index cards

In fifth grade English, my class was taught how to use index cards to write research papers. Each source book, magazine, or interview subject got its own card. Each quote, thought, fact, or idea went on its own informational card, referencing the source card.

When it came time to put the paper together, you organized the information by organizing the index cards. You wrote your outline from that, and filled in with the information and ideas on the cards, and your footnotes and bibliography fell into place, too.

It was organized! Neat! Tidy! And it worked… the papers practically wrote themselves. It was a revelation. Things could be organized. And organization made you more productive and effective. Wow.
I fell in love, then and there.

My instant adoration was at least in part based on the exotic flavor - I grew up in a house where clutter ruled, both physically and mentally. Everything was done at the spur of the moment: “what to wear” was decided 20 minutes before leaving the house, as you dug through the laundry that was still in the dryer. I didn’t really know things could be organized, until my exposure to index card research… it was a revelation, and I was enamored of the idea.

I still am. I compulsively buy organizational tools - index cards, labels, file folders, binders, journals, boxes. I’m not exactly sure what I’m supposed to do with them, but I collect them and sometimes pet them affectionately. Someday, they WILL lead me to the promised land. [click to continue...]