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English Composition 2
Using Note Cards
The following information should appear on each note card:
- heading (taken from your writing plan)
- last name of the author(s) of the source
- page number of the source where the note appears
- the note (in the form of a quotation, a paraphrase, or a summary)
- a reminder to yourself as to why the note is important (optional)
For the examples below, imagine that one of the topics from the writer's plan is that Creon has good intentions when he establishes his edict against the burial of Polynices's body.
Examples
Watling 13 Creon's Good Intentions Creon acts "in full and sincere consciousness of his responsibility for the integrity of the state" when he orders that the body of Polynices not be buried. (Creon means well. He thinks his new law will maintain peace and order for his people.) |
Sophocles 179-180 Creon's Good Intentions The first words that Creon speaks in the play are "My countrymen, / the ship of state is safe." (Creon immediately shows his concern for the city of Thebes and his people. Shortly after, he announces his new edict.) |
As you take notes, make sure . . .
- to copy quotations accurately
- to put quotation marks around material you copy directly from your source
- not to put quotation marks around material you paraphrase or summarize
- not to take any material out of context
- to keep your notes short and concise
- to take notes that may help you to support your thesis in some way
- to write a heading on each note card
- to copy the author's name and page number(s) accurately
- to copy complete bibliographic information for your source on a bibliography card