Collect notes with source details and summaries

When you research a topic, you will find useful information in books, articles, and websites. Good researchers do not just copy everything — they take organized notes that capture key ideas and record exactly where each piece of information came from. This process is called note-taking with source documentation.

What to Record on a Note Card

• Source title — the name of the book, article, or webpage.
• Author — the person or organization who created the source.
• Date — the year published or the date you accessed a website.
• URL or page number — so you can find the source again.
• Key idea — the main point from that section of the source.
• Direct quote — the author's exact words inside quotation marks.
• Paraphrase — the key idea rewritten entirely in your own words.

Quote vs Paraphrase vs Summary

• Direct quote: copy the author's exact words and put them in quotation marks. Use sparingly — for striking language or data that must be precise.
• Paraphrase: rewrite a specific passage in your own words and sentence structure. Same length as original, different wording.
• Summary: condense a long passage or whole source into a few sentences. Shorter than original, captures only the most important points.

Why Source Details Matter

Recording source details as you take notes saves time when you write your bibliography. More importantly, it prevents plagiarism — presenting someone else's ideas or words as your own. Always note where every idea came from, even when you paraphrase.