File Cards
You must do all your research for this essay on file cards.
Essays will not be marked without complete research on file cards.
You must have legend cards (identifying thesis, subtopics, and sources with symbols).
Research must be divided by subtopic and subtopics must be colour coded.
Legend Cards:
On the first legend card you must state your working thesis (this may change/evolve as you
research). You must also state your three (or four) subtopics and colour code each one. After
this, you must start to list the sources you use in your research. List sources in proper format
(to make less work for yourself when you type your essay and works cited list). Each source
must have a symbol so that you can identify sources in your research without having to write
the whole source each time.
EXAMPLE: (the information on this card is not necessarily the best choices - do not copy)
Legend Card:
Thesis: Canadians made a big contribution to the war at sea.
Subtopics: D-Day - red
Supply convoys - blue
RCN - green
Sources:
* Bain, Colin M., et al. Making History. Toronto: Prentice-Hall Inc., 2000.
# Sarty, Dr. Roger, The Battle of the Atlantic. Ottawa: CEF Books, 2001.
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Research Cards:
Your research cards must be divided by subtopic and colour coded (use coloured file cards, or
colour a stripe across the top of each). Use the subtopics and colours you identified on your
legend card. Put only one or two points of research on each file card. (DO NOT squeeze as
much information as you can on each card). Each research point must identify the source (by
symbol from legend card) and page number if appropriate.
All research notes must be in your own words. The only time you may use a direct quote is if
it is a primary source quote. In this case, make sure you include quotation marks around the
quote and include information on who said it, when, and why.
EXAMPLE: (the information on this card is not necessarily the best choices - do not copy)
Blue Coloured line across top of page (or blue card)
There weren’t always enough ships in the convoy, this made the crossing more dangerous, -
example one supply ship had only 5 corvettes with it.
# page 28
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You should not put more than 2 points on a card. This allows you to also include notes for
yourself on the point (example how you will use it, or what it shows or connection to your
thesis). You should be able to tell what is a research point and what are your own notes about
the research.
Information needs to be put in your own words unless it is a primary source quotation. Then
you need to also include information about the speaker (name, when it was said, context).
Every point needs to have the source symbol and page number.