Notecards

The most important step…

Careful note taking will set the foundation for a successful paper; spending time on good notes now will save you time and frustration later

Careful note taking will keep you from plagiarizing

Three Types

Direct quoteParaphraseSummary

Direct Quote

Word for word from sourceCopied exactly, including punctuationAn entire sentence or part of a sentenceUses quotation marksMust be citedUse when the info is powerful and the

source’s exact words are necessary to keep the impact of what is being said

Only a few of your notecards should be this way

Paraphrase

Source’s idea, but your wordsAn entire sentence or part of a sentenceDoes NOT use quotation marksMust be citedUse for most of your note cards

Summary

Source’s idea, your wordsA sentence or several sentencesDoes NOT use quotation marksMust be citedUse when you have a large chunk of info and

when details are not necessary; few of your notecards will be this way.

Examples

African American drivers were statistically more likely to be pulled over and their vehicles searched than their Caucasian counterparts. The practice of racial profiling, however, began to cause widespread public outrage in the late 1990s, after several well-publicized cases emerged in which African Americans died at the hands of law enforcement officials. As a result, many states passed laws that prohibited certain forms of racial profiling, such the racial profiling of motorists and pedestrians.

Example—direct quote

The practice of racial profiling, however, began to cause widespread public outrage in the late 1990s, after several well-publicized cases emerged in which African Americans died at the hands of law enforcement officials.

Driscoll and Newton 3

“The practice of racial profiling, however, began to cause widespread public outrage in the late 1990s, after several well-publicized cases emerged in which African Americans died at the hands of law enforcement officials” ( ).

Example--Paraphrase

African American drivers were statistically more likely to be pulled over and their vehicles searched than their Caucasian counterparts.

Driscoll and Newton 3

African American drivers are pulled over more often than white drivers ( ).

Example-----Summary

African American drivers were statistically more likely to be pulled over and their vehicles searched than their Caucasian counterparts. The practice of racial profiling, however, began to cause widespread public outrage in the late 1990s, after several well-publicized cases emerged in which African Americans died at the hands of law enforcement officials. As a result, many states passed laws that prohibited certain forms of racial profiling, such the racial profiling of motorists and pedestrians.

Driscoll and Newton 3

Because of the deaths of several African Americans in the late 1990s, racial profiling became a hot topic. Because of these deaths, laws were made that prohibited profiling drivers, passengers, and pedestrians ( ).

Combination

African American drivers were statistically more likely to be pulled over and their vehicles searched than their Caucasian counterparts. The practice of racial profiling, however, began to cause widespread public outrage in the late 1990s, after several well-publicized cases emerged in which African Americans died at the hands of law enforcement officials. As a result, many states passed laws that prohibited certain forms of racial profiling, such the racial profiling of motorists and pedestrians.

African American drivers are pulled over more often than white drivers. Several episodes of racial profiling against African Americans “began to cause widespread public outrage in the late 1990s, after several well-publicized cases emerged in which [they] died at the hands of law enforcement officials” (Driscoll and Newton 3).

General Info

Always cite. The period goes after the parenthesis at the

end of a sentence.Use brackets [ ] in a direct quote to

provide clarity or to make parts of the sentence agree.

Use ellipsis … in a direct quote if you leave out words.

Final Thoughts…

50 note cards is the MINIMUM; most of you will need more

Use the rough outline to guide your researchTake approximately 10-15 cards per outline

sectionTake notes from a variety of source; you need

to use at least 6 of your 10 sources