A paper-first reading field guide
Trace an Argument Through Its Citations
Use three linked fields: claim page, decisive citation, and evidence boundary. Keep each field brief and attach the page or chapter landmark that supports it.
Follow a claim through the few citations that define its evidence base instead of collecting every reference. A compact three-anchor trail keeps the note useful when you return later or discuss it with someone using another edition.
Step 1
Anchor the location
Record the page or chapter before interpreting the moment. Add the current reading boundary when later knowledge could change the note.
Step 2
Claim page
Anchor the exact claim that needs support.
Step 3
Decisive citation
Choose the citation the author relies on most directly.
Step 4
Evidence boundary
Record what that source can and cannot establish here.