Note-taking, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

It is important to take accurate notes when doing research. Make sure to record your sources on source cards or in a bibliography list. Creating source cards will help you track your sources and remember where you found your information. When taking notes, it is a best practice to summarize and paraphrase the important facts, and to use direct quotations only sparingly. Following these steps and guidelines will make creating your Works Cited page easier, help you to avoid plagiarism in your final project or product, and aid in keeping you more organized along the way.