary of a particular journal article, or book chapter, more than of an entire book.

I also write index cards of journal articles, particularly when I feel that they’re particularly powerful or relevant to my research. As you can see, this index card shows my notes of this article rather than direct quotations. pic.twitter.com/XTUHzmQdpJ — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 27, 2018

5. The Combined (or Content) Index Card

As its name indicates, the Content Index Card is a combination type of index card that includes direct quotations, draft notes and ideas, conceptual diagrams, etc. that are all associated with the main article, book chapter or book discussed in the index card. I use larger (5″ x 8″) index cards for those cases.

This is what some people call a “combined” or “content” index card. Note I included direct quotations (with page #s ) from Debbané and @rkeil ’s paper but I *also* write my own thoughts (e.g. “this paper converses with @andrewbiro and his social construction of scale paper” pic.twitter.com/dgkhh9lgpB — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 27, 2018

There are obvious questions that people ask me, so I’ll try to answer them here.

1. Can you do digital index cards? For sure. You can either do combinations as I do (physical index cards, then row entry in a Conceptual Synthesis Excel Dump row), or all digital (either in Evernote or simply in Excel, or synthetic notes or memorandums in Word or Scrivener as you may choose).

You can do digital or analog, or a combination, whatever suits you best. I combine, because I find that as I write on an index card, by hand, new ideas come to me. When I read full books, I write copious synthetic notes and then write a row entry in my Excel Dump. pic.twitter.com/IRCZSzgBls — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 26, 2018

When I designed my Conceptual Synthesis Excel Dump, I made sure to include a column with the Quotation and another with the Page Number. This is important because as we know, plagiarism is bad, terrible citation practice, and can lead to degree termination/career ending! pic.twitter.com/VDGgjAjZ2z — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 26, 2018

2. How do you store and classify index cards? I usually have boxes that fit my index cards, and add a plastic tab with the reference in Author (Date) format. Other people use different classification systems (by keyword, by topic, by author). I just recommend that the process be consistent across.

If you like the index card by hand method you may want to use plastic tabs and label each index card and store them in a box pic.twitter.com/QxNy1HW7Gr — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 27, 2018

3. When should I use memorandums and synthetic notes and Excel Dumps, when should I write in my Everything Notebook, when should I craft index cards?

This question has such a personal preference type of answer.

If I'm on a plane to Santiago, 8 hours by plane, my laptop battery lasts 3 hours, no chargers on plane – if I want to be awake and work on the plane, I need to write by hand, either in my Everything Notebook or on index cards. Also, if I feel mentally blocked, I write index cards — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 27, 2018

I'm always stressed and under pressure to write, submit, revise and publish papers, but I have slowly come to the realization that it's better to let my thinking simmer and evolve, and mull ideas over, and writing by hand helps me do exactly that. So, yes, I do write index cards. — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 27, 2018

Can all this process be digital? Sure thing. Even a combination can work. You could scan your index cards into an optical character recognition thingie and store the digital content into Evernote, tag it and easily search through your bank of notes. Or you could simply type them. — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 27, 2018

4. What size of index card should I use? This is again, a personal preference as I note in my tweet below.

I have index cards in 3 sizes: 3”x5” (for quick ideas, but could be used as bibliographic reference cards), 4”x6” (for quotations from journal articles and summaries), and 5”x8” (for full books or very dense articles and book chapters) pic.twitter.com/L9qZYStZa2 — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) November 27, 2018

I do teach my students the Index Card Method of Note-Taking because I believe it is important to learn the old-school techniques, but also because I find that it helps me, and I strongly believe that if it helps ME, then it may also help THEM. In subsequent blog posts I’ll share some of my note-taking techniques when using my Everything Notebook, and other types of media.

You may be interested in my other posts on taking notes, which you can access by clicking on this link .

You can share this blog post on the following social networks by clicking on their icon.

Posted in academia , writing .

Tagged with index cards , note-taking , taking notes .

By Raul Pacheco-Vega – November 28, 2018

2 Responses

Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post .

I’m going to try this method. How do you store different sized cards? How do you find what you are looking for? Do you put tabs on them all?

Dear Dr @RaulPacheco-Vega. I would like to appreciate you for the frequent advice and for sharing useful material. To be honest, I bought index cards while I was working on my PhD but I never used them. I think it was because I was unfamiliar. After going through this blog post, I am thinking of getting them and I am hoping to share my experience soon

About Raul Pacheco-Vega, PhD

Find me online.

My Research Output

Google Scholar Profile
Academia.Edu
ResearchGate

My Social Networks

Polycentricity Network

Follow me on Twitter:

Proudly powered by WordPress and Carrington .

Carrington Theme by Crowd Favorite

Clerc Center | PK-12 & Outreach
KDES | PK-8th Grade School (D.C. Metro Area)
MSSD | 9th-12th Grade School (Nationwide)
Gallaudet University Regional Centers
Parent Advocacy App
K-12 ASL Content Standards
National Resources
Youth Programs
Academic Bowl
Battle Of The Books
National Literary Competition
Youth Debate Bowl
Youth Esports Series
Bison Sports Camp
Discover College and Careers (DC²)
Financial Wizards
Immerse Into ASL
Alumni Relations
Alumni Association
Homecoming Weekend
Class Giving
Get Tickets / BisonPass
Sport Calendars
Cross Country
Swimming & Diving
Track & Field
Indoor Track & Field
Cheerleading
Winter Cheerleading
Human Resources
Plan a Visit
Request Info

Areas of Study
Accessible Human-Centered Computing
American Sign Language
Art and Media Design
Communication Studies
Criminal Justice
Data Science
Deaf Studies
Early Intervention Studies Graduate Programs
Educational Neuroscience
Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences
Information Technology
International Development
Interpretation and Translation
Linguistics
Mathematics
Philosophy and Religion
Physical Education & Recreation
Public Affairs
Public Health
Sexuality and Gender Studies
Social Work
Theatre and Dance
World Languages and Cultures
B.A. in American Sign Language
B.A. in Biology
B.A. in Communication Studies
B.A. in Communication Studies for Online Degree Completion Program
B.A. in Deaf Studies
B.A. in Deaf Studies for Online Degree Completion Program
B.A. in Education with a Specialization in Early Childhood Education
B.A. in Education with a Specialization in Elementary Education
B.A. in English
B.A. in English for Online Degree Completion Program
B.A. in Government
B.A. in Government with a Specialization in Law
B.A. in History
B.A. in Interdisciplinary Spanish
B.A. in International Studies
B.A. in Mathematics
B.A. in Philosophy
B.A. in Psychology
B.A. in Psychology for Online Degree Completion Program
B.A. in Social Work (BSW)
B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology
B.A. in Theatre Arts: Production/Performance
B.A. or B.S. in Education with a Specialization in Secondary Education: Science, English, Mathematics or Social Studies
B.S. in Accounting
B.S. in Accounting for Online Degree Completion Program
B.S. in Biology
B.S. in Business Administration
B.S. in Business Administration for Online Degree Completion Program
B.S. in Data Science
B.S. in Information Technology
B.S. in Mathematics
B.S. in Physical Education and Recreation
B.S. in Public Health
B.S. in Risk Management and Insurance
General Education
Honors Program
Peace Corps Prep program
Self-Directed Major
M.A. in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
M.A. in Counseling: School Counseling
M.A. in Deaf Education
M.A. in Deaf Education Studies
M.A. in Deaf Studies: Cultural Studies
M.A. in Deaf Studies: Language and Human Rights
M.A. in Early Childhood Education and Deaf Education
M.A. in Early Intervention Studies
M.A. in Elementary Education and Deaf Education
M.A. in International Development
M.A. in Interpretation: Combined Interpreting Practice and Research
M.A. in Interpretation: Interpreting Research
M.A. in Linguistics
M.A. in Secondary Education and Deaf Education
M.A. in Sign Language Education
M.S. in Accessible Human-Centered Computing
M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology
Master of Public Administration
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Au.D. in Audiology
Ed.D. in Transformational Leadership and Administration in Deaf Education
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Ph.D. in Critical Studies in the Education of Deaf Learners
Ph.D. in Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences
Ph.D. in Linguistics
Ph.D. in Translation and Interpreting Studies
Ph.D. Program in Educational Neuroscience (PEN)
Psy.D. in School Psychology
Individual Courses and Training
National Caregiver Certification Course
CASLI Test Prep Courses
Course Sections
Certificates
Certificate in Sexuality and Gender Studies
Educating Deaf Students with Disabilities (online, post-bachelor’s)
American Sign Language and English Bilingual Early Childhood Deaf Education: Birth to 5 (online, post-bachelor’s)
Early Intervention Studies
Certificate in American Sign Language and English Bilingual Early Childhood Deaf Education: Birth to 5
Online Degree Programs
ODCP Minor in Communication Studies
ODCP Minor in Deaf Studies
ODCP Minor in Psychology
ODCP Minor in Writing
University Capstone Honors for Online Degree Completion Program

Quick Links

PK-12 & Outreach
NSO Schedule

The Note Card System

202.448-7036

When you are faced with starting a research paper, the most important part of researching and beginning to write is organizing the information and your thoughts. If you are not organized, it will take considerably more time to write the paper.

To make it easy on yourself, you can use an index card system as you gather information. With this method, you categorize the information you find by topic. For each topic, you could have any number of cards from several different sources. Later, as you write your paper, each card topic becomes a body paragraph (supporting idea) in your paper.

Researching

As you find interesting facts about your topic during your research, you should write them down. Each sentence or idea that you find should be paraphrased (summarized in your own words), and written on a card. In order to keep your ideas in order, and to remember where you found the ideas, there are four items that you should include on the index card, as you will see below.

Although it may seem tedious to give each note card a topic name, it serves two purposes:

The source title is the name of the book, magazine, website, etc., in which you found the information. In the previous example, the source was given a number , instead of writing out the entire title. You could write out the title on each card, or simply list your sources on a separate sheet of paper, like the example here. Number your sources on this list, and then use the numbers on the note cards to specify which source provided which fact.

Sample Source List

Remember, this is not a complete works cited, bibliography, or reference page. You will need to add the publication information and use the correct citation format (APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, etc.) for the formal works cited page.

Item number three is the paraphrased information that you found. It is helpful to paraphrase , or summarize , your research on the index cards while you are taking notes. If you are consistent in paraphrasing at this stage, then you will be certain not to accidentally plagiarize someone else’s work. You will also have less work to do when you are actually writing the paper. the image of a notecard with a mark on page.

