Organizing information and avoiding plagiarism

 Note cards should contain:  adequate identification of the source  a brief summary of the information obtained, or a direct quotation of a specific person’s words, or a paraphrase in your own words of a specific person’s ideas.  Be careful to avoid misrepresentation by lifting material out of context or by twisting the interpretation to suit your conclusion.

 Each note card should have:  Clear identification of the source (top right corner)  a main idea – an inference – as the topic heading  notes that include the information that supports or explains the inference (summary, paraphrase, or direct quotation)  your own comment that indicates how you might use the note or how it might relate to other note cards you have written (at the bottom)

 ALWAYS identify whether the notes on your note cards are  summary (bullet points or “S”)  paraphrase (“P”)  direct quotation (in “ “).  This way you will avoid plagiarism

 Summarizing an author’s views is an easy way to record the factual information in a source.  Use this method for a source that gives an overview of the topic, a survey of the issues, or factual details about the topic.  Take your notes for a summary note card in PHRASE form to make reporting the information in your own words easier when you write the actual paper (bullet points)

 Choose factual, specific details: dates, places, names, statistics, etc.  Summary note cards include:  Accurate information  Clear phrasing – precise, specific information in phrase form

 But use this method selectively, choosing to quote only those passages that deal directly with your subject in memorable language.  Use “…” to represent part of a quotation you’ve left out, and “….” to represent and sentences left out.  ALWAYS identify the speaker of the quotation if it is someone other than the author (someone they quoted)

 Choose actual remarks made by real people whose names and links to the topic you can identify. Choose passages with memorable language.  Direct Quotation note cards include:  Speaker’s identity  Accurate wording and punctuation  Quotation marks

 Paraphrasing the views of either an author or a specific person identified in a source is the most useful – and the most misused – method of note taking.  It is not simply a casual way of reproducing the author’s views approximately word for word without using quotation marks.  Rather, it is the process of thinking through what the author has said and then restating the information IN YOUR OWN WORDS.

 Choose either direct quotations or if the writer is trustworthy a section in which he expresses his own ideas.  Paraphrasing note cards include:  Speaker’s identity  Accurately restated important information  Reflect intent of original

 Do not number note cards in the order you take them.  Create a bibliography card with all of the sources listed on it using MLA style.  Include accurate source and page identification on each card. Use some code on the bib card and repeat on each note card.  Include specific topic headings. Go beyond repeating source title or even the subtopics.