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Creating Bibliography Cards on the Computer |
Creating Bibliography Cards on the ComputerSome people prefer to make their bibliography cards on a computer. This method has several advantages.
• You can update, alphabetize, and correct your cards as you go along.
• You can block and copy information from your online sources, saving time by not having to write the citation.
• You reduce the number of errors by not writing the same information by hand and then later keyboarding it.
• At the end of the project, you can rework this file to make it into your Works Cited list of sources.
However, be sure to back up your bibliography cards on an external storage system of your choice. In addition, print hard copies as you work. This way, you won't lose your material if your hard drive crashes or the file develops a glitch.
Developing a Working BibliographyWhen you start your research, your instructor may ask you to prepare a working bibliography listing the sources you plan to use. Your working bibliography differs from your Works Cited page in its scope: your working bibliography is much larger. Your Works Cited page will include only those sources you have actually cited in your paper.
To prepare a working bibliography, arrange your bibliography cards in the order required by your documentation system (such as MLA and АРА) and keyboard the entries following the correct form. If you have created your bibliography cards on the computer, you just have to sort them, usually into alphabetical order.
Developing an Annotated BibliographySome instructors may ask you to create an annotated bibliography as a middle step between your working bibliography and your Works Cited page. An annotated bibliography is the same as a working bibliography except that it includes comments about the sources. These notes enable your instructor to assess your progress. They also help you evaluate your information more easily.
For example, you might note that some sources are difficult to find, hard to read, or especially useful. Next, you'll learn how to evaluate your sources-and why it's crucial that you do so.
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