It is important to be accurate with the page numbers on your note cards, as you will need them for citations throughout your research paper. Be sure you know which form of citation your teacher requires. (For information on citing your sources, look at English Works! handouts on MLA, APA, and Chicago/Turabian Style citations).

Once you have written the information down on the note cards, you only need to go back and organize your cards by topic. Group together all the cards that have the same topic (i.e. all the cards titled: “ Hughes’ Poetry ” should be together). When you finish, you should have your cards in piles, one topic per pile. You can have any number of piles and any number of cards in each pile. The length and detail of your paper will determine how many piles and cards you have.

Your piles may look like:

Make an Outline and Start Writing

Once you have separated your cards into piles, each topic pile should become a body paragraph in your paper. That is the key to this system. If every topic directly supports your thesis statement, then each topic pile should become a supporting idea, body paragraph, or part of a paragraph in your paper.

But before you actually begin writing, you should make an outline of the order you want to present these topics in your paper. (For help making an outline, see the English Works web page on Pre-writing and Outlines ). Once the outline is complete, use your note cards as guides and begin writing.

For further help on writing a research paper, refer to the English Works! web page Process of Doing a Research Paper , Guide to Developing Thesis Statements , and/or Guide to Writing Introductions and Conclusions .

202-448-7036

At a Glance

Quick Facts
University Leadership
History & Traditions
Accreditation
Consumer Information
Our 10-Year Vision: The Gallaudet Promise
Annual Report of Achievements (ARA)
The Signing Ecosystem
Not Your Average University

Our Community

Library & Archives
Technology Support
Interpreting Requests
Ombuds Support
Health and Wellness Programs
Profile & Web Edits

Visit Gallaudet

Explore Our Campus
Virtual Tour
Maps & Directions
Shuttle Bus Schedule
Kellogg Conference Hotel
Welcome Center
National Deaf Life Museum
Apple Guide Maps

Engage Today

Work at Gallaudet / Clerc Center
Social Media Channels
University Wide Events
Sponsorship Requests
Data Requests
Media Inquiries
Gallaudet Today Magazine
Giving at Gallaudet
Financial Aid
Registrar’s Office
Residence Life & Housing
Safety & Security
Undergraduate Admissions
Graduate Admissions
University Communications
Clerc Center

Gallaudet University, chartered in 1864, is a private university for deaf and hard of hearing students.

Accessibility
Cookie Consent Notice
Privacy Policy
File a Report

800 Florida Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

/ Homework Help
/ Writing Skills

How to Write a Research Paper: Note Cards

–

Back from the library and ready to go

Read your sources and take notes.

After you've gathered your sources, begin reading and taking notes.

Use 3 x 5 index cards, one fact or idea per card. This way related ideas from different sources can be easily grouped together or rearranged.
On each index card, be sure to note the source, including the volume number (if there is one) and the page number. If you wind up using that idea in your paper, you will have the information about the source ready to put in your footnote or endnote.
If you copy something directly from a book without putting it in your own words, put quotation marks around it so that you know it is an exact quotation. This will help you to avoid plagiarism . (For more, see What is Plagiarism? ).
Before you sit down to write your rough draft, organize your note cards by subtopic (you can write headings on the cards) and make an outline.

Check out the differences between these two note cards for a research paper on baseball:

Good note card:

WB, 2, p.133

Many Americans could name every major league player, his batting average, and other accomplishments.

(What batting records were set?)

Bad note card:

Ty Cobb (Detroit Tigers) outfielder one of the great all-time players. Another star was Honus Wagner, a bowlegged shortstop.

"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball."

Homework Center Home »

Geography |
Language Arts |
Mathematics |
Social Studies
How to Write a Research Paper: Footnotes and Endnotes

Spartanburg Community College Library
SCC Research Guides

Organizing Your Research

Research Note Cards

You may have used Research Note Cards in the past to help your organize information for a research paper. Research Note Cards have you write out quotes or paraphrased information on a note card and include information such as the topic of the source and where you found the source.

There are five parts to Research Note Cards:

This is going to be the main idea from your research assignment that your quote will connect to. Creating and organizing your information will make it easier to focus your research and complete your assignment.
This will be the name of the source that your information is from.
This will be either the quote or your paraphrased sentence(s) from the source. What evidence in this source did you find that will support your thesis statement?
This is the page number that you found the quote on. If your source does not have page numbers (like an internet source)you can either leave this blank of include the section of the online source that you found this information in.
Include the complete citation for your source on the back of the note card.

*Note: It is important to only put one quote or paraphrase per note card.

In the top left corner of the note card is the topic that the quote relates to in the research paper.

Underneath the topic in the top left corner of the note card is an abbreviated name of the source this quote came from.

In the center of the note card is the quote/paraphrased information from the source.

In the bottom right corner of the note card is the page number the information came from.

On the back of the note card is the full citation for the source.

*Note: Keep in mind, your note card might not be organized the exact same way as the example. That is okay, as long as you make sure you have all the information needed listed on the note card.

Because the quotes and paraphrases are on their own note card, you can group and reorder them in the way you want them to appear in your research paper.

Use the topic at the top of each note card to group cards by subject.
Put the groups in the order they should appear in your paper to support your thesis.
Within each group of note cards, order the note cards in the way they'll appear in each paragraph of your paper.
Think about the order information needs to be presented in order to build a case for your thesis.

Once everything is organized by topic and in order, you will have created a map or guide to follow when writing your paper. It may also allow you to spot holes in your reasoning or evidence -- you can then return to your sources (or find additional sources) to fill in the needed information.

Work Cited

"The Note Card System." Gallaudet University , 2021, www.gallaudet.edu/tutorial-and-instructional-programs/english-center/the-process-and-type-of-writing/pre-writing-writing-and-revising/the-note-card-system/.

<< Previous: Home
Next: Source Table >>
Source Table
Research Outlines
Recommended Resources

Questions? Ask a Librarian

SCC Librarian and student working together

Last Updated: Jul 19, 2024 1:22 PM
URL: https://libguides.sccsc.edu/organizeresearch

Giles Campus | 864.592.4764 | Toll Free 866.542.2779 | Contact Us

Info for Library Staff | Guide Search

Return to SCC Website

How to Take Notes

How to Use Sources Effectively

Most articles in periodicals and some of the book sources you use, especially those from the children’s room at the library, are probably short enough that you can read them from beginning to end in a reasonable amount of time. Others, however, may be too long for you to do that, and some are likely to cover much more than just your topic. Use the table of contents and the index in a longer book to find the parts of the book that contain information on your topic. When you turn to those parts, skim them to make sure they contain information you can use. Feel free to skip parts that don’t relate to your questions, so you can get the information you need as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Academic Writing, Editing, Proofreading, And Problem Solving Services

Get 10% off with 24start discount code, methods for note taking.

Don’t—start reading a book and writing down information on a sheet of notebook paper. If you make this mistake, you’ll end up with a lot of disorganized scribbling that may be practically useless when you’re ready to outline your research paper and write a first draft. Some students who tried this had to cut up their notes into tiny strips, spread them out on the floor, and then tape the strips back together in order to put their information in an order that made sense. Other students couldn’t even do that—without going to a photocopier first—because they had written on both sides of the paper. To avoid that kind of trouble, use the tried-and-true method students have been using for years—take notes on index cards.

Taking Notes on Index Cards

As you begin reading your sources, use either 3″ x 5″ or 4″ x 6″ index cards to write down information you might use in your paper. The first thing to remember is: Write only one idea on each card. Even if you write only a few words on one card, don’t write anything about a new idea on that card. Begin a new card instead. Also, keep all your notes for one card only on that card. It’s fine to write on both the front and back of a card, but don’t carry the same note over to a second card. If you have that much to write, you probably have more than one idea.

After you complete a note card, write the source number of the book you used in the upper left corner of the card. Below the source number, write the exact number or numbers of the pages on which you found the information. In the upper right corner, write one or two words that describe the specific subject of the card. These words are like a headline that describes the main information on the card. Be as clear as possible because you will need these headlines later.

After you finish taking notes from a source, write a check mark on your source card as a reminder that you’ve gone through that source thoroughly and written down all the important information you found there. That way, you won’t wonder later whether you should go back and read that source again.

Taking Notes on Your Computer

Another way to take notes is on your computer. In order to use this method, you have to rely completely on sources that you can take home, unless you have a laptop computer that you can take with you to the library.

If you do choose to take notes on your computer, think of each entry on your screen as one in a pack of electronic note cards. Write your notes exactly as if you were using index cards. Be sure to leave space between each note so that they don’t run together and look confusing when you’re ready to use them. You might want to insert a page break between each “note card.”

When deciding whether to use note cards or a computer, remember one thing—high-tech is not always better. Many students find low-tech index cards easier to organize and use than computer notes that have to be moved around by cutting and pasting. In the end, you’re the one who knows best how you work, so the choice is up to you.

How to Take Effective Notes

Knowing the best format for notes is important, but knowing what to write on your cards or on your computer is essential. Strong notes are the backbone of a good research paper.

Not Too Much or Too Little

When researching, you’re likely to find a lot of interesting information that you never knew before. That’s great! You can never learn too much. But for now your goal is to find information you can use in your research paper. Giving in to the temptation to take notes on every detail you find in your research can lead to a huge volume of notes—many of which you won’t use at all. This can become difficult to manage at later stages, so limit yourself to information that really belongs in your paper. If you think a piece of information might be useful but you aren’t sure, ask yourself whether it helps answer one of your research questions.

Writing too much is one pitfall; writing too little is another. Consider this scenario: You’ve been working in the library for a couple of hours, and your hand grows tired from writing. You come to a fairly complicated passage about how to tell if a dog is angry, so you say to yourself, “I don’t have to write all this down. I’ll remember.” But you won’t remember—especially after all the reading and note taking you have been doing. If you find information you know you want to use later on, get it down. If you’re too tired, take a break or take off the rest of the day and return tomorrow when you’re fresh.

To Note or Not to Note: That is the Question

What if you come across an idea or piece of information that you’ve already found in another source? Should you write it down again? You don’t want to end up with a whole stack of cards with the same information on each one. On the other hand, knowing that more than one source agrees on a particular point is helpful. Here’s the solution: Simply add the number of the new source to the note card that already has the same piece of information written on it. Take notes on both sources. In your paper, you may want to come right out and say that sources disagree on this point. You may even want to support one opinion or the other—if you think you have a strong enough argument based on facts from your research.

