researching with index cards

Researching with Index Cards

SummarizingParaphrasing

Using Quotations

MRHS Research

04/09/2023MRHS Research

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Why Index Cards?

1. Saves students from copying needless information.2. Reduces the chance of unintentional plagiarism.3. Reduces the opportunity for intentional plagiarism.4. Saves paper.5. Reduces printing in library and computer lab.6. Forces students to focus on important information.7. Forces students to become a better critical reader.8. Becomes a valuable method of organizing ideas.9. It is required of all MRHS researchers.


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On the 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:

Information SourceTopic/Sub-Topic

Paraphrase/Summary/Quote Publication Date or Page Number

1 2

3 4

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

It keeps you focused in your research. You will be less likely to write down unnecessary information (facts that are not related to your topic) if you are careful to write down the topic for every card.

It is necessary to have these topics once you begin organizing your research.

Sub-Topic

Remember! You are required to have at least 3 information sources.

Also Remember! This is not a complete works cited page. You will need to add the publication information and use the correct citation format (MLA) for the formal Works Cited page.

You should also keep updating a SOURCE LIST for each source you find (use Citation Machine and keep the list on file).

Includes web sites, books, interviews, magazine articles, etc. If you use a web site, you need only place the shortened form on the index

card: for example, use www.cbc.ca instead of:

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/riel/batoche.htm

Information Source

Item number three is the paraphrased or summarized(précis) or quoted information that you found. It is helpful to paraphrase/summarize/quote your research on the

index cards while you are taking notes. If you are consistent 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.

Paraphrase/Summary/Quote

If you use a book (text, encyclopedia, etc) for research, it is important to be accurate with the page numbers on your note cards, as you will need them for your in-text citations (which will be formatted using MLA style).

Use the publication date for web sites. If no publication date can be found, simply write down the date that

you accessed the information.

Publication Date or Page Number


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Hypothetical Topic: Accidental Injury

Let’s assume your research project deals with Accidental Injury. You have divided your project into four sub-topics: Gun Violence Workplace Negligence Food-Related Disasters Saber-Tooth Tiger Attacks

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 (précis) or directly quoted and written on a card:


Sample Index Card

Gun Violence www.gunsarebad.org

Paraphrase March 10, 2009

One in every three accidental injuries in the home occur because of handguns – but not in the way many may think. Many people, when opening Brazil nuts at Christmas, attempt to use the butt end of their family revolver and end up shooting one of their grandparents who are snoozing in their easy chairs.


Sample Index CardFood Disasters Maclean’s Magazine, May

2008

Direct Quote Page 39

“What they fail to teach you in First Aid training is that, during the Heimlich Maneuver, the food that is dislodged from the victim’s throat becomes a guided missile that almost always shoots down another person’s throat, thus starting the whole thing over again”. - Florence Nightengale


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Next:

Making sense of your research by:

Summarizing Includes Précis Writing

Paraphrasing Quoting Sources Directly

researching with index cards

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