Taking notes accurately is vital to ensure that your information is correct. Also, be very careful to not plagiarize when taking notes—use your own words and sentence.
Put the following information on each card:
- the number of the cource used in the upper right hand corner
- All of the bibliographic information in correct MLA format
- (Use APA if so instructed by your teacher)

Note cards:
Put the following information on each card:
- One word to describe the topic of the card in the upper left hand corner
- The number of the source and card in the upper right hand corner
- One key fact, quote, or idea per card
- The author and page number (if a print source) in the bottom right hand corner
- (If no author, use the first main word listed on the source card.)
- Only use a complete sentence if you are copying something that you will be quoting in your work; be sure to copy exactly as it is written
Three ways to take notes:
- Paraphrase: use your own words to restate an idea (sentence)
- Summarize: use only a few words to restate an idea (phrase)
- Quote: copy the words exactly as written (sentence or phrase)