Paraphrasing—Not Copying

Have you ever heard the word plagiarism? It means copying someone else’s words and claiming them as your own. It’s really a kind of stealing, and there are strict rules against it.

The trouble is many students plagiarize without meaning to do so. The problem starts at the note-taking stage. As a student takes notes, he or she may simply copy the exact words from a source. The student doesn’t put quotation marks around the words to show that they are someone else’s. When it comes time to draft the paper, the student doesn’t even remember that those words were copied from a source, and the words find their way into the draft and then into the final paper. Without intending to do so, that student has plagiarized, or stolen, another person’s words.

The way to avoid plagiarism is to paraphrase, or write down ideas in your own words rather than copy them exactly. Look again at the model note cards in this chapter, and notice that the words in the notes are not the same as the words from the sources. Some of the notes are not even written in complete sentences. Writing in incomplete sentences is one way to make sure you don’t copy—and it saves you time, energy, and space. When you write a draft of your research paper, of course, you will use complete sentences.

How to Organize Your Notes

Once you’ve used all your sources and taken all your notes, what do you have? You have a stack of cards (or if you’ve taken notes on a computer, screen after screen of entries) about a lot of stuff in no particular order. Now you need to organize your notes in order to turn them into the powerful tool that helps you outline and draft your research paper. Following are some ideas on how to do this, so get your thinking skills in gear to start doing the job for your own paper.

Organizing Note Cards

The beauty of using index cards to take notes is that you can move them around until they are in the order you want. You don’t have to go through complicated cutting-and-pasting procedures, as you would on your computer, and you can lay your cards out where you can see them all at once. One word of caution—work on a surface where your cards won’t fall on the floor while you’re organizing them.

Start by sorting all your cards with the same headlines into the same piles, since all of these note cards are about the same basic idea. You don’t have to worry about keeping notes from the same sources together because each card is marked with a number identifying its source.

Next, arrange the piles of cards so that the order the ideas appear in makes sense. Experts have named six basic types of order. One—or a combination of these—may work for you:

Chronological , or Time, Order covers events in the order in which they happened. This kind of order works best for papers that discuss historical events or tell about a person’s life.
Spatial Order organizes your information by its place or position. This kind of order can work for papers about geography or about how to design something—a garden, for example.
Cause and Effect discusses how one event or action leads to another. This kind of organization works well if your paper explains a scientific process or events in history.
Problem/Solution explains a problem and one or more ways in which it can be solved. You might use this type of organization for a paper about an environmental issue, such as global warming.
Compare and Contrast discusses similarities and differences between people, things, events, or ideas.
Order of Importance explains an idea, starting with its most important aspects first and ending with the least important aspects—or the other way around.

After you determine your basic organization, arrange your piles accordingly. You’ll end up with three main piles—one for sounds, one for facial expressions, and one for body language. Go through each pile and put the individual cards in an order that makes sense. Don’t forget that you can move your cards around, trying out different organizations, until you are satisfied that one idea flows logically into another. Use a paper clip or rubber band to hold the piles together, and then stack them in the order you choose. Put a big rubber band around the whole stack so the cards stay in order.

Organizing Notes on Your Computer

If you’ve taken notes on a computer, organize them in much the same way you would organize index cards. The difference is that you use the cut-and-paste functions on your computer rather than moving cards around. The advantage is that you end up with something that’s already typed—something you can eventually turn into an outline without having to copy anything over. The disadvantage is that you may have more trouble moving computer notes around than note cards: You can’t lay your notes out and look at them all at once, and you may get confused when trying to find where information has moved within a long file on your computer screen.

However, be sure to back up your note cards on an external storage system of your choice. In addition, print hard copies as you work. This way, you won’t lose your material if your hard drive crashes or the file develops a glitch.

Developing a Working Bibliography

When you start your research, your instructor may ask you to prepare a working bibliography listing the sources you plan to use. Your working bibliography differs from your Works Cited page in its scope: your working bibliography is much larger. Your Works Cited page will include only those sources you have actually cited in your research paper.

To prepare a working bibliography, arrange your note cards in the order required by your documentation system (such as MLA and APA) and keyboard the entries following the correct form. If you have created your bibliography cards on the computer, you just have to sort them, usually into alphabetical order.

Developing an Annotated Bibliography

Some instructors may ask you to create an annotated bibliography as a middle step between your working bibliography and your Works Cited page. An annotated bibliography is the same as a working bibliography except that it includes comments about the sources. These notes enable your instructor to assess your progress. They also help you evaluate your information more easily. For example, you might note that some sources are difficult to find, hard to read, or especially useful.

ORDER HIGH QUALITY CUSTOM PAPER

20 min read

Share this post, published august 9, 2023 in general, the ultimate guide to using index cards for studying, by scholarly, introduction.

Index cards are a simple yet powerful tool that can revolutionize your studying experience. In this ultimate guide, we will explore everything you need to know about using index cards for studying. From their history and benefits to best practices and techniques, this comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge to make the most out of index cards for your academic success.

History of Index Cards

Past state of studying.

In the past, students relied on traditional methods such as textbooks, handwritten notes, and flashcards to study. While these methods were effective to some extent, they had their limitations. Students often struggled to organize their notes and review them efficiently. Flashcards, although useful for memorization, lacked the ability to provide a comprehensive understanding of complex topics.

Current State of Studying

With the advent of technology, studying has undergone a transformation. Digital note-taking apps and online study platforms have become popular among students. While these tools offer convenience and accessibility, they may not always be the most effective option. Index cards, on the other hand, provide a tangible and customizable study tool that stimulates active learning and enhances retention.

Future State of Studying

Looking ahead, index cards are likely to continue playing a crucial role in studying. With advancements in AI and online learning platforms, we can expect to see innovative features that integrate index cards into digital environments. AI-powered algorithms could analyze and optimize study patterns, providing personalized feedback and recommendations. The future of studying with index cards holds immense potential for enhanced learning experiences.

Benefits of Using Index Cards

Enhanced Active Recall: Index cards promote active recall, a technique proven to enhance memory retention. When you test your knowledge by self-quizzing with index cards, you actively engage with the material, reinforcing your understanding and retrieval strength.

Improved Organization: Index cards provide a compact and portable system for organizing your study material. By condensing information onto individual cards, you can easily sort and arrange them based on different subjects or topics.

Personalized Learning: With index cards, you have the freedom to create customized study aids. You can tailor the content, format, and level of detail on each card to match your learning style and preferences.

Versatility and Flexibility: Index cards are versatile and can be used for various study techniques such as summarization, keyword highlighting, and concept mapping. Their flexibility allows you to adapt them to different subjects and learning objectives.

Long-Term Retention: The repetitive nature of using index cards promotes spaced repetition, a technique that enhances long-term memory retention. By reviewing the cards at spaced intervals, you reinforce the learned information and prevent forgetting over time.

Significance of Index Cards in Studying

Index cards have stood the test of time and remain a staple study tool for several reasons. They offer a tangible form of note-taking that engages the learner actively. When creating index cards, students are forced to synthesize information and condense it into key points, which aids in comprehension and retention.

Moreover, index cards can be easily carried around, allowing students to study anytime and anywhere without the need for electronic devices or internet access. Their simplicity and versatility make them suitable for all subjects and learning styles, making them an invaluable asset for students of all ages and educational backgrounds.

Best Practices for Using Index Cards

Create Clear and Concise Cards: Each index card should focus on a single concept or idea. Use bullet points, keywords, or diagrams to convey information effectively.

Use Color Coding: Use different colors to categorize cards based on subjects, topics, or levels of difficulty. This visual cue helps you organize and retrieve information efficiently.

Test Yourself Regularly: Regular self-testing with index cards promotes active recall and reinforces learning. Create a systematic study schedule to ensure consistent practice.

Incorporate Visuals and Diagrams: Visual aids and diagrams can enhance understanding and memory. Use drawings, charts, or graphs on your index cards to represent complex concepts.

Review and Optimize: Periodically review your index cards to refresh your memory. Identify areas of weakness or gaps in knowledge and revise your cards accordingly.

Pros and Cons of Using Index Cards

Portable and accessible
Encourage active learning
Promote organization and synthesis of information
Foster long-term retention
Customizable to individual learning preferences
Limited storage capacity
Prone to loss or damage
Time-consuming to create and maintain
May not suit all learning styles
Not easily shareable or collaborative

Comparison of Index Card Tools

There are several index card tools available, both physical and digital, that can enhance your studying. Here are some popular options:

Physical Index Cards : Traditional index cards offer a tactile experience and can be arranged and organized manually. They are inexpensive and do not require any electronic devices.

Digital Flashcard Apps : Apps like Anki, Quizlet, and Brainscape provide digital flashcards that replicate the experience of using physical index cards. They offer additional features such as automated spaced repetition and collaborative sharing.

Note-Taking Apps with Index Card Functionality : Some note-taking apps, like Evernote and Microsoft OneNote, include index card templates or features that allow you to create digital index cards within your notes.

Online Study Platforms : Websites like StudyBlue and GoConqr provide online platforms where you can create and share digital index cards with other students. These platforms often offer additional study resources and features.

AI-Powered Study Tools : Emerging AI technologies are integrating index cards and intelligent algorithms to optimize studying. These tools provide personalized recommendations, adaptive quizzes, and advanced analytics.

Effective Study Methods with Index Cards

Here are some effective study methods that you can implement using index cards:

Keyword Highlighting : Create index cards with keywords or key concepts highlighted. Use these cards to reinforce your understanding of essential information.

Summarization : Write concise summaries of important topics on index cards. This method helps you distill complex information into manageable chunks.

Question and Answer : Formulate questions related to your study material on one side of the index card and provide answers on the other side. This method promotes active recall and self-testing.

Concept Mapping : Use index cards to create visual representations of key concepts or relationships between different topics. This method helps you visualize the interconnectedness of ideas.

Spaced Repetition : Adopt a spaced repetition schedule to review your index cards at specific intervals. Gradually increase the spacing between review sessions to reinforce long-term retention.

Impact of AI on Index Card Studying

Ai applications.

Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize index card studying. AI algorithms can analyze studying patterns, identify knowledge gaps, and provide personalized recommendations for effective studying using index cards.

AI Techniques

Machine learning algorithms can leverage data from students' index card usage to optimize the learning process. Natural language processing techniques can extract relevant information from index cards, aiding in automatic summarization or generating personalized quizzes.

