This presentation shows a working example.

1. Facts that Make Sense
How to take notes on index cards

2. Using index cards for notes will
help you...

Organize notes according to subject

Keep track of the author's name and page number

Use your own words because you summarize
information every time you take notes

3. So you already have your sources
written on index cards...
Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. Boston: Little, Brown, and
Company, 1969.

4. Now you'll take notes on index
cards too...

5. The notes will look like this...
Hamilton history
Iliad is the oldest Greek myth.
7

6. Now we'll do one together

7. Write down the fact using
YOUR OWN WORDS.
Greek myths never talk about ghosts or astrology.

8. Write down the page number.
Greek myths never talk about ghosts or astrology.
10-11

9. Write the author's last name.
Hamilton
Greek myths never talk about ghosts or astrology.
10-11

10. Write down the subject this specific
fact talks about. This will help you
organize your research according to
subject.
Hamilton Topics of myths
Greek myths never talk about ghosts or astrology.
10-11

11. This shows what you include
where...
Author's last name subject
Write down facts using your own words.
Page #
The “subject” is a subtopic of your research topic. Subjects will eventually
become your paragraph topics. For my paper on Greek myths, I chose “topics,”
“history,” and “famous examples” as my subjects.

12. Assignment

Now that you know how to format notes on
index cards, complete 30 index cards of
notes. Use only ONE fact per card.