1.8 | Tracking information sources

Don't be a sad kitty. Track your sources as you go to save time and heartache. (University of Miami, 2024). Original photo by Gage Skidmore (2014).

During academic research, you will find a lot of information from various sources. As a scholar, you are expected to cite these sources using in-text citations, footnotes, and bibliographies so that others can learn from what you've discovered and can continue the conversation with you. You'll learn more about citations and the citation process in modules 3 and 5. 

An organized citation list will help you quickly find the information you need without repeating the information-finding process. As you'll learn in module 5, organizing your sources as you research can make your writing process more efficient because you have a better idea of where everything came from.  

Here are some useful details to track: 

  • Citation information: title, author, year of publication, publisher or journal, page numbers, etc. (more on this in section 3.1)
  • Quotes: quotable or noteworthy passages, and ideas you want to include in your project. Include page numbers with your quotes.
  • Context: reasons for citing it, ways it is relevant to your research question, and how it relates to other sources  

You can also use notecards, spreadsheets, and outlines. There are citation managers like Zotero Links to an external site., Mendeley Links to an external site., and EndNote Links to an external site. which can help generate citations and attach notes directly to the citation information and sources. You'll learn more about them in module 5.

Citation Managers

Software tools and platforms that can help you organize, store, and build your reference lists in the formats your assignment needs. Depending on the tool, they can integrate into your word-processing documents to create in-text citations as well. 

While citation managers can cut down your workload significantly, they do make mistakes, so always check their work before submitting your assignment.

There are a variety of ways to track your citations. Find one that works well for you or come see us if you need help.

Skidmore, G. (2014). Grumpy Cat and Rafi Fine at the 2014 VidCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. [Graphic]. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grumpy_Cat_(14556024763)_(cropped).jpg

University of Miami Libraries. (2024, August 14). Citation. Research Guides. https://guides.library.miami.edu/citation

Key takeaways

Scholars cite the information sources that they use in their research. Therefore, it is a good idea to track your sources as soon as you begin your research so you don't have to waste valuable time hunting down something multiple times. 

To save time and your sanity, keep track of your sources using a citation manager like Zotero, Mendeley, or Endnote.