AI Benefits

The integration of AI in index card studying can bring several benefits, including adaptive learning, intelligent feedback, and personalized study plans. AI algorithms can adapt to individual learning styles and optimize the presentation of index card content based on each student's needs.

AI Challenges

While AI presents promising opportunities for index card studying, there are challenges to overcome. Ensuring data privacy and security, mitigating algorithmic biases, and maintaining a balance between personalized recommendations and over-reliance on AI are among the key challenges.

AI Potential Online Apps for Index Card Studying

SmarterIndexCards : This AI-powered online app analyzes your index cards and provides personalized study plans based on your learning objectives.

CardMaster : An AI-based study app that utilizes natural language processing to generate interactive quizzes from your index cards, enabling active recall and personalized feedback.

Acepedia : A comprehensive AI-powered platform that combines index card studying with collaborative features, allowing students to create and share digital index cards in study groups.

IntelliMemo : An AI-assisted note-taking and index card app that automatically extracts key information from your notes and generates index cards for efficient studying.

SmartPrep : This AI-driven study platform incorporates index cards, adaptive quizzes, and data analytics to optimize your studying and track your progress.

In conclusion, index cards are a versatile and effective tool for studying. Their benefits include enhanced active recall, improved organization, personalized learning, versatility, and long-term retention. Despite the rise of digital study tools, index cards continue to hold significance due to their tangible nature and ability to engage learners actively.

By following best practices and utilizing effective study methods with index cards, you can maximize your learning potential. Furthermore, AI technologies have the potential to enhance index card studying by providing personalized recommendations, intelligent feedback, and adaptive learning features. The future of studying with index cards looks bright, offering students new opportunities for success.

Keep Reading

Revolutionize Your Learning: The Impact of AI-Powered Technology

Posted November 15, 2023

Next-Gen Learning: Embrace AI-Powered Education Now

Harnessing AI: Tools and Tips to Accelerate Your AI Learning

AI Education: How to Learn AI With Confidence and Ease

Try scholarly.

It's completely free, simple to use, and easy to get started.

Join thousands of students and educators today.

Are you a school or organization? Contact us

ePort :: SJSU School of Information
Extracurriculars
Curriculum Vitae
Sara’s Blog
Metadata Design
System Architecture
Copyright Toolkit
Asset Resources
Information Literacy

Digital Index Cards for Research Papers

Barreling into grad school in the phase of life when I’m also juggling career and family has been no easy feat.

My study skills were rusty, and at the forefront were my research skills. I mean, I hadn’t assembled a research paper since the years when standard operating procedure dictated that you dust off the ol’ index cards, copy over your snippets from the text, organize them by highlighter, then spread them out and assemble them into something meaningful.

I was fully expecting that things would have changed in the [hrm] decades since I’d last gone through this practice, but when I set out to do my first Literature Review that first semester I was deflated to see that while the churning digital age had made most mundane tasks less of a burden, the index card dance seemed to still be the status quo on research paper assembly.

ENTER AIRTABLE

I set out to find a better method that would shave some time off the inevitable busy-work related to school, and I failed on a few strategies before I fell in love with the Airtable system . If you don’t already have an Airtable account (the free level is fine for this), go ahead and open one up, then copy this Base template into your account.

Using the Template

1. make a fresh copy.

Keep your template base intact by always making a copy for each research project!

2. Customize it for your Project

First thing’s first, go ahead and rename the tables so that it’s apparent what project you’re putting together.

On the first table, replace the [Class] placeholder with the name of the course your project is for, and on the second table replace the [Assignment] placeholder with the actual assignment name. You’ll be glad you did that down the road.

3. Enter your sources

4. provide context , use the thing, 1. launch the form.

Clip : paste in the text from the article.
Source : click in the field and select from the articles you entered as your sources
Page : record the page you took the clip from.
Direct quote : check it if you didn’t paraphrase.
Grouping : select a topic area to group by.

Put it all Together

2. Assemble

Go through and start putting your paper together. You can use direct quotes or paraphrase the quotes at your discretion. As you use the clips, check them as used. As you do this, they’ll disappear from view, so you can use this view as a checklist.

Before you check the clip as used, scroll right (depending on your screen) to get at the citations, all ready to go. Use the appropriate one for quote vs. no quote.

As you move through your article clips, you’ll undoubtedly find snippets that seemed great during the harvest, but now… meh. When you see those just click Rejected and they’ll also disappear from view. As you finish up, you can review the used and unused in dedicated views, accessible from the views dropdown.

When you’re all done, head back to the Sources table, and change it to the Used Sources view to get a list of exactly which sources you used.

This will give you a list to take back to your Zotero, BibMe, RefWorks, or whatever you’re using, and grab out the full citations for your References.

You could always add a column and put the complete citation into Airtable too, but the alternative has never been that cumbersome a process for me to bother.

If anyone takes this and improves on it, let me know! I’d love to hear about your approach.

Comments on This Post

Thank you so much for sharing. I can’t wait to test this out. I figured there must be a better way to keep track & organize the research than a basic spreadsheet. I’ve dabbled with Airtable before, so excited to see how this works out. Any additional details or tips you have figured out since you posted this?

Let us know your thoughts about this topic Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Forgot your Password?

First, please create an account

Using index cards for research, organize your information with index cards.

This video explains the benefits of taking notes on index cards.

Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Terms of Use

W.R.E. Consulting Services

Writing, Research, and Editing Since 2008

Research Note-Taking Methods Part 1: Taking Notes on Paper

It is vital, when writing, to document any material you used during the research phase. Developing a system for taking and making notes is key. Being able to report quotations and paraphrases accurately depends upon careful research note-taking methods. Here are classic paper-based note-taking methods that work well for any research project.

Note: This post contains affiliate or associate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost. I take great care only to recommend products or services I’ve used and found helpful.

Index Cards – The Classic Notetaking Method

One paper notetaking method for research projects involves using index cards. First, you obtain an index card box, dividers you’ll label corresponding to the topics you will cover, and index cards. We can use this method in two ways.

The classic way to use index cards for research notetaking is to use a single index card for each new piece of information. First, record the bibliographic information at the top of each card. This information typically includes the author(s), title, city, state, publisher, and publication date. Second, record the paraphrase or the quotation you wish to use for your paper and the page on which you found this information. Double-check the card for accuracy.

Alternate Index Cards Method

A second way to use index cards for research notetaking , especially if you plan to use multiple sources or have multiple cards for one source, is to have a key with the bibliographic information on it and use abbreviations. To do this, create a notebook page for all bibliographic material. Give each source a distinct code. Record this code at the top of each index card associated with that source.

IMPORTANT: If you use this method, ensure that the code on your index card matches the code on the key. As with the classic method, keep information to one paraphrase or quote per index card. This makes the information easily manipulated when it comes time to write. In addition, quotes from the same book may be used in different places within your paper. By keeping one bit of information per index card, you can organize quotations and paraphrases by sections.

Notebook Based Note-Taking Methods

Another method of taking notes for your research project involves using a notebook. Create a page in the notebook for each new source material. As you did with the index card method, ensure bibliographic information is at the top of the page. Then, list your notes & page numbers for citations down the page. For some, this may be a better method than the index card method, but the weakness lies in the idea that you won’t be able to shift quotes around when you’re making your outline physically.

Using a Binder for Taking Notes While Researching

The same strategy works whether you use a notebook or a binder. The advantage of using a binder over a notebook is that you can move notes around and categorize them under different dividers. This may come in handy if you’re working on a large project with many different categories of information you might want to take or make notes on. For example, if you’re writing a thesis, you may wish to categorize your notes broadly by which section of your thesis you will be using those notes for. This is my personal favorite of the paper-based note-taking methods.

The Note-taking Process

Before you do your research, it is helpful to have a preliminary outline so you can be more focused on your research. If you have an outline you’re working with, you can use sections of the outline to organize your notes, whether using an index card method, a binder, or a notebook with dividers. Whichever of the note-taking methods you choose, it’s important to be consistent.

When taking notes, not only is it essential to be accurate in copying down your bibliographic information, but it’s essential to know when looking at your notes whether that note is a direct quote, a paraphrase, or your thoughts about the passage you’ve just read. Copy the quote accurately for direct quotes, with quotations and the page number or other citation information (line number, paragraph number) you took the note from.

When I take notes, I assume anything without quotes and lacking an asterisk or other mark I’ve made to denote my thoughts is a paraphrase. With paraphrasing, you’ll also want to note down the page number or section you paraphrased from, just as you would do with a quote. Regarding my responses to notes I’ve taken or my note-making, I denote them by using three asterisks, writing my thoughts, and then closing them with three asterisks. That way, when I write using my research, I know where to cite something vs. what I am thinking.

See Part II: Electronic Note-taking Methods

While some people prefer using pen and paper to take notes, others prefer electronic methods for note-taking and note-making. To learn about digital notetaking methods, you’ll want to read Part 2: Electronic Notetaking Methods.

Three Digital Note-Taking Tools You Must Know for Research

Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism in Your Writing

How to Write a Preliminary Bibliography

[…] Pingback: Research Note-Taking Methods Part 1: Taking Notes on Paper – Writing, Research, & Editing […]

Share your thoughts Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Discover more from W.R.E. Consulting Services

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

The note card system

The note card system organizes research notes on 3×5 inch or 5×7 inch index cards. The system has been a staple for researchers for decades and is still recommended by researchers and instructors as a great way to organize your research notes. However, even if you do not use actual index cards, the method of organizing and sorting notes still proves useful.

“Good notes and critical reading lead you to more sources, inspire new ideas, and pave the way toward sound conclusions. Knowing how to take good notes saves you headaches down the road, as you’ll know when and whom to cite and have clear ideas about the relationships that exist between your documents.” — William Cronon

The Research Note Card

So how do you turn an index card into a research note card? Well, it so happens that there are simple rules to follow:

One Source Per Card

Clearly identify the source or document from which you take the note. Relating each note to a single source helps you later when it comes time to cite your sources.

One Item Per Card

Try to limit your note to a specific idea or quotation. Concise notes make it easier to rely on the note cards to create outlines and organize your writing.

Label Each Card

Keywords make it easy to track the content of your note cards. When it is time to write, the key words give you ideas on how to group and organize your cards.

Write a Complete Note

Make it clear whether a note is paraphrasing, summarizing, quoting directly, or recording your own thoughts and analysis. Taking this action greatly reduces the chances of unintentional plagiarism. Additionally, full notes helps you gather your thoughts as you write.

