Make the locator part of the note
Record title, author, edition or version and format. For print, use a page and nearby chapter heading. For an ebook, use the available chapter/location information; for audio, identify the edition and timestamp. Do not automatically convert an audio time or ebook percentage into a printed page.
Cornell’s note-taking handout uses questions or cue words and answering in your own words. We borrow that limited organizational idea here. The source concerns a study method, not a clinical memory claim or proof that our app improves retention.
Keep a distinction between the author’s point, your interpretation and a question you still have. A short paraphrase with a locator is usually more useful for this retrieval task than copying a whole passage into a growing document.
Worked note: an idea is not enough without its location
Fictional book Harbor Paths, by fictional author Mina Vale, second print edition, 2024. The reader wants to revisit a discussion in chapter 3, page 48. The example note is original; no published passage is reproduced.
| Field | Example | Why keep it |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Harbor Paths; Mina Vale; 2nd print edition; 2024 | Distinguish version and format |
| Locator | Chapter 3; page 48 | Reopen the passage |
| Own-word idea | Sending a request is different from confirming closure | Separate paraphrase from quotation |
| Cue words | handoff; closure | Make the note recognizable |
| Next question | What evidence shows a request was resolved? | Give the reread a purpose |
| Find-test | Pending until actually tried | Do not assume retrieval worked |
Later, the reader uses the cue words to choose the note, opens the same edition and checks page 48 and its chapter heading. If the passage cannot be found, the note stays “locator needs correction.” Do not invent a new page reference simply because an AI summary sounds plausible.
An ebook edition may place a comparable discussion elsewhere. Record that ebook’s actual location only after checking it; do not copy page 48 into every format. Two source records can refer to related material without having interchangeable locators.
Keep a small revision trail
Add a checked date and what the find-test established: the passage reopened, the paraphrase needed correction or the source version was wrong. A successful lookup is evidence that you found that passage, not that every idea was remembered or understood.
If you quote a short phrase for a specific purpose, mark it as quotation and retain its source. Keep these personal notes from becoming a public reproduction of someone else’s text. This worksheet does not determine copyright permission or a universal quotation allowance.
Use one question that helps your next reading session. Avoid accumulating vague notes such as “interesting” with no source or action. If the book is paused, the separate reading-status guide can help decide what to do next; finding a note and deciding whether to finish a book are different tasks.
ReadCue stores notes; check generated capture details
ReadCue’s current listing includes editable book drafts from text, images or voice, reading status, pages/minutes, notes and statistics. Premium lists unlimited AI capture, voice/photo add, advanced statistics and recommendations. Not every free allowance is enumerated.
We publish ReadCue. Verify captured title, author and ISBN before using them as source identity. The listing does not establish automatic page-accurate note generation, full-text search across every book or an edition-to-audio locator conversion.
You can keep structured note text in an appropriate notes field and use this separate CSV as an index. No CSV import, automatic tag search or retrieval outcome is promised. A generated summary remains a draft to check, not a replacement for the passage you read.
If the method fits your task, explore ReadCue’s listed features on an iPhone. Check current features and plans before downloading.
See ReadCue for iOSDownload the free worksheet
Use the CSV in Numbers, Excel or a spreadsheet editor. One fully fictional source/note and a blank row; no copyrighted passage or invented live locator. Replace them with your own observations. The CSV is separate from the app and no email is required.
Questions answered
Is a page number enough?
Keep the edition and format too; page positions can differ.
Can I use an AI-generated page reference?
Check it in the actual source first. Leave it unverified if you cannot locate it.
Does a successful find-test prove better memory?
No. It only shows that this recorded locator helped reopen this passage.
Continue with ReadCue on iOS
Use the App Store listing to check compatibility, privacy information and current plan terms. A free download may offer paid features.
Download ReadCue for iOSSources and product details
- Cornell: Note-taking system handoutPrimary educational handout read October 20, 2026; limited cue/question/own-words context.
- ReadCue on the App StoreCurrent US App Store product description; checked October 20, 2026.
Editorial method: primary guidance, a current Apple listing, an original worked example and an independent critique. No search ranking, install or outcome result is claimed.