# Organize literature notes with their sources

> Separate your observation, source reference and open questions in a small note set.

Local files, Markdown and AI on your device in one workspace.

Canonical: https://pocketorbitnotes.app/learn/literature-note-organization
Language: en-US
Published: not provided
Last updated: 2026-10-18

## Workflow

1. Start with one passage
2. Link it to a topic
3. Expected result
4. Review and recovery

## Start with one passage

Use the literature/source worksheet. Record the source URL or identifier and the exact passage location. Write your own paraphrase in a separate field. Use the open-question field for interpretation you still need to check.

- [Use the literature source worksheet](https://pocketorbitnotes.app/resources/literature-source-worksheet)

## Link it to a topic

Open the note in Markdown and add a relative link to your topic note. Save and inspect Read. Open the source yourself and compare your paraphrase with the passage. The structure inspector lists references but cannot confirm their targets exist.

## Expected result

You should be able to distinguish source material, your observation and uncertainty without opening a separate AI chat. Reopen the note in your other Markdown editor and check that the identifier and passage location remain intact.

## Review and recovery

Do not accept a generated reference as a verified citation. If a paraphrase changes the meaning, edit it against the original or restore your copy. Use dedicated bibliography software for citation styles, reference databases and specialist PDF workflows.

## Keep quotation, interpretation and question apart

Use the original worksheet fields: source/location, exact quotation, your interpretation and open question. For an authored source saying pricing remains unresolved, an interpretation saying a price was approved is unsupported. Correct the interpretation and retain the source location. This teaches source separation; it does not supply automatic citations or a bibliography manager.

- [Markdown editor for your local notes](https://pocketorbitnotes.app/features/markdown-editor)
- [Your first Pocket Orbit workspace](https://pocketorbitnotes.app/help/get-started)
- [Literature source worksheet](https://pocketorbitnotes.app/resources/literature-source-worksheet)
- [How we review local AI output](https://pocketorbitnotes.app/research/output-review-method)

## Related pages

- https://pocketorbitnotes.app/learn/markdown-workflows
- https://pocketorbitnotes.app/resources/literature-source-worksheet
- https://pocketorbitnotes.app/research/output-review-method
- https://pocketorbitnotes.app/features/markdown-editor
- https://pocketorbitnotes.app/help/get-started
- https://pocketorbitnotes.app/resources/sample-workspace

Source: Pocket Orbit. Please cite the canonical URL.