Use Quotation Marks When Quoting

Just in case it wasn’t already clear: use quotation marks to protect against plagiarism. This is by far the easiest what to know when the text you see came from you or from someone else.

The Source Card

Source cards are all about looking ahead. In this case, looking ahead to when it is time to write and cite sources. Recording bibliographical data before you start taking notes helps avoid plagiarism and saves time when it is time to compile a bibliography.

Making Note Cards Better

Ilaro is a database for note cards. Ilaro works to combine the best parts of the note card system with the intuitiveness and power of iOS. In addition to providing note cards and source cards, Ilaro improves the note card system with additions such as cards for both authors and subjects.

The Author Card

Author cards let you see, at a glance, the sources that person has authored or edited. Ilaro’s author card also allows you to see which subjects you have related to that author.

The card displays the relationships across all your notes in all of your projects. If you select a project, then the card displays the relationships just within the selected project. If you select more than one project, then the Ilaro author card will generate and display the combined data for every selected project!

The Subject Card

Future Ilaro development will enhance research workflows by adding key features for organizing note cards and moving your research to the writing process.

More About the Note Card System and Research Note-Taking

The Craft of Research by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 7th Edition by Kate L. Turabian.

The Study Guides and Strategies Website . The Learning Historical Research website by historian William Cronon. Purdue Online Writing Lab .

9 Organizing Research: Taking and Keeping Effective Notes

Once you’ve located the right primary and secondary sources, it’s time to glean all the information you can from them. In this chapter, you’ll first get some tips on taking and organizing notes. The second part addresses how to approach the sort of intermediary assignments (such as book reviews) that are often part of a history course.

Honing your own strategy for organizing your primary and secondary research is a pathway to less stress and better paper success. Moreover, if you can find the method that helps you best organize your notes, these methods can be applied to research you do for any of your classes.

Before the personal computing revolution, most historians labored through archives and primary documents and wrote down their notes on index cards, and then found innovative ways to organize them for their purposes. When doing secondary research, historians often utilized (and many still do) pen and paper for taking notes on secondary sources. With the advent of digital photography and useful note-taking tools like OneNote, some of these older methods have been phased out – though some persist. And, most importantly, once you start using some of the newer techniques below, you may find that you are a little “old school,” and might opt to integrate some of the older techniques with newer technology.

Whether you choose to use a low-tech method of taking and organizing your notes or an app that will help you organize your research, here are a few pointers for good note-taking.

Principles of note-taking

If you are going low-tech, choose a method that prevents a loss of any notes. Perhaps use one spiral notebook, or an accordion folder, that will keep everything for your project in one space. If you end up taking notes away from your notebook or folder, replace them—or tape them onto blank pages if you are using a notebook—as soon as possible.
If you are going high-tech, pick one application and stick with it. Using a cloud-based app, including one that you can download to your smart phone, will allow you to keep adding to your notes even if you find yourself with time to take notes unexpectedly.
When taking notes, whether you’re using 3X5 note cards or using an app described below, write down the author and a shortened title for the publication, along with the page number on EVERY card. We can’t emphasize this point enough; writing down the bibliographic information the first time and repeatedly will save you loads of time later when you are writing your paper and must cite all key information.
Include keywords or “tags” that capture why you thought to take down this information in a consistent place on each note card (and when using the apps described below). If you are writing a paper about why Martin Luther King, Jr., became a successful Civil Rights movement leader, for example, you may have a few theories as you read his speeches or how those around him described his leadership. Those theories—religious beliefs, choice of lieutenants, understanding of Gandhi—might become the tags you put on each note card.
Note-taking applications can help organize tags for you, but if you are going low tech, a good idea is to put tags on the left side of a note card, and bibliographic info on the right side.

Organizing research- applications that can help

Using images in research.

If you are in an archive: make your first picture one that includes the formal collection name, the box number, the folder name and call numbe r and anything else that would help you relocate this information if you or someone else needed to. Do this BEFORE you start taking photos of what is in the folder.
If you are photographing a book or something you may need to return to the library: take a picture of all the front matter (the title page, the page behind the title with all the publication information, maybe even the table of contents).

Once you have recorded where you find it, resist the urge to rename these photographs. By renaming them, they may be re-ordered and you might forget where you found them. Instead, use tags for your own purposes, and carefully name and date the folder into which the photographs were automatically sorted. There is one free, open-source program, Tropy , which is designed to help organize photos taken in archives, as well as tag, annotate, and organize them. It was developed and is supported by the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at George Mason University. It is free to download, and you can find it here: https://tropy.org/ ; it is not, however, cloud-based, so you should back up your photos. In other cases, if an archive doesn’t allow photography (this is highly unlikely if you’ve made the trip to the archive), you might have a laptop on hand so that you can transcribe crucial documents.

Using note or project-organizing apps

When you have the time to sit down and begin taking notes on your primary sources, you can annotate your photos in Tropy. Alternatively, OneNote, which is cloud-based, can serve as a way to organize your research. OneNote allows you to create separate “Notebooks” for various projects, but this doesn’t preclude you from searching for terms or tags across projects if the need ever arises. Within each project you can start new tabs, say, for each different collection that you have documents from, or you can start new tabs for different themes that you are investigating. Just as in Tropy, as you go through taking notes on your documents you can create your own “tags” and place them wherever you want in the notes.

Another powerful, free tool to help organize research, especially secondary research though not exclusively, is Zotero found @ https://www.zotero.org/ . Once downloaded, you can begin to save sources (and their URL) that you find on the internet to Zotero. You can create main folders for each major project that you have and then subfolders for various themes if you would like. Just like the other software mentioned, you can create notes and tags about each source, and Zotero can also be used to create bibliographies in the precise format that you will be using. Obviously, this function is super useful when doing a long-term, expansive project like a thesis or dissertation.

How History is Made: A Student’s Guide to Reading, Writing, and Thinking in the Discipline Copyright © 2022 by Stephanie Cole; Kimberly Breuer; Scott W. Palmer; and Brandon Blakeslee is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

How To Make Notecards For Research Paper In Most Effective Way

Many supervisors, mentors, and teachers recommend their students and apprentices use research note cards while writing research papers. Notecards could be a great tool to organize your word and elements of research.

Note cards might seem like an old and outdated research method, but they still work. They do more than be a tool for you. Notecards help you organize your thoughts that are beneficial in your research and beyond. Let’s talk about some tips and tricks on how to make notecards for research papers.

Table of Contents

Why And How To Make Notecards For Research Paper?

With research note cards, it is easier to track your citations. When citing a source in your dissertation, you can write the source’s name on the note card and add the page number where you found the information. This way, you can quickly find the needed information.

Before writing notecards, look at all the information to write your research document. Once you know basic ideas, gather the main points of your research. Preferably, a 3″ x5″ note card would do your bidding.

Also, notecards look fantastic, and even if they’re scattered around the room, they would add an aesthetic touch to your room rather than making it look messy. Writing notecards will help you stay organized and write a research paper fast .

Steps Towards Writing Notecards For Research

Here are steps to write perfect notecards for your research paper.

Get Yourself a Pack Of Fresh, Nice Smelling Notecards

When you think of how to make notecards for a research paper, the first thing that will pop up in your mind is: Where are the research note cards? For a dissertation, we will need a lot of them. Try to get some extra. That way, even if you grow short, you will have a new bundle to open and save time during your research process.

Gather More Ideas Than You Need

The more is always safe. It will be great to gather as many ideas and sources as possible when you have the best research topic . It is the quality of a great writer to always cite sources . It’s easier than ever to collect sources from the Internet as many as possible. The Internet is like an infinite library. When you have more data, sources, and ideas, you will have more choices to filter out the best. For example, you are writing an outline for your dissertation and adding critical points that you are about to discuss. You have twenty key points written on your notecards. When you reconsider and filter out the best, you will probably have half of them left, which is close to ten.

Shortlist The Sources

You have a lot of ideas and a lot of sources written on your notecards. Could you have a look at them again? Now you see that not all ideas sound impeccable anymore. You can take those notecards out, leaving you with the best of them. How easier was it with notecards? Imagine if you were doing this filtration process without notecards. You would have to write a whole new draft for this.

Use A Full Notecard For Each Idea

Remember we talked about getting extra notecards? Now you understand why. Every notecard must be devoted to a single idea. Using a separate note card for each citation, source, or quote would be best. Using one card for more than one idea will cause leaving out essential details. It will also confuse you and make you double-minded. Whatever the page number is, making index cards would always help. Whether you’re researching a 10-page research document or writing a thesis for a research paper , every notecard must consist of a single idea, be it your own words or some text from a resource.

Write Down The Quotes

In the history of research, quoting and paraphrasing can be great tools to make your paper authentic and reliable. Please use separate notecards to include quotes. A direct statement in quotation marks or creating a bunch of them can make your research look more authentic. Note cards will help you remember where or when you will use them.

Label and Number The Note cards

Labeling and numbering note cards help you avoid trouble and confusion. Imagine the mess if your notecards suddenly fall out of your table and get scattered. It would be like having all your work wasted. You will need hours to reorganize them. Labeling and giving numbers will help you sort them and use them at the exact moment you are going to need them. If your note cards are all labeled and aligned, they can tell you a lot about how to organize your research paper as well.

Include Every Attribute / Aspect

A notecard must include every aspect of the source or citation you will use. Let’s create an outline of those factors. A notecard will typically include these necessary points:

Name of The Author
The Topic / Title of The Citation
The Book / Paper that is cited
Exact Number Of The Page
Other contributors
Editions / Versions / Volume
Date of Publication

Let us discuss one trick that will help you beyond writing research papers . It will help you in real life too. Whenever you do or say anything, ask yourself first:

Is it necessary?

The same goes for note cards. Only include what’s necessary.

Don’t Use Abbreviations Or Acronyms

When we are talking about how to make notecards for a research paper, our writers will disapprove of using abbreviations or acronyms. One abbreviation might have more than one meaning. The same goes for acronyms. This can lead to confusion. Staying accurate is the ultimate goal.

Now you can see that creating note cards for your dissertation is not rocket science if you have the right guide and Academic writing service . We also learned that note cards are not as old as some might say, and they can help you get the best out of your research. However, if you still need clarification about how to make notecards for a research paper, wait to lose your heart. You can contact us , and we can provide valuable insights we have learned while writing research over the years.

