Assign a note card for each source. Give each note card a number that corresponds to the source. For example, if you have three books and two articles that you are using for your report, you should have five note cards numbered 1-5.
Write the complete source information on each note card, using the style guide you were assigned. For example, if your class uses M.L.A. style, write the source information in M.L.A. format. This will help you later when you write the "works cited" section. Include the title, author, publisher, date of publication and page numbers, if applicable. Place the source cards in a separate pile so you do not lose them or confuse them with your fact cards.
Read each source. When you come to a fact or quote that you would like to use, make a fact card by writing down the fact or quote word for word on a new note card, followed by the page number where you located it. Writing the information word for word will help you quote the source exactly, or paraphrase the information in your own words later on. Then, number each note card to match its source; if the fact came from source number 3, write a 3 on the card and circle it. This will save you from having to copy the source information over and over on each card.