|
|
|
|
|
Using Note-cards to do Research
Whew! Now comes the fun part. As we discussed, you have created a figurative skeleton or tree (pick your metaphor!) upon which you will flesh out your argument. What you need to do now is connect the dots. Let's see how we can best approach the meat and potatoes (stop with the metaphors!) of the research paper. Question:How do we use note-cards? Answer:Check out these links!
After we've read and discussed this in class, you will want to come back to this page for a reminder if needed. Assignment:Since you already have four resources with the Annotated Bibliography assignment, transferring them to Source Cards is a breeze! You will do that, creating numbered Source Cards. REMOVE the annotations on the Annotated Bibliography, leaving only the Citations in alphabetical order. Guess what? You're already in excellent shape for the next phase: research! Then using those sources, you will start your research, creating five (5) note cards per sources. Remember, a Source Card is the citation of a source. A Note-card is, as we discussed, a SINGLE NOTE, ONE IDEA! Don't make the mistake of cramming a bunch of ideas on a single card. Spread 'em out! That idea or note SUPPORTS a single IDEA of your paper. For example, you will have at least four sources but you might have three ideas those four support, right? So don't forget to put the IDEA or SUBJECT of each note, what it supports in your outline, at the top. That way, you'll be able to easily GROUP CARDS when the time comes to sit down and start the writing process, which is SOON! The Nitty Gritty:Note-card assignment:
|
|
|
OK. You have
a subject which you narrowed down into a thesis. You developed that thesis into
at least three main ideas you will use to support your argument, as you created
your outline. You learned how to evaluate sources to maximize their impact on
your thesis and you also learned how to write your Bibliography or what we're
now going to refer to as your Works Cited page in MLA format.