Order Original Papers & Essays

Your First Custom Paper Sample is on Us!

Timely Deliveries

No Plagiarism & AI

100% Refund

Try Our Free Paper Writing Service

Related blogs.

Connections with Writers and support

Privacy and Confidentiality Guarantee

Average Quality Score

Research Note Cards

Writing Research Papers
Writing Essays
English Grammar
M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
B.A., History, Armstrong State University

Many teachers require students to use note cards to collect information for their first big term paper assignment. While this practice may seem old fashioned and out of date, it is actually still the best method for collecting research.

You will use research note cards to collect all the information necessary to write your term paper--which includes the details you need for your bibliography notes.

You should take extreme care as you create these note cards, because any time you leave out a single detail, you are creating more work for yourself. You will have to visit each source again if you leave out essential information the first time around.

Remember that citing every source completely and correctly is critical for success. If you don't cite a source, you are guilty of plagiarism! These tips will help you collect research and write a successful paper.

Start with a fresh pack of research note cards. Large, lined cards are probably best, especially if you want to make your own detailed personal notes. Also, consider color coding your cards by topic to keep your paper organized from the start.
Devote an entire note card to each idea or note. Don't try to fit two sources (quotes and notes) on one card. No sharing space!
Gather more than you need. Use the library and the Internet to find potential sources for your research paper . You should continue to research until you have quite a few potential sources—about three times as many as your teacher recommends.
Narrow down your sources. As you read your potential sources, you will find that some are helpful, others are not, and some will repeat the same information you already have. This is how you narrow your list down to include the most solid sources.
Record as you go. From each source, write down any notes or quotes that could be useful in your paper. As you take notes, try to paraphrase all the information. This reduces the chances of committing accidental plagiarism .
Include everything. For each note you will need to record author's name, the title of reference (book, article, interview, etc.), reference publication information, to include publisher, date, place, year, issue, volume, page number, and your own personal comments.
Create your own system and stick to it. For instance, you may want to pre-mark each card with spaces for each category, just to make sure you don't leave anything out.
Be exact. If at any time you write down information word for word (to be used as a quote), be sure to include all punctuation marks , capitalizations, and breaks exactly as they appear in the source. Before you leave any source, double-check your notes for accuracy.
If you think it might be useful, write it down. Don't ever, ever pass over information because you're just not sure whether it will be useful! This is a very common and costly mistake in research. More often than not, you find that the passed-over tidbit is critical to your paper, and then there's a good chance you won't find it again.
Avoid using abbreviations and code words as you record notes —especially if you plan to quote. Your own writing can look completely foreign to you later. It's true! You may not be able to understand your own clever codes after a day or two, either.
Strategies for Writing a 20-Page Paper
How to Develop a Research Paper Timeline
Tips for Typing an Academic Paper on a Computer
How to Find Trustworthy Sources
Finding Trustworthy Sources
How to Write a 10-Page Research Paper
How to Narrow the Research Topic for Your Paper
Ethos, Logos, Pathos for Persuasion
What Is a Bibliography?
Creating a Table of Contents
Et Al. Meaning and How to Use It
Understanding the Progressive Era
Unreliable Sources for Your Research Project
Convince Me: A Persuasive Writing Activity
Writing an Annotated Bibliography for a Paper
What Is a Senior Thesis?

Graduate Research: Note-Taking and Organization

Getting Organized

Taking Notes

Reference Managers

Taking Notes for Research Papers

How to Take Notes

First of all, make sure that you record all necessary and appropriate information: author, title, publisher, place of publication, volume, the span of pages, date. It's probably easiest to keep this basic information about each source on individual 3x5 or 4x6 notecards. This way when you come to creating the "Works Cited" or "References" at the end of your paper, you can easily alphabetize your cards to create the list. Also, keep a running list of page numbers as you take notes so that you can identify the exact location of each piece of noted information. Remember, you will have to refer to these sources accurately, sometimes using page numbers within your paper and, depending on the type of source, using page numbers as part of your list of sources at the end of the paper.

Many people recommend taking all your notes on notecards. The advantage of notecards is that if you write very specific notes or only one idea on one side of the card, you can then spread them out on a table and rearrange them as you are structuring your paper. They're also small and neat and can help you stay organized.

Some people find notecards too small and frustrating to work with when taking notes and use a notebook instead. They leave plenty of space between notes and only write on one side of the page. Later, they either cut up their notes and arrange them as they would the cards, or they color code their notes to help them arrange information for sections or paragraphs of their paper.

What to Put into Notes

When you take notes, your job is not to write everything down, nor is it a good idea to give in to the temptation of photocopying pages or articles.

Notetaking is the process of extracting only the information that answers your research question or supports your working thesis directly. Notes can be in one of three forms: summary, paraphrase, or direct quotation. (It's a good idea to come up with a system-- you might simply label each card or note "s" "p" or "q"--as a way of keeping track of the kind of notes you took from a source.) Also, a direct quotation reproduces the source's words and punctuation exactly, so you add quotation marks around the sentence(s) to show this. Remember it is essential to record the exact page numbers of the specific notes since you will need them later for your documentation.

Work carefully to make sure you have recorded the source of your notes and the basic information you will need when citing your source, to save yourself a great deal of time and frustration--otherwise you will have to make extra trips to the library when writing your final draft.

How to Use Idea Cards

While doing your research, you will be making connections and synthesizing what you are learning. Some people find it useful to make "idea cards" or notes in which they write out the ideas and perceptions they are developing about their topic.

How to Work with Notes

After you take notes, re-read them.
Then re-organize them by putting similar information together. Working with your notes involves re-grouping them by topic instead of by source. Re-group your notes by re-shuffling your index cards or by color-coding or using symbols to code notes in a notebook.
Review the topics of your newly-grouped notes. If the topics do not answer your research question or support your working thesis directly, you may need to do additional research or re-think your original research.
During this process, you may find that you have taken notes that do not answer your research question or support your working thesis directly. Don't be afraid to throw them away.

It may have struck you that you just read a lot of "re" words: re-read, re-organize, re-group, re-shuffle, re-think. That's right; working with your notes essentially means going back and reviewing how this "new" information fits with your thoughts about the topic or issue of the research.

Grouping your notes should enable you to outline the major sections and then the paragraph of your research paper.

Credit: Online Writing Center, SUNY Empire State College

Organize Your Notes

After you take notes, re-read them.
Working with your notes involves re-grouping them by topic instead of by source. Re-group your notes by re-shuffling your index cards or by color-coding or using symbols to code notes in a notebook.
Review the topics of your newly-grouped notes. If the topics do not answer your research question or support your working thesis directly, you may need to do additional research or re-think your original research.
During this process, you may find that you have taken notes that do not answer your research question or support your working thesis directly. Don't be afraid to throw them away.

Working with your notes involves a lot of repetition: re-reading, re-organizing, re-grouping, and even re-thinking how "new" information fits with your thoughts about the topic or issue of the research. Ultimately, grouping your notes will allow you to outline the major sections and paragraphs of your research paper.

<< Previous: Getting Organized
Next: Reference Managers >>
Last Updated: Jan 10, 2022 3:14 PM
URL: https://selu.libguides.com/Notetaking

How to Write a Research Paper: Read Your Sources and Take Notes

–

Back from the library and ready to go

Read your sources and take notes.

After you've gathered your sources, begin reading and taking notes.

Use 3 x 5 index cards, one fact or idea per card. This way related ideas from different sources can be easily grouped together or rearranged.
On each index card, be sure to note the source, including the volume number (if there is one) and the page number. If you wind up using that idea in your paper, you will have the information about the source ready to put in your footnote or endnote.
If you copy something directly from a book without putting it in your own words, put quotation marks around it so that you know it is an exact quotation. This will help you to avoid plagiarism . (For more, see What is Plagiarism? ).
Before you sit down to write your rough draft, organize your note cards by subtopic (you can write headings on the cards) and make an outline.

Check out the differences between these two note cards for a research paper on baseball:

Good note card:

WB, 2, p.133

Many Americans could name every major league player, his batting average, and other accomplishments.

(What batting records were set?)

Bad note card:

Ty Cobb (Detroit Tigers) outfielder one of the great all-time players. Another star was Honus Wagner, a bowlegged shortstop.

"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball."

Homework Center Home »

Geography |
Language Arts |
Mathematics |
Social Studies
How to Write a Research Paper: Use Footnotes or Endnotes or Parentheses to Document Sources

Here are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
EDIT Edit this Article
EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Happiness Hub Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
Browse Articles
Learn Something New
Quizzes Hot
Happiness Hub
This Or That Game
Train Your Brain
Explore More
Support wikiHow
About wikiHow
Log in / Sign up
Education and Communications
Technical Writing

How to Write an Index

Last Updated: January 25, 2024

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. This article has been viewed 2,009,555 times.

An index is an alphabetical list of keywords contained in the text of a book or other lengthy writing project. It includes pointers to where those keywords or concepts are mentioned in the book—typically page numbers, but sometimes footnote numbers, chapters, or sections. The index can be found at the end of the work, and makes a longer nonfiction work more accessible for readers, since they can turn directly to the information they need. Typically you'll start indexing after you've completed the main writing and research. [1] X Research source

Preparing Your Index

Typically, if you index from a hard copy you'll have to transfer your work to a digital file. If the work is particularly long, try to work straight from the computer so you can skip this extra step.

If footnotes or endnotes are merely source citations, they don't need to be included in the index.
Generally, you don't need to index glossaries, bibliographies, acknowledgements, or illustrative items such as charts and graphs.
If you're not sure whether something should be indexed, ask yourself if it contributes something substantial to the text. If it doesn't, it typically doesn't need to be indexed.

In most cases, if you have a "works cited" section appearing at the end of your text you won't need to index authors. You would still include their names in the general index, however, if you discussed them in the text rather than simply citing their work.

Step 4 Create index cards for entries if you’re indexing by hand.

For example, if you're writing a book on bicycle maintenance, you might have index cards for "gears," "wheels," and "chain."
Put yourself in your reader's shoes, and ask yourself why they would pick up your book and what information they would likely be looking for. Chapter or section headings can help guide you as well.

Step 5 Use nouns for the main headings of entries.

For example, a dessert cookbook that included several types of ice cream might have one entry for "ice cream," followed by subentries for "strawberry," "chocolate," and "vanilla."
Treat proper nouns as a single unit. For example, "United States Senate" and "United States House of Representatives" would be separate entries, rather than subentries under the entry "United States."

