TCC Library: Staying organized while you research

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The moment when you’re most likely to have all of the information you need to cite a source correctly is the moment when you first find the source. Develop a plan for capturing that information that makes sense for you. Use a method, like one of those listed below, to note a source's title, author(s), and/or link so that you can find that source again.

• Old-fashioned note cards are still popular for a reason. They’re stable, permanent and flexible.
• Notepad or note taking apps on your phone are easy to use and create searchable files.
• Spreadsheets are a popular choice. They are also searchable and can be sorted.
• Web-based word processors (Google Docs, linked below) have many of the advantages of their desktop counterparts, and they can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection.
• Many students email sources to themselves and use their email archive as a way to keep track of sources.
• The more powerful citation management tools (Zotero, Evernote, for example, linked below) will also allow you to save notes about your sources.