Using note cards is an effective way to organize research for a paper using APA style. Note cards allow you to categorize information from different sources and can serve as an outline for the paper. This article will explore how to fill out note cards and categorize information from sources in APA format to efficiently develop a research paper.
Choose note card stock. 3×5 index cards or 5×7 file cards work well for note cards. The smaller size makes them portable to organize as you research. Leave plenty of space on each card to write notes from sources.
Record source information. On the top left corner of each note card, record the author’s last name, year of publication, and page number(s) using APA style. For example: (Smith, 2020, p. 23). This allows you to attribute information back to the original source when writing the paper.
Decide on categories. Establish 5-7 major topic categories to sort notes under that correspond to the outline of your paper. Potential categories could be: introduction, background, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion. Write each category name on a separate note card to act as section dividers.
Take notes from sources. Read through sources and write brief summaries and paraphrases of relevant information on note cards under the appropriate category. Try not to copy full sentences or lengthy quotes which could violate copyright. Keep notes concise at 3-5 sentences each.
Record page numbers. Note the page number(s) where the information appears in the source so you have citation details if needed. This could be recorded after the source details in parentheses like: (Smith, 2020, pp. 23-24).
Differentiate paraphrases and quotes. Use “Q” and a page number if directly quoting a source. Otherwise, leave it blank to indicate a paraphrasing or summary. This distinction is important for citations.
Repeat process with additional sources. Continue taking notes from applicable sources, categorizing them under topic areas on note cards. You may find that some notes fit under multiple categories. Copy the note if relevant to place in different sections.
Organize cards by category. Once all notes are taken, arrange cards into piles grouped by topic. Reorganize cards as needed to refine sections and flow of ideas. Cards without a category may signify a new section should be added.
Revise cards as needed. Review notecards periodically as research continues. Add new information, remove redundant details, rephrase summaries as understanding develops. Update source information as citations become clearer.
Develop paper outline. Use notecards as a guide to write a detailed outline organizing information roughly into introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Note cards can become topic sentences with supporting details below each one.
Incorporate cards into paper. Refer to organized notecards as writing the actual paper draft. Rearrange cards and add/remove ideas as needed to craft coherent paragraphs and sections that flow logically.
Properly cite paraphrases and quotes. When directly quoting sources in the final paper, record page numbers after quotes as “(Smith, 2020, p. 24).” For paraphrases, include author and year in citations only like “(Smith, 2020).” This ties notes back accurately to original sources.
Note cards provide a structured yet flexible system to efficiently organize research findings from multiple sources when writing a paper using APA style. Taking clear and concise notes separated by major topic categories allows ideas to align directly into a detailed outline and coherent paper. Updating cards regularly helps develop a refined understanding of sources informing the paper’s content. Throughout the research and writing process, note cards remain a useful guide.