Step 6 Include subentries for entries with 5 or more pointers.

Stick to nouns and brief phrases for subentries, avoiding any unnecessary words.
For example, suppose you are writing a book about comic books that discusses Wonder Woman's influence on the feminist movement. You might include a subentry under "Wonder Woman" that says "influence on feminism."

Step 7 Identify potential cross references.

For example, if you were writing a dessert cookbook, you might have entries for "ice cream" and "sorbet." Since these frozen treats are similar, they would make good cross references of each other.

Formatting Entries and Subentries

Step 1 Confirm the style and formatting requirements.

The style guide provides specifics for you in terms of spacing, alignment, and punctuation of your entries and subentries.

For example, an entry in the index of a political science book might read: "capitalism: 21st century, 164; American free trade, 112; backlash against, 654; expansion of, 42; Russia, 7; and television, 3; treaties, 87."
If an entry contains no subentries, simply follow the entry with a comma and list the page numbers.

Step 3 Organize your entries in alphabetical order.

People's names typically are listed alphabetically by their last name. Put a comma after the last name and add the person's first name.
Noun phrases typically are inverted. For example, "adjusting-height saddle" would be listed in an index as "saddle, adjusting-height." [8] X Research source

Avoid repeating words in the entry in the subentries. If several subentries repeat the same word, add it as a separate entry, with a cross reference back to the original entry. For example, in a dessert cookbook you might have entries for "ice cream, flavors" and "ice cream, toppings."
Subentries typically are listed alphabetically as well. If subentry terms have symbols, hyphens, slashes, or numbers, you can usually ignore them.

If a proper name, such as the name of a book or song, includes a word such as "a" or "the" at the beginning of the title, you can either omit it or include it after a comma ("Importance of Being Earnest, The"). Check your style guide for the proper rule that applies to your index, and be consistent.

Step 6 Include all page numbers for each entry or subentry.

When listing a series of pages, if the first page number is 1-99 or a multiple of 100, you also use all of the digits. For example, "ice cream: vanilla, 100-109."
For other numbers, you generally only have to list the digits that changed for subsequent page numbers. For example, "ice cream: vanilla, 112-18."
Use the word passim if references are scattered over a range of pages. For example, "ice cream: vanilla, 45-68 passim . Only use this if there are a large number of references within that range of pages.

Step 7 Add cross references with the phrase “See also.”

Place a period after the last page number in the entry, then type See also in italics, with the word "see" capitalized. Then include the name of the similar entry you want to use.
For example, an entry in an index for a dessert cookbook might contain the following entry: "ice cream: chocolate, 4, 17, 24; strawberry, 9, 37; vanilla, 18, 25, 32-35. See also sorbet."

Step 8 Include “See” references to avoid confusion.

For example, a beginning cyclist may be looking in a manual for "tire patches," which are called "boots" in cycling terms. If you're writing a bicycle manual aimed at beginners, you might include a "see" cross reference: "tire patches, see boots."

Editing Your Index

You'll also want to search for related terms, especially if you talk about a general concept in the text without necessarily mentioning it by name.

Step 2 Simplify entries to suit your readers.

If you have any entries that are too complex or that might confuse your readers, you might want to simplify them or add a cross reference.
For example, a bicycle maintenance text might discuss "derailleurs," but a novice would more likely look for terms such as "gearshift" or "shifter" and might not recognize that term.

Step 3 Include descriptions of subentries where helpful.

For example, you might include an entry in a dessert cookbook index that read "ice cream, varieties of: chocolate, 54; strawberry, 55; vanilla, 32, 37, 56. See also sorbet."

Step 4 Trim or expand your index as needed.

Generally, an entry should occur on two or three page numbers. If it's only found in one place, you may not need to include it at all. If you decide it is necessary, see if you can include it as a subentry under a different entry.
For example, suppose you are indexing a dessert cookbook, and it has ice cream on two pages and sorbet on one page. You might consider putting these together under a larger heading, such as "frozen treats."

You may want to run searches again to make sure the index is comprehensive and includes as many pointers as possible to help guide your readers.

Make sure any cross references match the exact wording of the entry or entries they reference.

Indexes are typically set in 2 columns, using a smaller font than that used in the main text. Entries begin on the first space of the line, with the subsequent lines of the same entry indented.

Expert Q&A

If creating an index seems like too large of a task for you to complete on your own by the publisher's deadline, you may be able to hire a professional indexer to do the work for you. Look for someone who has some knowledge and understanding about the subject matter of your work. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Make the index as clear and simple as you can. Readers don't like looking through a messy, hard-to-read index. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

If you're using a word processing app that has an indexing function, avoid relying on it too much. It will index all of the words in your text, which will be less than helpful to readers. [15] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

↑ https://ugapress.org/resources/for-authors/indexing-guidelines/
↑ https://www.hup.harvard.edu/resources/authors/pdf/hup-author-guidelines-indexing.pdf
↑ https://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/CHIIndexingComplete.pdf
↑ https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/publish-with-us/from-manuscript-to-finished-book/preparing-your-index

About This Article

An index is an alphabetical list of keywords found in a book or other lengthy writing project. It will have the chapters or page numbers where readers can find that keyword and more information about it. Typically, you’ll write your index after you’ve completed the main writing and research. In general, you’ll want to index items that are nouns, like ideas, concepts, and things, that add to the subject of the text. For example, a dessert cookbook might have an entry for “ice cream” followed by subentries for “strawberry,” “chocolate,” and “vanilla.” To learn how to format your index entries, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Lisa Nielsen

May 30, 2017

Did this article help you?

Oct 25, 2016

Caroline Mckillop

Oct 16, 2019

Maureen Leonard

Jul 5, 2016

Graham Lidiard

Aug 3, 2016

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

"It’s simple, elegant, powerful"

— Alan S.

"When I tried SuperNotecard I finally found what I was looking for"

— Kim B.

"With all the ways to stack decks and organize, it’s like Minecraft for story"

— Justin P.

"A powerful, intuitive, and truly useful program"

— Daniel S.

SuperNotecard provides virtual notecards to organize, compose and perfect your work. Learn More .

Move elements around. Quickly switch perspectives. Track every scene, character, fact or source. Learn More .

Profile your characters. Itemize your sources. Link them to cards. Generate bibliographies. Learn More .

Create an Account

SuperNotecard is an online writing tool that provides virtual notecards to help arrange facts or scenes, track details, organize paragraphs, and clarify your compositional process.

SuperNotecard in School

Notecards help students organize facts, visualize an outline and ultimately transform their research into a paper. SuperNotecard works on various devices and gives teachers tools to launch the lesson and manage the results. Learn More .

Professionals

Our best features come from writers. Let us introduce a few who have helped to shape SuperNotecard.

Best Research Note Card Software: 4 Top Choices

Research note card software helps you organize your notes and bibliography in a digital format, so you never lose a reference again.

When you learn how to write a research paper in high school, note cards are a major part of the process. Students write their outline points on index cards, so they can more easily organize them when they are ready to write. Research note card software performs the same function but in a digital model.

Serious writers who learned the benefit of using cards as students and want to continue their note-taking and organization methods as adult writers can tap into this software to more intuitively keep their thoughts organized.

This guide will help you choose the right software to help you write .

Top Research Note Card Software Options

1. scrivener, 2. onenote, 3. evernote, 4. zotero, the final word on research note card software, how can i use research note card software effectively, what is the best note card app for collaborative projects.

As you begin your search for note card software, start with these popular choices:

Who It’s For: Scrivener is ideal for writers creating long-form works, like dissertations and books. It also works well for scriptwriting. Pricing: $45

Scrivener tops the list of note-taking and writing software because of its robust list of features. This software can become your entire workflow, organizing not only your research but also your writing.

Scrivener organizes notes and research along with the manuscript for a project all in one place, combining it into a digital binder you can easily navigate. When you are writing, your research is always readily available. It even supports digital index cards.

It also lets the writer use templates to guide writing and notecard creation. Scrivener is available for both Mac and PC. It also has a mobile app for Android and iOS.

All in one content-generation tool
Ideal for long documents
Everything all in one place
May have too many features for simple note taking
Has a tough learning curve
No free version

Scrivener is our go-to app for long-form writing projects. It's popular with best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators and more.

Who It’s For: OneNote is ideal for people who need to share their research with a team, making it a good choice for business people. Pricing: $69.99/year

With Microsoft OneNote , a cross-platform app you get when you purchase Office 365, you get the option to create digital notes through your Microsoft OneDrive.

In addition, this app has the option to create To-Do LIsts for yourself or your team. It integrates well with MS Office products and apps, and it works with the Apple stylus.

To make the most out of OneNote, you should have an Office 365 subscription. If you have Office 365, you will find that this tool integrates the best of all of the note-taking apps with the products you use. It has collaborative functions through Microsoft OneDrive.

Creates digital notes quickly
Easy to use with little learning curve
Works best with Office 365, and may not work well with other apps
Lacks formatting options for note cards
Rich text formatting is sometimes lost when pasting into OneNote from Outlook or Word

Who It’s For: Anyone who does online research and who stores multimedia resources can benefit from the flexibility of Evernote. Pricing: Free to ₱162.90 per month

Evernote has built-in tagging and search features so you can retrieve your research more easily

Evernote is one of the more popular note-taking apps on the market. It allows you to capture, organize and store your notes on a phone or web browser, including both Android and iOS options and Windows or OS X desktops browsers.

Evernote allows you to capture ideas in pictures, store articles you want to look at later for potential annotations, and even put photo notes or audio recordings in the app along with your text files.

It has built-in tagging and searches features so you can retrieve your research more easily. This multimedia platform is what makes it so helpful in note-taking.

An affordable option for note taking
Multimedia research storage
Compatible with iOS, Windows, Mac, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Android and others
Often does not retain the formatting of the text
Can slow down on older devices
Requires premium paid version for offline access

Who It’s For: Zotero is ideal for writers who need to organize and access online research. It also has collaboration features, so students or workers working on collaborative projects can share their libraries with each other. Pricing: Free to $120/year

Zotero is an independent, open-source project which means it is free of charge. When you are doing online research, Zotero helps you keep it organized. Create digital note cards to save searches, collect sources to cite and create bibliography cards.

The intuitive nature of Zotero earned it a spot on this list. It automatically fills note cards with material as you research, saving you time. It also has the option to sync across your various devices, so you can access your research whether you’re on your computer, iPad or phone.

Free note generation program
Integrates with MS Word
Fast to learn
Reliant on users for fixing bugs because of open-source design
Requires Zotfile plugin to work with PDFs
Works better with MLA format than APA style

Want more? Check out our guide to the Zettelkasten method .

With so much research at your fingertips due to the World Wide Web, you need a notecard system to keep it all organized. Apps and digital systems give you the power to organize that without cumbersome paper files. The right app or software program will help you keep research notes, bibliography information and more organized and accessible.

To choose a research note card system, consider what you will use it for. Choose a system that handles the reference material in the format you use, and move forward confidently knowing your research is always accessible as you write.

FAQs About Research Note Card Software

Research note card software can take the place of your paper note card system to organize your annotations and research cards in one place. Some programs are multimedia programs that can store videos, audio files, PDFs, web pages and more.

Many have templates to automatically put note cards into MLA or APA format.

If you are doing a collaborative project, Zotera and OneNote work well. These note-taking apps let you easily share your project with others.

Best writing apps for all platforms

Best book writing software

Best story writing apps

Best note-taking apps

Best writing tools

Best writing apps for iPad

IMAGES

How to use Index Cards for paper writing
Research Paper Note Cards
Research Paper Note Cards
3 By 5 Index Card Template
The Index Card System
Why Index Cards Are The Best Way To Study

VIDEO

Lets Create With Index Cards #letsplay #letscreate
#ICAD2022 Index Card Art Challenge Flip Through
Ideas To Use Index Cards
Index Cards Project-No 19
Index Cards Project No 20
the index card topple

COMMENTS

Note-taking techniques I: The index card method
As its name indicates, the Content Index Card is a combination type of index card that includes direct quotations, draft notes and ideas, conceptual diagrams, etc. that are all associated with the main article, book chapter or book discussed in the index card. I use larger (5″ x 8″) index cards for those cases.
PDF Taking and Organizing Notes for Research Papers
Learning to organize notes in a useful manner will make forming your research paper easier. A useful form of organizing notes is creating index cards. In this method, you write pieces of information from a source on an index card. After recording all your sources, you can organize your notes by topic, which will in turn help you organize your ...
The Note Card System
The card topic is the title for the kind of information on the card. The card topic is a name that you make up yourself. Think of it as the title, or main idea. of the card.. After writing down the information, figure out how you could briefly categorize, or title it. For example, if you are writing a paper on the life and works of the poet, Langston Hughes, you may have cards with topics such as:
Using Note Cards for MLA Research Papers
To create research note cards using index cards, follow these steps: Create one note card for each source. Write down all data necessary to locate that source, using the core element list. If you are using a direct quote from that source, write that down on the index card and specify it's a direct quote. Write a summary of the source, similar ...
How to Write a Research Paper: Note Cards
After you've gathered your sources, begin reading and taking notes. Use 3 x 5 index cards, one fact or idea per card. This way related ideas from different sources can be easily grouped together or rearranged. On each index card, be sure to note the source, including the volume number (if there is one) and the page number. If you wind up using ...
Research Note Cards
You may have used Research Note Cards in the past to help your organize information for a research paper. Research Note Cards have you write out quotes or paraphrased information on a note card and include information such as the topic of the source and where you found the source. There are five parts to Research Note Cards: Part 1: Topic ...
How to Take Notes while Doing Research
Taking Notes on Index Cards. As you begin reading your sources, use either 3″ x 5″ or 4″ x 6″ index cards to write down information you might use in your paper. The first thing to remember is: Write only one idea on each card. Even if you write only a few words on one card, don't write anything about a new idea on that card.
The Ultimate Guide to Using Index Cards for Studying
Here are some effective study methods that you can implement using index cards: Keyword Highlighting: Create index cards with keywords or key concepts highlighted. Use these cards to reinforce your understanding of essential information. Summarization: Write concise summaries of important topics on index cards.
Digital Index Cards for Research Papers
by sarabrylowski. in Hacks. Digital Index Cards for Research Papers. Barreling into grad school in the phase of life when I'm also juggling career and family has been no easy feat. My study skills were rusty, and at the forefront were my research skills. I mean, I hadn't assembled a research paper since the years when standard operating ...
Using Index Cards for Research
Organize Your Information with Index Cards. This video explains the benefits of taking notes on index cards. Explain a variety of note-taking techniques and the pros and cons of each (e.g. concept maps, Cornell note taking system). Explain how to write concise, accurate notes without having to write every word.
Making Note Cards
1. Write the subtopic heading of the note at the top of each note card. (see Tip Sheet 11: Creating Subtopic Headings) 2. Write only one main point on a note card. 3. Only write information directly related to your Statement of Purpose. (see Tip Sheet 9: Writing a Statement of Purpose) 4. Write only essential words, abbreviate when possible.
Note-Taking Methods for Research Projects
One paper notetaking method for research projects involves using index cards. First, you obtain an index card box, dividers you'll label corresponding to the topics you will cover, and index cards. We can use this method in two ways. The classic way to use index cards for research notetaking is to use a single index card for each new piece of ...
Taking Research Notes Using the Note Card System and Ilaro
The Research Note Card. A research note card contains a single quote, note, or idea. Due to the physical size of index cards, there is a limit to how much you can write on on each card. But this limitation forces you to keep concise notes. The short notes make it easier to organize thoughts and outline writing.
9 Organizing Research: Taking and Keeping Effective Notes
Before the personal computing revolution, most historians labored through archives and primary documents and wrote down their notes on index cards, and then found innovative ways to organize them for their purposes. When doing secondary research, historians often utilized (and many still do) pen and paper for taking notes on secondary sources.
PDF Research Paper: MLA Style
In 1938, Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act FLSA which established a federal minimum wage for all employees and also set standards for compensation for working more than 40 hours per week. Workers who worked longer than 8 hours are to be compensated "time and a half" or the minimum plus half for every hour over 8 hours.
How To Make Notecards For Research Paper In Most Effective Way
This way, you can quickly find the needed information. Before writing notecards, look at all the information to write your research document. Once you know basic ideas, gather the main points of your research. Preferably, a 3″ x5″ note card would do your bidding. Also, notecards look fantastic, and even if they're scattered around the ...
10 Tips for Using Research Note Cards
Devote an entire note card to each idea or note. Don't try to fit two sources (quotes and notes) on one card. No sharing space! Gather more than you need. Use the library and the Internet to find potential sources for your research paper. You should continue to research until you have quite a few potential sources—about three times as many as ...
Taking Notes
Re-group your notes by re-shuffling your index cards or by color-coding or using symbols to code notes in a notebook. Review the topics of your newly-grouped notes. If the topics do not answer your research question or support your working thesis directly, you may need to do additional research or re-think your original research.
How to Write a Research Paper: Read Your Sources and Take Notes
After you've gathered your sources, begin reading and taking notes. Use 3 x 5 index cards, one fact or idea per card. This way related ideas from different sources can be easily grouped together or rearranged. On each index card, be sure to note the source, including the volume number (if there is one) and the page number.
Making Source Cards
How to do it: Use index cards to make your source cards, or keep a few notebook pages reserved for this information, or make a word processing or database file for them. If you use index cards, use only one card per source. Code each source its own number, starting with the number 1. You will later link your notes to these code numbers.
How to Write an Index (with Pictures)
Check your style guide for the proper rule that applies to your index, and be consistent. 6. Include all page numbers for each entry or subentry. You'll copy the page numbers from your index cards, formatting them according to the rules laid out in your style guide.
SuperNotecard
SuperNotecard is an online writing tool that provides virtual notecards to help arrange facts or scenes, track details, organize paragraphs, and clarify your compositional process. Notecards help students organize facts, visualize an outline and ultimately transform their research into a paper. SuperNotecard works on various devices and gives ...
Best Research Note Card Software: 4 Top Choices
Top Research Note Card Software Options. As you begin your search for note card software, start with these popular choices: 1. Scrivener. Who It's For: Scrivener is ideal for writers creating long-form works, like dissertations and books. It also works well for scriptwriting. Pricing: $45.

Note-taking techniques I: The index card method

2 Responses

About Raul Pacheco-Vega, PhD

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Follow me on Twitter:

The Note Card System

Researching

Sample Source List

Make an Outline and Start Writing

At a Glance

Our Community

Visit Gallaudet

Engage Today

How to Write a Research Paper: Note Cards

Back from the library and ready to go

Homework Center Home »

Organizing Your Research

Questions? Ask a Librarian

How to Take Notes

How to Use Sources Effectively

Academic Writing, Editing, Proofreading, And Problem Solving Services

Taking Notes on Index Cards

Taking Notes on Your Computer

How to Take Effective Notes

Not Too Much or Too Little

To Note or Not to Note: That is the Question

Paraphrasing—Not Copying

How to Organize Your Notes

Organizing Note Cards

Organizing Notes on Your Computer

Developing a Working Bibliography

Developing an Annotated Bibliography

ORDER HIGH QUALITY CUSTOM PAPER

20 min read

History of Index Cards

Current State of Studying

Future State of Studying

Benefits of Using Index Cards

Significance of Index Cards in Studying

Best Practices for Using Index Cards

Pros and Cons of Using Index Cards

Comparison of Index Card Tools

Effective Study Methods with Index Cards

Impact of AI on Index Card Studying

AI Techniques

AI Benefits

AI Challenges

AI Potential Online Apps for Index Card Studying

Keep Reading

Revolutionize Your Learning: The Impact of AI-Powered Technology

Next-Gen Learning: Embrace AI-Powered Education Now

Harnessing AI: Tools and Tips to Accelerate Your AI Learning

AI Education: How to Learn AI With Confidence and Ease

Digital Index Cards for Research Papers

ENTER AIRTABLE

Using the Template

2. Customize it for your Project

3. Enter your sources

Put it all Together

2. Assemble

Comments on This Post

Let us know your thoughts about this topic Cancel reply

First, please create an account

Research Note-Taking Methods Part 1: Taking Notes on Paper

Index Cards – The Classic Notetaking Method

Alternate Index Cards Method

Notebook Based Note-Taking Methods

Using a Binder for Taking Notes While Researching

The Note-taking Process

See Part II: Electronic Note-taking Methods

Share this:

You may also like...

Three Digital Note-Taking Tools You Must Know for Research

Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism in Your Writing

How to Write a Preliminary Bibliography

Share your thoughts Cancel reply

Discover more from W.R.E. Consulting Services

The note card system

The Research Note Card